Abiding Word Lutheran Church · 2018-12-07 · contact Wade Seidel at 979-836-6131 or Gary Crocker at 979-836-3332. Stuff-The-Bus Toy Drive Sheila Demery drives a school bus for Durham

December 7, 2018

Albert Charles Thielemann

March 24, 1935 ~ December 2, 2018

Our brother in Christ, Charles Thielemann, fell asleep in Jesus this past Sunday morning. Though struggling with ill health for the past few years, he remained a consistent voice of encouragement as we prayerfully considered each new hurdle in our development as a congregation. He will be missed. We lift up his dear wife Margaret and her family as she copes with the loss of her mate. Our “Abiding Friends” ministry is planning to prepare a meal following the funeral and our Funeral Coordination Team is set to help with the many details behind the scenes. The schedule for the funeral this Saturday (8th) is as follows:

• Visitation at the Church starts at 1:00 p.m.

• Funeral Service starts at 2:00 p.m.

• A light meal will be served following the funeral service

• An interment service with Honor Guard will take place at St. Peter’s in Gay Hill at 4:30

An Early Christmas Present for You! Do you like Christmas Carols? Do you wish we would sing more of them to get ‘tuned up’ for Christmas after the Advent Season? Then this Sunday is for you! At 9:45 a.m. we will have a Christmas Carol Sing-a-Long prior to our worship service.

Sunday, December 9th - Advent 2

What Child is this? “The Child Who Is a Virgin’s Great Son” (Luke 1:26-38)

Wednesday, December 12th - AWLC Ladies Christmas Luncheon (noon)

Abiding Word

Lutheran Church Newsletter

Sunday, December 16th - Advent 3 (Cantata: “Where You There on That Christmas Night?”)

What Child is this? “The Child Who Is John’s Joy” (Luke 1:39-45)

The AWLC Choir will be presenting a Christmas Cantata:"Were You There on That Christmas Night?" written

by Lloyd Larson. It features both traditional and contemporary carols in telling the Christmas story. You won't

want to miss this! Invite a friend to come with you on the 16th.

Sunday, December 16th - Bethlehem in Independence 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Live Nativity & hot coco!

Monday, December 17th - Bethlehem in Independence 6:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. Live Nativity & hot coco!

We need more volunteers for our display at Bethlehem in Independence! Contact Bill Rankin or Pam Milner.

Friday, December 21st - Longest Night Worship Service 6:00 p.m.

(A Community Service at Christmas for Grieving, Praying, and Healing)

Please note: this service is for the many, not the few. Christmas can be a bittersweet time of the year. Hearing about getting together with family reminds many people of what and who they have lost, or never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel alone in the midst of the festive season. We need space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we are not alone. We need to feel God's presence during this season. So at 6:00 pm on the longest night of the year, we invite you to experience a meditative worship service that takes time for remembering, sharing our hurting places with God, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ.

Sunday, December 23rd - Advent 4 (Children’s Christmas Program!)

What Child is this? “The Child Who Is the Lord” (Luke 2:1-14)

Monday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols at 6:00 p.m.

Can You Help Prepare a Meal? Patsy Wegner has been transferred to Kruse Village Rehab after undergoing surgery last week. She will hopefully be able to come home in a few weeks. If you can help provide a meal for Patsy and Raymond when she returns home, please contact their daughter Sheila Demery at 979-451-5216; Sheila will coordinate all of this to fit your schedule with the needs of her parents.

Our Servants for December 9

Musician: Lottie Tegeler

Lay Minister: Gary Crocker

Reader: Patti Swenson

Greeters: Marita Mikeska, Mell Morrow

Ushers: Tom Campbell, Josh Corn

Mike Swenson, Winston Walters

Little Lambs: Charlotte Smith

Technology: Wade Seidel, Darrell Soeken

Altar Guild: Cheryl Beckermann, Melody Perry

Set Up/Clean: Patti & Mike Swenson

Our Servants for December 16

Musician: Debbie Heidemann

Lay Minister: John Milner

Reader: Denise Moore

Greeters: Charlotte Smith, Jean King

Ushers: Marilyn Heckmann, Arno Jahnke

Pam & John Milner

Little Lambs: Sam Sommer

Technology: Jan & Roy Kelm

Altar Guild: Cheryl Beckermann, Melody Perry

Set Up/Clean: Patti & Mike Swenson

Giving to Abiding Word

As we approach year end, many consider gifts to the church. We will keep the church books open until January 5th to accommodate any last-minute donations.

There are many ways to provide financial support to Abiding Word. Two of particular interest now are donations of appreciated assets and donations direct from a retirement account as part of the Minimum Required Distribution. For income tax deduction considerations, donors should first consult with their accountant or tax adviser.

Abiding Word maintains an account with Charles Schwab for the purpose of receiving stock donations. The Church does not invest in stocks or securities, and only maintains a money market account. Stock donated is valued at the date of transfer, not at the donor’s cost, which can be a tax advantage to donating stock. Other appreciated assets can be donated but are more difficult to establish a value and more difficult for Abiding Word to convert to cash. A stock transfer must be received into the Schwab account before the last trading day of 2018. Transfers as a part of the annual Minimum Required Distribution should be made direct from the retirement account to Abiding Word. Transfers from a Minimum Required Distribution must be dated by year’s end. For information on the Schwab account, please call Bob Rankin at 979-277-4980 or email [email protected]. Also, for information you may contact Wade Seidel at 979-836-6131 or Gary Crocker at 979-836-3332.

Stuff-The-Bus Toy Drive Sheila Demery drives a school bus for Durham School Services. She wants us to know that they are holding a toy drive for the children at Early Childhood Learning Center in Brenham. If you would like to participate, please bring an unwrapped toy appropriate for children 3 to 5 years old. Toys should be placed in the blue basket in the fellowship hall by Sunday, December 16th.

For Your Prayers—• Patty French (ongoing health concerns) • Jean King (medical testing) • Sue Mahoney (ongoing health concerns) • Stanley Schneider (recovering –VA Hospital in Temple) • LeRoy Tegeler (recovering at home) • Patsy Wegner (recovering – Kruse Village) • Raymond Wegner (recovering at home) Don Aken friend: Crockers Lois Albright friend: Donna Kelling Carolyn Aldrich family: Jan Kelm Steve Broussard friend: Jean King Joy Dell Dewitt family: Mikeska Poncho Dismukes friend: Kellings Cecil Ellis family: Mell Morrow Tina Farber friend: Campbells Dick & Linda Fenstermaker friend: Insleys Jalene Ferreia family: Mikeskas Joyce Grebe family: Karen Johnson John & Carol Haarmeyer friend: Susie Houston Kevin Hill family: Jon Hill

Sarah Jones family: Insleys Donna Kaltwasser friend: Karen Johnson Kaitlin Lyons family: Schlaudraff Dick Martin family: Campbells Paul McIntyre friend: Campbells Emmett Muske family: Muskes Erin Nelson friend: Megan Sommer Gretchen Noble friend: Donna Kelling Carolyn Perez family: Melody Perry Joe Ross family: Cathy Johnson Mary Schluens family: Jan Kelm Pam Schubert friend: Donna Kelling Sue Schwartz friend: Sue Vierus Lois Smith family: Jean King Desiree Sousha family: Kim Bosse Mike Steinbaugh friend: Mikeska Charles von Gonten family: Kim Bosse Our Military & First Responders The family of Charles Thielemann

We appreciate all those who participated in last

Saturday’s Hanging of the Greens Breakfast!

◄ Nov 2018 December 2018 Jan 2019 ►

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Hanging of the

Greens and Pancake Breakfast

9:00 at Church

LeRoy Tegeler

2

8:30 Coffee & Snack

9:00 Bible Classes

10:00 Advent 1

Communion

First Fruits

3

5:30 pm Worship Planning

Bill Rankin

4

5 9:30 Journey Together 4:15 Confirmation 6:00 Choir practice

Geraldine Johnson Marita Mikeska

6

Blinn Blessing

5:30-7:30

Robert Mikeska

7

John Davies

8

Dottie Schaer

9

8:30 Coffee & Snack

9:00 Bible Classes

10:00 Advent 2

10

Ralph Becker

11

12

12:00 Ladies Luncheon

4:15 Confirmation

6:00 Choir practice

13

Mell Morrow

14

15

Paisley Hooks

16

8:30 Coffee & Snack

9:00 Bible Classes

10:00 Advent 3

Christmas Cantata

6:00 pm Bethlehem in Independence

17

6:00 pm Bethlehem in Independence

18

6:00 Church Council

19

20

Carol Hutchens

Danny & Cathy Johnson

John & Pam Milner

21 6:00 pm

Service for the Longest Night

22

23 8:30 Coffee & Snack 9:00 Bible Classes

10:00 Advent 4

Communion

Children’s Program

24

6:00 pm

Candle Light Service

25

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!

26

27

Gene Stanford

28

29

Blake Herzog

30

8:30 Coffee & Snack

9:00 Bible Classes

10:00 Christmas 1

Caroline Sommer

31

Jim Burke

No Men’s Breakfast in December but will resume in January

First Fruits- December 2

Communion Service- December 2, 23

No game night in December but will resume in January