CrossWord December 2018

DECEMBER 2018

Christ Lutheran Church • Highlands Ranch, CO • Gathering † Gifting † Sending

Advent and Christmas Worship The World Awaits

Please mark your calendars and plan to come and bring your friends and family with you for Advent and Christmas seasons.

If you are able and interested, because of the wonderful high attendance for Christmas Eve, we need extra volunteers prior to each service to assist in set up.

Please contact Peyton Strouth at pstrouth@clchr.org or Karen Patz at volunteer@clchr.org if you can help.

Dec. 5, 12, & 19 Weekly Meal and Worship on Wednesday nights.

Both the meal and worship service will be held in the Fellowship Hall around tables. They will be very family friendly and open to the community so bring a friend! We have a creative, community art activity for all people to participate in. The meal will begin at 5:30 and Worship will start at 7.

Dec 8 & 9 A Shepherd’s Story will be presented by the Children and Youth at both the 5pm and 9:30 am worship Services.

Dec. 22 and 23 The weekend before Christmas we will change our normal schedule a bit and have our Advent IV worship services on Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 9:30am. We will also have a brief service of Morning Prayer at 8am on the 23rd for those wishing to come at that time.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services all services will have communion

11am – Traditional Worship

(This is a new service added this year!)

with Orchestra, Choir, Carols, Christmas Homily and Candles.

1 & 3pm – Family Worship

with special music and an active, engaging, child friendly environment.

5 & 7pm – Contemporary Worship with Band, Singing, Christmas Homily and Candles.

The Christmas season is a great time to invite someone to Christ! Invite a neighbor, friend, relative, colleague, co-worker or the person you meet by chance! Many people would like to experience Christmas at church, but are unsure how to proceed.

Throughout December, CLC offers many and various worship, fellowship, & service opportunities which are a natural time to invite someone. Make a difference this Christmas!

STAFF: Pastor Eric Allert, Lead Pastor pastorallert@clchr.org Ext 107

An Advent Greeting from Pastor Allert

Pastor Gail Mundt, Executive Pastor pastorgail@clchr.org Ext 108 Peyton Strouth Director of Worship & Music Ministry pstrouth@clchr.org Ext 109 Gary Knutson, Director of Youth & Family gknutson@clchr.org Ext 105 Samantha Sweitzer, Office Coordinator office@clchr.org Ext 100 Deb Morgans, Director of Preschool dmorgans@clchr.org Ext 300 Brittany Marshall, Bookkeeper finance@clchr.org Ext 106 Karen Patz, Volunteer & Care Coordinator volunteer@clchr.org Ext 110 Ally Williams, Connections Coordinator connections@clchr.org Ext 101 Allyson Evans, Christian Education Coordinator childrensministry@clchr.org Ext 103

CHURCH COUNCIL: Brian Martin, Council President bmartin29@hotmail.com Nancy Sullivan, Council Vice President (Liaison to Personnel Committee) n.sullivan@frchousing.com Liesl Farrier, Council Secretary francophile87@gmail.com Jeff Bergstrom, Church Treasurer (Liaison to Legacy & Endowment Committee) j-bergstrom@comcast.net Tom Coates (Liaison to Safety & Security Ministry, Stewardship Team) tomcoates@comcast.net Bill Doyle (Liaison to Adult Education Ministry) bbd1953@gmail.com Jennifer Gunther (Liaison to Equipping & Outreach Ministry) j.gunther@comcast.net Steve Hoemann (Liaison to Worship & Music Ministry) hoemannstba@comcast.net Christine Kleen (Liaison to Youth & Family Ministry) christine.kleen@gmail.com Pete Koury (Liaison to Property & Maintenance Committee) pete.koury@q.com Deb Tronrud (Liaison to Hospitality & Fellowship Ministry) qt31415s@yahoo.com All articles, photos and notices for the next issue of CrossWord are due by the 15th of the month. Send to office@clchr.org. Editor reserves the right to edit for content and space.

As I write you this greeting, I look out my office window and see the snow on the church grounds, and it makes writing the December- Advent letter much easier. It helps me in the preparing for the season. Snow this time of year – at least for me – is always exciting. Well, less so if it has a way of influencing worship attendance on the weekends…Yet, as we all prepare for the season of winter: getting out the winter coats, hats and gloves; unearthing the snow shovels and blowers from their corners in the garage and closets, and marking the parking lot and driveways with the orange poles… we are of course preparing for more than just snow.

Again this Advent we prepare for the coming of Christ. This year, we do so together with a moving worship series entitled “The World Awaits…” (worship details available elsewhere in this newsletter and weekly bulletins). There is always the tension of the season: the now, and the not yet. Christ has come into the world, and we await his coming again. And while the days shorten and the darkness extends the hours of nightfall, we eagerly look to the celebration of the constant light of God for the world in Christ Jesus.

As I reflect a little further upon this season of Advent, I am ever mindful of the great blessing it is to serve here at Christ Lutheran Church. This will be our third Christmas together, and I pray this season will bring a new sense of engagment and blessing as we discover together what’s next for us in God’s goodness. So in this season, amidst all the preparations, may you find time to rest, to reflect, and to vision all these things in your heart – and may Christ enter in…

May the true gifts of this season be yours: The gift of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that is found in One born in Bethlehem, Christ Jesus our Lord.

With my deepest gratitude for all that you do, and all that you are, I celebrate you in Christ.

- Pastor Eric

Catechism & Discipleship: A CONFIRMATION CLASS FOR ADULTS For the month of December, Pastor Eric’s Wednesday evening class is suspended as we enjoy mid-week Advent dinners and worship together in the Fellowship Hall. Classes are scheduled to resume January 9th.

Focusing on the Vision: 2018 Congregational Annual Report from Pastor Allert Well, my brothers and sisters in Christ, it is truly my joy and delight to give to you all this report as we have now entered our third year in ministry together. It has been another very full year – truly a season filled with change, growth and blessing, and most certainly a time for gratitude. And, of course, it has been a season of visioning as Pastor Gail and I continue to enjoy our relationship of shared service in stewarding God’s future for this congregation that we both so dearly love. The Holy Spirit has been intentionally re-forming us these past few years, positioning us into a place of growth in discipleship. We are ready to achieve more for the glory of God and for the sake of the world!

In the year ahead for 2019, we will be championing the message of “CLC & Me: Better Together!” This will be a year of intentionally working out of our strengths – seeking to bless further from the blessings that we have already been given.

And though we will be certainly celebrating more and more the truth that we are better together, I will be calling to the attention all of our leaders the important task of identifying purpose. The joy of saying yes to when God calls our names, (and has led us to where we are together), is that we get to now enter, explore, and engage into an exciting time.

“Where does God want to be even more innovative with us?

What new things does God want us to experience with such a marvelous staff and volunteer corps? How would we like to empower the endless gifts of each disciple here achieve the opportunity to be Christ’s hands, feet, heart and voice?”

We have already accomplished so much together since the late summer of 2016. In looking around Christ Lutheran now, and remembering the diligent work that the Holy Spirit has accomplished here, I am increasingly reminded of pancakes (follow me on this one…) Any amateur breakfast chef knows that when cooking pancakes, it is time to flip them over when you begin to see bubbles. Well, I see a lot of great energy and excitement bubbling up to the surface all over CLC. We’ve received 173 new members in 2 years! The intentional care and improved maintenance of the church campus and building that we have been entrusted to cherish! Establishing new relationships with partnering ministries, schools, and non-profits! A renewed focus on excellence and life-giving holy energy in worship! Creating even more opportunities to come together and share the joy of each other’s company in fellowship and study.

It’s now time to put that bubbling new excitement even deeper into ministry here at CLC! These past 2 plus years, much of the conversation in leadership – from Council, to committee, to staff – has been that of prayerfully and gently re-telling the story of the past in order to clearly understand the present. Well, we’ve had those informative conversations, and the time and energy spent there was stewarded well. And, those need conversations have served their purpose.

But moving forward, we are going to intentionally have different conversations – throughout the church at every ministry and leadership point – because God is having a different conversation with us now. At the center of every leader’s conversation at CLC will be two words – two words that the Holy Spirit is ready and excited for us to hear together: “What’s next?”

We have a mission field of 7 plus billion people waiting for us... We have a Leadership Crisis in this country on all fronts…

We have purpose here as a church to grow disciples – to not only come and worship, but to also discover ways to both grow and serve in giving… And we have a Gospel that is our firm foundation – a Christian Gospel in which Christ first calls forth Lazarus from death and darkness, but then empowers the faith community by telling the people to free that which once was dead and lost. We are no longer a congregation of people who seek to wail and mourn… We are a church that hears Christ Jesus call us to liberate hope revealed and proclaim a story of endless potential!

So, this is God’s vision for us – this is what’s next: • Proclaim the truth we are better together • Community witness that challenges every one of us to a “worship plus two” model that adventures in faith…

Yes, come and worship, and then further engage in both personal growth and a willingness to serve in giving of time, talent and teamwork • Engage one another deeper into both holy fun and also holy curiosity – exploring with God what the Holy Spirit is up to in and through us by identifying those bubbling pancake moments • And finally, teaming up both staff and volunteers to work together as we identify and then minister to the mission field This is what’s next. For the glory of God, and the sake of the world, come and enjoy the discovery of blessing with us!

- Pastor Eric J. Allert

SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday school for our 3 year olds though 6th graders is about to go on Christmas Break! We will have an Advent lesson on December 2 and then we are off the rest of the month! Have a very Merry Christmas! We’ll be back on January 6!

We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 at church. All high schoolers are welcome to join us! We will have a bake sale and hot chocolate bar at the Fair Trade Sale at CLC on December 1.

This is our group for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders that USUALLY meets the second Sunday of every month from 5:00-7:00.

This month we will meet on December 16 for Christmas Caroling! We’ll start at church at 5:00 with a chili dinner and then head out to sing. All are welcome to join us!

Who doesn’t love PANCAKES???

It is time for our annual Dynamite Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s!

We’ll be serving up PANCAKES the morning of January 12. Christmas will be over and the family will have gone home. Come celebrate another successful Christmas with PANCAKES for a good cause! $10 Tickets will be on sale in the fellowship hall starting December 8. All proceeds go to fund Dynamite, our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade youth group, and their service projects.

Youth Mission Trip Our first mission trip fundraiser is December 1st and 2nd. We are having a fair trade Market at CLC and are selling baked goods (Christmas style) with a Hot Chocolate/Hot Cider/Coffee bar from 9:30-2 Saturday. If we have any leftovers we will sell them at all services at church on Sunday Dec 2nd.

Update on mission trip dates and place:

The youth group has decided to go to Panama City Beach, FL which was devastated by Hurricane Michael.

In saying that, the dates have changed a little to accommodate travel, the dates now will be June 27th thru July 8th or 9th.

7th and 8th Grade Confirmation 7th and 8th Grade Confirmation: We are off for the month of December! Our first learning event of 2019 will be held January 9th (small group night).

Don’t forget to turn in your worship and service notes!

Did you know there are NINE days of worship in the month of December? How many will you attend?

THANK YOU Thank you to everyone that donated pies, bid on pies and bought pies at our Annual Thanksgiving Pie Auction and Social! It was a great night! All money raised is going to Pueblo De Dios Lutheran Church for their food distribution program.

Thank you to everyone that donated gift boxes for our friends at Pueblo De Dios! Boxes are due by December 2, there is still time to donate. All you need is an adult shoebox filled with fun toys for a boy or girl! Wrap it.

Label it. Drop it off in the fellowship hall. We will be packing them and shipping them December 6 so they make it in time for Pueblo De Dios Lutheran Church community event.

Pastor Eric’s Seasonal Reading List Unconditional Responsibility by Fred Kofman, by Fred Kofman Giving to God: The Bible’s good news about living a generous life, by Mark Allan Powell 12 Rules For Life: An antidote to chaos, by Jordan B. Peterson From Heaven Above: An Advent devotional, by Michael Hoy

children can't come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos.

By Jenny Allert, MSN Ed., RNC-OB This advent and Christmas season as a church we have reflected on the waiting for the Birth of Christ. What does it mean to wait, and enjoy the period of waiting in a world that treats this season in such a hurried fashion? The Christmas season often brings a flurry of activity, some more enjoyable than others. Overall, it can be a very fun time, but so often is can also bring about stress. Stress and depression increase significantly during the Christmas season. And it's no wonder. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few. Not to mention family, which can be a blessing or at times present a unique set of difficulty.

You can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays, and even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would. By taking some intentional steps you can enter into the waiting for the birth of Christ is a way that brings JOY back to the season.

Instead of creating my own list, I thought it was best to share this excellent list provided by Mayo Clinic. May the Christmas Season bring you relaxation, joy and blessings as you prepare your hearts once again for the birth of Christ!

Mayo Clinic has provided an excellent list of tips to help decrease stress during the Holiday!

When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.

1. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can't be with loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.

2. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

3. Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult

4. Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.

5. Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts.

Try these alternatives: Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts, start a family gift exchange.

6. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That'll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.

7. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity. If it's not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.

8. Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.

Try these suggestions: Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Get plenty of sleep. Incorporate regular physical activity into each day.

9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.

Some options may include: Taking a walk at night and stargazing. Listening to soothing music. Getting a massage.

Reading a book.

10. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. (list provided by mayo clinic, www.mayoclinic.org)

SOFIA

(Stories Of Faith In Action)

Outstanding Wiser Lutherans (OWLs) Have been up to awesome things! They are a group that meets on the second Friday of every month to join in conversation, share a meal together and learn something new!

During this month’s get-together, they learned about Deb Morgans’ trip to Uganda. While learning about her trip they felt called to help ELCA Barnyard. They raised enough money to purchase 5 Goats and 2 Piglets! Want to join this ministry?

Talk to Mary Thomas – she would love to chat with you!

Congregation Meeting Thank you to everybody who brought a dish or came to share a Thanksgiving meal together during our Congregational Meeting. A big shout out to the Doyles, Coates, Cooks, and Nancy Sullivan. They carved the turkeys with ease and were so helpful with set-up, clean-up and everything in between. Your help and support was much appreciated!

Jar Making Crew For the Fair Trade Market we are selling baking jars for CLC’s scholarship fund!

Several women (Pat Douhan, Jenn Regan, Janet Bergstrom, Cheryl Kinder, Deb Morgans, and Janice Korte) came together for a great day of joyous laughter, conversation and friendship building! Thanks, too, to Darlene and James Danyo for their generous donation of mason jars and fabric circles for this project. You guys rock and the funds raised are going to help the youth of CLC!

Ally Williams

I love talking about finances!

Said no one ever...

I’m Brittany Marshall the bookkeeper/finance coordinator here at CLC. I want to introduce myself to you. I’ve been married nine years to my incredible husband, Craig, and we have two beautifully wild boys who are six and three years old. My CLC journey began when my oldest son started preschool at the church. I then joined MOPS and began to find my faith again being supported by other moms of young kids. Prior to coming to Christ Lutheran I couldn’t tell you the last time I went to a worship service that wasn’t for a wedding.

Our worship attendance started slowly until I felt how much my family enjoyed being at Christ Lutheran Church. Now not just for worship but for fellowship. I quit corporate work to be Mom in March of this year. Then I was called to the CLC finance coordinator position in late June. In my new role, I’ve learned about the daily operations of a church, both financially and operationally.

I love talking about finances - said no one ever! It’s true, no one likes to talk about finances (well, except my husband, but that’s a rant for another day). And no one likes to talk about giving money. I certainly don’t, but little did I know how far my giving could go. I was uneducated regarding the reasons to give. Working in the office, I quickly realized it’s not just about supporting individual ministries, but about supporting and taking care of our church, the place we come every Sunday (more if you have preschoolers). The place where time with God resides, friendships are formed, and connections are deepened. Did you know CLC has a mortgage payment, utilities, phone and internet bills to pay? Did you know there are worship materials, music and video licenses? Did you know about our facility maintenance, which include electrical, plumbing, and cleaning? Did you know the office needs supplies, copiers and computers? Yes, it operates like a business. Of course it does, right? Don’t tell anyone, but I had NO IDEA!! I didn’t think of church that way. Again, uneducated. CLC has all this, so we can reach out to our community, provide a safe and nurturing place for youth, and so we are able open our space to the many ministries and groups we host here at CLC. My action is simple. Give! Give to the church.

National Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, November 27th. I’m excited to share that Christ Lutheran Church has joined this movement by being a participating organization this year. My hope is that your giving choice will be to CLC. What if you could give $20, $50 or even $100 on Giving Tuesday? Just like I learned, YOUR giving will go a long way to supporting our church community.

We have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving CLC! -Brittany Marshall

News from OWLs (Outstanding Wiser Lutherans)

Through the generosity of its members, the OWLs group recently purchased two piglets and five goats through the ELCA Good Gifts/Global Barnyard project. The OWLs annual holiday fundraiser garnered enough support to purchase the seven animals. Thanks be to God for our wonderful OWLs group!

Did you know that the OWLs group also supports CLC in other ways? Each time a child is baptized at CLC, he or she is given a stuffed lamb to commemorate the occasion. The OWLs group pays for those lambs all throughout the year, and we certainly appreciate their generosity.

Pictorial Directory It’s time for an updated church directory, so please plan to have your photo taken either here at CLC or at the Bettinger photo studio, near the University of Denver.

With your photo session, you will receive a complimentary 5x7 portrait and a copy of the directory. Also, portrait packages will be available for purchase through Bettinger at discounted pricing. You can schedule your appointment by phone or online. Don’t wait! Prime times will fill up fast. Go online to PictorialServices.com or call the scheduling number 303-400-6023 to choose a time that works well for you and your family. Pictorial directories are a valuable gift to a church community.

Studying the pictorial directory to match names with faces is one of the easiest ways to learn who everyone is, and allows us to connect with one another, especially with our many new members. We want everyone to be included, so please make your appointment today!

FAIR TRADE EVENT Please join us for the Fair Trade sale here at CLC. The sales will be held on November 24 & 25, and December 1 & 2 before, during and after all regular church services. Public sales will also be held on Saturday, December 1 from 10am to 3 pm. You are invited to shop for items from Outreach Uganda, Mission Quilters, knit and crochet items from Chicks with Sticks, used books from the Women’s Book Club, olive wood ornaments and statues, baked goods from the youth group, coffee being sold by the Military Ministry, cookie and other bakery mix items in jars, as well as scrip gift cards with or without gift card holders made by out card-making ministry. With that kind of selection, you can shop for everyone on your Christmas list! Food trucks will be here on December 1 as well, so you can grab some lunch while you shop. Mark your calendars and join the fun!

CLC Annual Mortgage Debt Reduction Fundraiser CLC’s Legacy & Endowment Committee is conducting its annual fundraiser to reduce our $1.7M mortgage debt from December 1 through Dec 31. Our goal is to raise $9,000.

For every $20 donated to the campaign you will receive a beautiful CLC ornament.

Members of the L&E Committee will be taking donations and distributing ornaments in Fellowship Hall after each service, beginning December 1.

Remember, all donations to the campaign may be tax deductible for the current tax year. We will accept cash, check or credit card.

In order to ensure everyone will have the opportunity for an ornament, we will limit the ornaments to 3 per donor.

If you have any questions, please contact any Legacy & Endowment Committee member: Jeff Bergstrom, Mat Groh, Barry Reeves, or Margie Versen.

TIME TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION Log onto http://clchr.org/ and click into “Online Community log in”. You are then able to update your contact information, add a current photo as well. Please make sure your address is up to date. Year-end giving statements will be mailed out soon. If you need help please contact Sam Sweitzer at 303-791-0803 or email her at office@clchr.org.

Hello from the Preschool Blessings to everyone on this holiday season! The preschool is gearing up for our holiday celebrations and performing in our Christmas programs. We so enjoy watching our little ones sing for everyone. We will be spending time talking about the meaning of Christmas and sharing the story of the birth of baby Jesus!

On another note, December begins Fall registration for 2019! Time goes fast downstairs. We will have registration paperwork for church members, MOPS, existing preschool families and alumni available on December 17th for everyone to take home and complete over the holiday. These forms will need to be returned to the preschool no later than January 8th to guarantee your 1st class choice for the fall. A $60.00 registration fee will also be required when you turn in your forms. The forms will be on the church resource table in the Narthex. Please take one and tell your friends to call and schedule a tour with us to see our wonderful program. Open Registration to the public will begin on Wednesday, January 9th. We have multiple class options to choose from, as well as, before and after kids klub daily. If you have any questions, please call Deb or Blair at 303-471-9290 or email Deb at dmorgans@clchr.org. We thank you in advance for your support and know your child will have an amazing and loving time learning about Jesus while having fun in our school.

Isaiah 9:6: For a child will be born unto us, a Son will be given to us: And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty god, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

As we celebrate the wonderful gift of the birth of our Savior, blessings for a safe and happy holiday.

Ms. Deb and Ms. Blair

Happy Birthday Logan Abraham Mike Adams Mallory Alexander Brooklyn Anderson Caleb Anderson Ricky Anderson Garrett Anderson Davin Anna Tessa Antista Lon Wyatt Arnold Cyndi Baca Ron Baca Lenny Bates Jillian Beal Nicole Belin Sara Berg Lois Betthauser Steve Bohren Bobby Bramlett Sue Buck Zell Cantrell Christopher Carparelli Allison Cartwright Jacob Christensen Tom Coates Andrea Coe Kelly Connolly Lee Corns Elizabeth D'Agostino Paula Davis

Dec 16 Dec 22 Dec 9 Dec 22 Dec 31 Dec 25 Dec 17 Dec 2 Dec 22 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 22 Dec 16 Dec 22 Dec 9 Dec 29 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 9 Dec 19 Dec 14 Dec 11 Dec 15 Dec 21 Dec 12 Dec 6 Dec 26 Dec 12 Dec 17 Dec 7

Aaron DeBoer Courtney Dockter Cheryl Dummitt Tracy Etten Todd Evans Bryan Fagerholt Barry Fagerholt Chrissy Fagerholt Hailey Fanning Michael Fisbeck Charles Fisher Julie Folkerts Greg Forge Susanne Freitag Lisa Friedenthal Leslie Grant Maggie Green Ava Gregorek Patricia Hansen Karen Herdahl Michelle Hinz John Hirst Randy Hofmann Mike Jewell Mary Johnston Elizabeth Jones Anderson Kavo Brandon Kimble Pete Koury Jason Kravitz

Dec 31 Dec 15 Dec 23 Dec 19 Dec 21 Dec 30 Dec 30 Dec 21 Dec 27 Dec 3 Dec 31 Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 3 Dec 20 Dec 30 Dec 19 Dec 6 Dec 12 Dec 19 Dec 17 Dec 6 Dec 2 Dec 27 Dec 30 Dec 1 Dec 22 Dec 11 Dec 25 Dec 11

Caitlin Kroneberger Aidan Lambert Wade Leibbrandt Larry Lovelace Beverly Lundeen Daniel Martinez Tanner Mavis Paul McCulloch Kenny Mena Casa Holly Mena Casa Emily Mielke Lindsey Minutillo Amy Mitchell Emilee Morris Wendie Moses Angela Newhouse Peggy Norris David Ornes Alaina Oscai David Oscai Nick Palazzo Thomas Parsa Lisa Peterson Emma Pugh Gerry Rasel Kathy Risden Nick Roosen Mark Russell Grant Schaedig Diane Schauer

Dec 18 Dec 27 Dec 19 Dec 29 Dec 5 Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 4 Dec 16 Dec 29 Dec 24 Dec 18 Dec 29 Dec 2 Dec 20 Dec 30 Dec 27 Dec 20 Dec 22 Dec 8 Dec 21 Dec 10 Dec 10 Dec 12 Dec 20 Dec 10 Dec 16 Dec 29 Dec 6 Dec 29

Adam Scheuerman Jen Schrader Amy Schulte Cindy Seefeldt Don Shovein Bruce Silkworth Dina Silverman Will Snauwaert Glenn Staub Kelsey Stevens Scott Strom Nancy Sullivan Bob Tronrud Anthony Valenti Jr. Jianna Valenti Jr. Nic Vasilauskas Ryan Vogler Joshua Waggoner Blake Waggoner John Wallrath Carolee Weitzel Dylan Westover Bill White Mike Williams Trevor Witkind Karrie Witkind Joseph Zorn

Dec 20 Dec 19 Dec 26 Dec 20 Dec 8 Dec 20 Dec 4 Dec 9 Dec 22 Dec 4 Dec 14 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 15 Dec 3 Dec 1 Dec 18 Dec 9 Dec 14 Dec 8 Dec 24 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 31 Dec 11 Dec 24 Dec 28

CLC Ladies Christmas Party

December 16th • 2:00-4:00 pm

Christ Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall

Please bring an appetizer (last name N-Z) or a treat for the chocolate fountain or Dessert (last name A-M) and a wrapped ornament for a fun gift exchange!

RSVP in the fellowship hall or to Jenny Allert Jennyallert@yahoo.com 253-376-4494

DECEMBER SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY Fair Trade Sale 1 9a Chicks w/Sticks 10a Genealogy Group 12p Fjelldalen Lodge 5p Preschool Parents Night Out 5p Worship

Fair Trade Sale 2 8a Worship 9:15a Adult Educations 9:30a Sunday School - 3 years to 6th grade 9:30a Worship 11a 1st Communion Celebration at 11am worship 11a Worship 7p Boy Scouts 645

6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 3 8a Preschool 4 8a Preschool 5:30p Crossroads Band 9a Counters 7p BLAZE 5:30p ADVANCE! (off-site) 7p Praise Team 7p Boy Scouts 645 7p Women’s Book Club (off-site) 7p Personnel Mtg.

8a Preschool 5 8a Preschool 6p Hand Bells Practice 9:30a MOPS 7p Celebration Choir 12p Preschool Jump Bunch 5:30p Advent Meals 7p Worship - Advent Mid-Week Service

8a Worship 9 9:15a Adult Education 9:30a Sunday School - 3 years to 6th grade - Cancelled 9:30a Worship 9:30a Youth Christmas Musical at 9:30am Service 11a Worship 5p Dynamite 7p AA Meeting

6:30a Men's Breakfast 10 8a Preschool 10a CLC Staff Brunch Group 4:30p Caregivers 8a Preschool 5:30p Crossroads Band 9a Counters 7p BLAZE 9a Mission Quilters 7p Council Meeting 1:15p PAT Meeting 7p Praise Team 5:30p Preschool Christmas Program 7p Boy Scouts 645

11 8a Preschool

8a Worship 16 9:15a Adult Education 9:30a Sunday School - 3 years to 6th grade - Cancelled 9:30a Worship 11a Worship 2p Ladies Christmas Party 5p Christmas Caroling & Supper 7p AA Meeting

6:30a Men's Breakfast 17 Group 8a Preschool 9a Counters 7p Boy Scouts 645 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.

8a Preschool 12p VNA Foot Clinic 5:30p Crossroads Band 6:45p Women of Joy 7p BLAZE 7p Praise Team

18 8a Preschool

Douglas County School 23 District Winter Break 8a Special Prayer Service/ Worship 9:15a Adult Education 9:30a Sunday School - 3 years to 6th grade - Cancelled 9:30a Worship 11a No 11am Worship Today 7p AA Meeting

Douglas County School 24 District Winter Break 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 8a Preschool Christmas Break 9a Counters 9a Mission Quilters 11a Worship - Traditional 1p Worship - Children’s 3p Worship - Children’s 5p Worship - Candle Light 7p Boy Scouts 645 - Cancelled

Douglas County School 30 District Winter Break 8a Worship 9:15a Adult Education 9:30a Sunday School - 3 years to 6th grade - Cancelled 9:30a Worship 11a Worship 7p AA Meeting

Douglas County School 31 District Winter Break 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 8a Preschool Christmas Break 9a Counters 6p Soul Sisters Outing (off-site) 7p Boy Scouts 645

12 8a Preschool

6 8a Preschool

7 5p Worship 8 5p Youth Christmas Musical 12p Preschool Sports Club at 5pm Service make up 5p Preschool Parents Night Out

13 8a Preschool

14 8a Lutefisk Dinner

15

20 Douglas County School

21 Douglas County School

22

Douglas County School 25 Douglas County School 26 Douglas County School 27 Douglas County School 28 Douglas County School District Winter Break District Winter Break District Winter Break District Winter Break District Winter Break 8a Preschool Christmas Break 8a Preschool Christmas Break 8a Preschool Christmas Break 5p Worship OFFICE CLOSED 8a Preschool Christmas Break 10a Visitation Team Meeting 6p Hand Bells Practice 4:30p Caregivers 5:30p Crossroads Band 7p BLAZE 7p Praise Team

29

11a Preschool Chapel 12p Preschool Jump Bunch 12p VNA Foot Clinic 2p Preschool Chapel 5:30p Advent Meals 5:30p Preschool Christmas Program 7p Worship - Advent Mid-Week Service

11a Preschool Chapel 6p Hand Bells Practice 6p Military Ministry 7p Celebration Choir

19 8a Preschool 6p Hand Bells Practice 9:30a MOPS 7p Celebration Choir 11:30a Visitation Team Luncheon 12p Preschool Jump Bunch 5:30p Advent Meals 7p Worship - Advent Mid-Week Service

12p OWLS Luncheon 2p Lutefisk Dinner Set-up 7p MOMSnext

District Winter Break 8a Preschool - No School Inservice

8a Maintencnce Team Work Day 5p Worship

District Winter Break 5p Worship

Followers of Jesus Christ

8997 S. Broadway Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 Change Service Requested

There’s a place for you!

Church Community Ministries Outreach Ministries Altar Guild Worship Teams First Impressions Team Ushers and Greeters Bulletin “Folders” Readers Decorating Team Assisting Ministers Mowing & Snow Removal Kitchen Team Recycling Team Maintenance Team Sign Team Chefs for Christ Sanctuary Care Card Ministry Prayer Tree Care for the Caregiver Grief Group MOPS MomsNext

Preschool

Parent’s Night Out Sponsor a Child from Uganda

Outreach Uganda Urban Peak Teen Shelter Alcoholics Anonymous Bonfils Blood Drive Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp Lutheran Family Services projects Pueblo De Dios (in CA) Projects ELCA World Hunger Military Ministry Chicks with Sticks Mission Quilters Thrivent Builds

Youth & Family Ministries

Baptism Classes First Bible Classes First Communion Classes Summer Vacation Bible School Dynamite Youth Group (4th, 5th & 6th graders) Confirmation Classes (7th & 8th graders) BLAZE (Senior High School Youth Group) Sunday School Mission Trips

Education and Fellowship

Adult Education Classes held during 9:30 Sunday services and Wednesday nights at 7pm Men’s Breakfast Group – Bible study group meets every Monday morning Women of Joy – a Christian Bible study that meets twice monthly for fellowship and service Women’s Bible Studies - (Monday mornings 9:30am – spring and fall sessions)

Fun and Fellowship

OWLS – Senior group meets monthly for fellowship Shepherds Dinner Group Men’s Book Club Women’s Book Club Advance! Men’s Group Soul Sisters Women’s Group Bridge Group Co-ed and Men’s Softball

Music

CLC Kids Rock!

Youth Worship Weekend Band Celebration Choir Carillon Ringers Crossroads Band Praise Team