September 2017 Risen Savior Lutheran Church

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the

Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the

earth, and thick darkness the peoples; BUT the Lord will

arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the

brightness of your dawn.” – Isaiah 60:1-3

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” so the popular

Christmas song goes. That is true for some people, but not

for others. For Christians, December brings the season of

Advent, four weeks of waiting and preparation for the birth

and second coming of our Lord. As our society goes into

high gear with parties and shopping and spending to the

limits, scripture and tradition beckon us to slow down and

wait, to prepare our hearts to once again receive our King.

For us it is a season of anticipation and longing for all to be

made right in the world as well as in our own lives.

Of course, we know “Jesus is the reason for the season”, as

the old cliché states, and we can look forward with great

hope, peace, joy and love in our hearts. The thing is, this

season can also be crushing for those whose hearts are

breaking with grief or pain, with memories of how things

once were or they hoped they would be. There is a deep gap

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From the Pastor’s Desk ..... 1

Upcoming. .......................... 3

Light of the Cross ............... 5

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

Thank you 4

Seniors Lunch 4

December calendar 7

From the Pastor’s Desk

December 2017

between experiences or dreams and the reality of their

current situation. It is for these folks, the hungry and poor,

the broken and hurting, the lonely and abused, that the

promise of the Light coming into the world is critical. It is

our job, as people of the Light, to help the Light of the

World shine into every crevice of darkness, through our

prayers and good works, our love and good wishes.

So, even as we prepare our hearts and homes, we also reach

out to others. Thank you for your tremendous outpouring

of love in 60 bags of Thanksgiving groceries for Light of the

Cross, in Christmas gifts for needy families assigned by

Lutheran Social Services, and items for Mary’s baby Shower

for Healthier Moms and Babies, along with things for

Lydia’s Closet and our Preschool (see article below.) Our

ongoing support of Light of the Cross, all Noisy Offering

recipients, and cards and visits to shut-ins and others are

points of light that make all the difference for those in a

dark time. Thank you, also, for all your gifts of love to

Aaron Smith on his retirement. Risen Savior IS an

awesome church community.

Even though we will miss Aaron’s presence among us, God

has not abandoned us! Kenneth Athon will be with us on

the organ and piano during the month of December as we

continue worshipping God! Carolyn Smith is heading up

the hand bell choir. If you can read music, please join her

for practice after church the Sundays of December leading

up to Christmas Eve! Mary Shuff and Maryca Cody are

heading up the Children’s Christmas Eve Pageant, and

those practices are Dec. 10 and 17 after church. If you’d like

to be part of that, please let one of them know! We will

have two services of worship on Dec. 24, which is a Sunday:

9 am Worship is Advent 4, and 7 pm is our Candlelight

Christmas Eve service. Then, on Dec. 31, we will have lots

of singing during Lessons and

Carols.

Joy to the World, the Lord is

Come!

Serving Christ together,

Pastor Jeanie

2

Seeking Church Musician

We are in search of a

musician knowledgeable

of how church music is.

Do you know anyone

that fits the bill?

We likely would give

preference to keyboard

players (piano and

organ), but are open to

other possibilities!

Please ask them to call

the church office (260-

432-1214) or send their

resume to Musician

Search Committee,

Risen Savior Lutheran

Church, 8010 W.

Jefferson Blvd., Fort

Wayne, IN, 46804.

Finally, they could send

their resume via email

to:

office@risensavioronline

.org.

Thanks so much!

Christmas Caroling O Come All Ye Faithful … dress

warmly and festively for our

annual Christmas Caroling fest

on Sunday, December 17

starting at 4:30 pm. We plan to

make the rounds around

Lutheran campus Rehab

Hospital, Coventry Meadows, and maybe even Canal Flats.

Bring on the Christmas cheer! Hot wassail and Christmas

cookies to follow.

Confirmation Christmas Party Our Confirmation class, made up of 8 students and 3 adults, are

invited to celebrate the season at the home of the Gliots on

Sunday, Dec. 17, 6:30 pm, following Christmas Caroling. We

will have pizza, movie and games. Be there!

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service starts at 6:45 pm on Dec.

24 with Music of the Season. The Service proper begins at 7 pm.

This year we plan to include a Christmas pageant (with a live

baby Jesus) along with special music. You may be surprised to

see who is doing what! Invite you family, friends and neighbors!

Following the singing of Silent Night during our candle lighting,

everyone is invited into the Kitchen for hot wassail and Happy

Birthday, Jesus Christmas cakes and cookies! If you’d like,

bring whatever Christmas goodies you may like to share from

your own homes. A Merry Christmas to all!

3

Card Party

The Card Party ladies

will meet Tuesday,

December 12, at 10 AM.

If you have a concern

about a family member,

friends, thankfulness,

birthday, anniversary,

sympathy, or something

similar, please give Jo

Kruse the information

and we will be happy to

send a card to that

person.

If you would like to join

us in this project, please

let Jo know and we

would be happy to

welcome anyone

wanting to help.

Upcoming …

The Seniors are

anyone over 50 years

young AND don’t need to

be a member of Risen

Savior.

On Thursday, December

14, at 11:30 AM, the

Seniors are catering in

food from CASA and will

all meet here at Risen

Savior.

We will be having

Lasagna and Fettuccini

Primavera along with

CASA salad and loaves of

bread. Those attending

will be bringing family

size deserts. If you would

like to join us, please let

Jo Kruse know so she

has enough food for

everyone. See Jo at

church or call her at 436-

1406.

Come join this bunch of

loving Seniors. You’ll

enjoy some great

conversation and lots of

fun to celebrate the

Christmas season.

4

October Finances from Nicole Fleischman, Treasurer

Contribution Income—$7,512

Non-Contribution Income - $8,924.45

Loose offering - $252

Noisy Offering - $590.56

Rent - $400

Total Expenses - $15,008.84

The 2018 flower

chart is now on the

bulletin board in

the gathering area.

Please sign up for

that special day in

your life!

Thank you Dear friends,

Please accept my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for

the gift you have been to me for the past decade, in many and

various ways. You have been tremendously supportive, even

when I have disappointed you, and that is the very meaning of

love and community.

I am grateful, too, for your generosity in presenting me with these

wonderful gifts on the occasion of my departure, and for letting

me be a part of decorating the church for Advent and eating pizza

with you, all without a whole lot of fanfare or attention. This is

very much as I had wished!

Finally, I ask that you continue to support Pastor Jeanie as you

have me. I cannot imagine a more dedicated partner in ministry

as she has been to us, and as you move into a new chapter in the

life of the church, remember that these three years under her have

been ones of stability, service, and grace. How fortunate we are to

have been the recipients of her pastoral care!

I will be mindful of you in all ways in the days to come. As you

wait for the coming of the Light this Advent, know my love, and

the peace that God offers to each of us.

Aaron

5

Light of the Cross Reporting October 2017 Activity

The LOTC Pantry served 1,038 people from 264 households in October, up markedly from the 222 served in September. Of the families, 51 were first timers to the Pantry, 213 were repeat clients, and 147 of the families were classified as Female Head of household. These households included 66 children age 5 or younger, 272 kids ages 6 thru 18, 105 individuals over the age of 60, 139 disabled persons, and 17 veterans. All qualified as low income families per U.S. Government standards. The 31 October volunteers donated 277 hours of time to meet client needs.

In October, the LOTC Pantry distributed enough food for 15,570 meals. The source of the food included 2,500 lbs. from the Associated Churches Food Bank Network, 2,900 lbs. from TEFAP, 230 lbs. was donated from the partner churches, and an additional 1,949 pounds of food was purchased at a cost of $375.69.

New flooring was installed at the Pantry by Jeff Gernhardt, Messiah, with logistical support from Dave Mould, Steve Stamper, and Jack Davis. Thank you all for the improvements.

A total of 240 turkeys and Thanksgiving Baskets were given out in October. In celebration of Christ’s birth, the Pantry will distribute hams and a dessert mix to clients in December. Those of you willing to contribute toward the cost of the hams may place your donation in an envelope clearly labeled “LOTC Christmas Hams” and place the envelope in your church’s collection plate for your LOTC Rep. Please make checks payable to “Light of the Cross Outreach Ministry” and write “Christmas Hams” on the memo line before placing it in the envelope. Thank you, one and all, for your kind generosity.

PARTNER ASSIGNMENTS FOR DECEMBER

Items of a non-food nature, including: Laundry Soap, Dish Liquid, Cleaning Products, Bar Soap, Shampoo, Toothpaste,

Deodorant, Feminine Hygiene Products, Toiletries for Men and Women, Bathroom Tissue, Paper Products, and similar items.

Food items: Ca nned Fruit & Soda Cra ckers.

Preschool Mission Projects Please start collecting BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION for our Preschool. They can be found on the tops of cereal boxes, Kleenex and other boxed items. Also, the preschool is collecting cardboard toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, and wrapping paper rolls for art projects. Guest readers are always needed for one on one reading, if you’d like to volunteer in that way. Please see Debbie

LaBelle or drop off items at her office. Thanks!

Dec. 5 Tom & Ann Emely (1975)

Dec. 9 Robert & Reva Wiedelman (1978)

Dec. 9 Bill & Janet Symons (1978)

Dec. 12 Chuck & Karen Chaffee (1964)

If you don’t see your anniversary listed, it’s because we don't have it on file. Please share!

Fundraising help from

you!

December Anniversaries

December Birthdays

6

Dec. 2 Bill Symons

Dec. 3 Deb Berg

Dec. 5 Aaron Smith

Dec. 6 Donna Morrissey

Dec. 7 Carolyn Smith

Dec. 12 Jim Rinehart

Dec. 14 Warren Eddy

Dec. 16 Ben Hinkleman

Dec. 20 Benjamin Lutz

Dec. 24 Alex Gliot

Dec. 29 Jo Kruse

If you don't see your birthday listed, it’s because we don’t have it on file. Please share!

Scrip Program

The Scrip program is a

win-win. Using the order

form in the bulletin, pick

what gift cards you want.

Total the amount, and

either write a check to

Risen Savior or pay by

cash. Give the order and

payment to Judy Bruns or

put in the box by pre-

school office; the next

Sunday your cards will be

given to you. You get the

cards with no running

around and the church

makes some money.

Our third quarter Kroger

earnings amounted to

$182.04 - thanks for your

support! If you’re not

signed-up through the

Kroger Community Rewards

program, please stop in the

office and see Judy Bruns,

who can assist.

Friday, December 1 6 PM Pizza & Painting party Sunday, December 3 Advent 1 9 AM Service with Minute for Mission of Mary’s Baby Shower 6:30 PM Confirmation Wednesday, December 6 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer group 10:30 AM Bible Study Thursday, December 7 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, December 10 Advent 2 9 AM Worship, followed by Coffee Fellowship 6:30 PM Confirmation class Monday, December 11 7 PM Council meeting Tuesday, December 12 10 AM Card Party Wednesday, December 13 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer group 10:30 AM Bible Study 7 PM Exploratory Committee Thursday, December 14 11:30 AM Seniors lunch catered in from Casa (with dessert carry-in) 6:30 PM Bible Study Friday, December 15 12 PM Cookie Walk set-up 6:30 PM Council Christmas @ the Hydndman’s

Saturday, December 16 9 AM Cookie Walk Sunday, December 17 Advent 3 9 AM Worship followed by Coffee Fellowship 4:30 PM Christmas Caroling 6:30 PM Confirmation Christmas Party @ the Gliot’s Wednesday, December 20 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study Thursday, December 21 10 AM Preschool Christmas program 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, December 24 Advent 4 9 AM Worship, followed by Coffee Fellowship 6:45 PM Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Wednesday, December 27 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study Thursday, December 28 6:30 PM Bible Study Sunday, December 31 9 AM Worship

Staff Listing Pr. Jeanie Barnes - Interim Pastor 260-436-5594 - home 260-348-4724 - cell jbarnes@risensavioronline.org

Aaron Smith - Liturgical Coordinator, asmith@risensavioronline.org

Kirsten Smith - Communications ksmith@risensavioronline.org

Debbie LaBelle - Preschool Director preschool@frontier.com

Sheryl Fry - Preschool teacher, 18-mo. & 2-yrs. Annette DeRoche - Preschool teacher, 3 yrs. Tina Fischer - Preschool teacher, Pre-K Sheryl Merritt, - Backup Petronella Eloff - Pre-K Teaching Assistant

Jack and Mary Cox - Custodians

December Calendar

7

Risen Savior

Lutheran Church

Our Mission:

We come together, welcoming all, to worship and grow in faith, and we go to serve in Christ’s

name.

2017 Council President - Joe Hyndman

Vice President - Dave Klein

Secretary - Andrew Lutz

Treasurer/Financial Secretary - Nicole Fleischman

Hospitality - Jo Kruse

Property - Warren Eddy

Stewardship - Judy Bruns

Worship - Pam Sullivan

Communications - Mary Shuff

Youth - Deb Hinkleman

Education - Cleo Swager

Risen Savior Lutheran Church 8010 W. Jefferson Boulevard Fort Wayne, IN 46804-4142

260-432-1214

ksmith@risensavioronline.org office@risensavioronline.org