Important Updates & News December 3-5, 2022

Alan Benicke, Odin Pfrang, Sharon Zirtzlaff, Joel Hacker, Clay Bowe, Eileen Dreczka, Steve Hintz, Kay Meyers, Wendy McKnight, Nancy Nichols, Kristen Nigh, Carol Laux, and Shirly Kelly.

This weekend’s bulletin sponsors are Jerry & Laura Thuemmler in memory of Raymond and Dorothy Fink.

This weekend’s Altar flowers are from Tom & Laurie Klemme, and Bob & Linda Mueller in honor of Bob Triebensee’s 90^th birthday.

We welcome through the waters of Holy Baptism Warren Robert Jeske. Warren is the son of Mitch and Kate Jeske. He will be baptized during the 4:30pm service.

A sincere thank you to those who assisted in the successful Thanksgiving dinner that was served to 150 people in the Plymouth community. We are grateful to the turkey carvers, table decorators (Kindergarten class), the greeters, servers, those who donated pies, and especially Patty, the Food Service Manager for preparing the food. We also want to thank Bank First and Wilbur Westphalen for the turkeys they provided. It was a team effort and we appreciate you all!

Thank you to the decorators and the walkers that helped with this year’s Christmas float. What a great way to show the community who we are!

-Beginning this Sunday, December 3, the Middle School Bible class will be studying the book of Genesis focusing on the Biblical foundation and world view. All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are invited to join Mrs. Huebschman in this thoughtful and interesting class!

-The High School Bible class is working its way through the Bible. Continuing this Sunday with the prophets of the Old Testament and the last half of the New Testament. All 9th through 12th grade students are invited to join Miss Johns in the youth room (below the sanctuary).

If you registered for Advent-in-a-box, please pick up your week 2 box in the Fellowship Hall. If you did not register, you may view the online portion of the weekly activities at sjlplymouth.com/advent.

We will be meeting December 11 at 2pm…not 1pm. It will be 2pm-3:30pm, Sunday, December 11 for caroling at Songbird Pond, followed by a Christmas party back at the church in the Youth Room.

Middle and Highschool Bible classes will not meet December 11 so they may attend the special hymn singing led by Rev. Dr. James Marriott.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 | FELLOWSHIP HALL AT 11:00 AM

During this Well-Seasoned group gathering we will be having a Christmas pot-luck dinner with everyone bringing a dish to pass. Our program will be the Stephen Ministries outreach that just recently started at SJL. If you have not signed up, please call Marge Meyer, 920-893-5586 or Cheryl Steinhardt, 920-893-5235 by December 11.

CHRISTMAS DAY – DECEMBER 25 | SJL CAFETERIA | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM

The annual Community Christmas meal is free and all are invited. Come and eat, enjoy fellowship, and celebrate the birth of our Savior. If you plan to take part in the meal or want to volunteer, there will be a sign-up sheet at the welcome desk in the Fellowship Hall. You can also contact the church office to sign up (920-893-3071). We hope to see you there!

Happy Holidays! To ensure gift cards will be available prior to Christmas, any physical gift card special orders or any orders that will be paid for by check must be received in the office with payment no later than December 13th. Please keep an eye out for emails from Raise Right between now and Christmas, there will be multiple specials coming up: Nov 26-Dec 9 will include many brands for eCards and physical gift cards, Dec 10-19 for eCards only, and special low value cards from now until Christmas. For eCard deals, you will need to have an online account linked to our organization. Not sure which brand you may want? There are also universal prepaid cards available that do not charge an activation fee. There are also multi-brand cards available. We have also added some new brands to our regular stock: Target, Starbucks, and Panera. We are removing Pizza Ranch once the stock is sold out. Thank you for letting us serve your family and our congregation.

Liza and Mary – scripoffice@sjlplymouth.com, Liza 920-229-4456

At the end of each worship service, our Elder on duty is available (in the front or back of the sanctuary) to pray with you. As you may need prayer, take a moment to find an elder. Then, as you feel comfortable, please take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to have someone pray out loud for you. The Elder will ask your name, take a prayer request, place their hand on your shoulder to pray with you. We rejoice in the opportunity to serve one another and to take every request to the Lord who hears and answers our prayers.

Year-end financial gifts are encouraged and appreciated. Please be sure your gift is received in the church office by Wednesday, December 28, 2022 (by 12:00pm). Any gift received after Wednesday, December 28 will be recorded as a 2023 financial contribution to the ministry of St. John Lutheran Church & School.

Advent Midweek Dec. 7       9:07AM & 6:30PM Midweek Advent Services

Advent Midweek Dec. 14     9:07AM & 6:30PM 3K & 4K Christmas Service

Advent Midweek Dec. 21     9:07AM & 6:30PM Grades K-8 Christmas Service

Christmas Eve Dec. 24         4:00PM Candlelight Service – Holy Communion

Christmas Eve Dec. 24         6:00PM Service of Lessons & Carols

Christmas Eve Dec. 24         8:00PM Candlelight Service – Holy Communion

Christmas Eve Dec. 24         10:00PM Candlelight Service – Holy Communion

Christmas Day Dec. 25        10:00AM Christmas Day – Holy Communion

Monday, Dec. 26                   No Worship Service

The Gospel Light Chorus is selling Poinsettia plants for Christmas as a fund raiser for their spring tour to the Twin Cities. You will be able to order plants to decorate the church which can be picked up following the Christmas Day service. The plants are 6 1/2 inches wrapped in gold foil. To order, please see a Gospel Light Chorister, call Tim Huebschman at 920-892-6780, or use the attached order form.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 9:30AM AT BIBLE STUDY HOUR

Do you enjoy singing many classic Christmas hymns? Do you enjoy hearing musical medleys? On Sunday morning, December 11, SJL will be welcoming guest musician and organist Rev. Dr. James Marriott to play for our worship services. Additionally, he will play a Christmas hymn/recital during the bible study hour and provide us meditations on the background of these classic songs. Pastor Thompson personally “sings” his praises as a musician! Come to church and bible class on December 11 to hear some wonderful Christmas music and worship with a renowned Lutheran musician!

Rev. Dr. James Marriott is the Assistant Professor of Music and Department Coordinator (Chair) of Music at Concordia University Texas. Holding undergraduate and graduate degrees in Parish Music from Concordia Nebraska and Concordia Wisconsin, respectively, he earned a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, with an emphasis in liturgical inculturation. He was also ordained into the pastoral ministry through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He frequently lectures and performs across the United States, using workshops and hymn festivals as an opportunity to demonstrate the cultural diversity of the church. Jim and his wife, Kristi, have been married for almost twenty years and are blessed with two children, Joel and Kirstin.