1

be changed and redeemed to become God’s new creation. We yearn, espe-cially during this season, for God’s kingdom to come and be born among us. We yearn for peace, for whole-ness, for healing, for the honoring and valuing of people, for the protection of the vulnerable, and for the libera-tion of the unjustly imprisoned and detained.

Advent brings into contrast both the misery of the cur-rent creation and the hopefulness we have through the coming of Jesus. For we defiantly proclaim that one day the God of love will prevail in the

redemption of the entire world, and in the fulfillment of the new creation!

Advent has always been one of my favorite church seasons of the year. I suppose that is because it such a stir-ringly emotive season. It is the season of expectation, not only for Christmas, but for the fulfillment of all of God’s desires for the world. Just as Mary was pregnant with Jesus before giving birth, so too is this world expectantly “groaning in labor pains” (Romans 8:22) for the birth one day of God’s kingdom. The yearning, the expectancy, inherent in the season of Ad-vent focuses clearly on the stark reality of this world: that all is not yet as it should be. Misery, hunger, calamity, poverty, illness, discrimina-tion, war, and death still prevail. And yet our loving God desires and is work-ing toward the day when this world will

MUDDY CREEK LUTHERAN w w w . m c l c h u r c h . o r g 3 3 6 - 2 7 7 0

S pe c i a l po i n t s o f

i n t e r e s t :

Christmas Eve

Caroling

Ladies’ Night Out

Giving Tree

Choir Cantata

Sunday School Christ-

mas Program

D e c e mbe r 2 0 1 6

From the Pastors

Advent: A Time of Expectation and Yearning

Advent and Christmas Worship December 4—Second Sunday of Advent, Communion at 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

December 11—One Service of Carols and the Sunday School Christmas Program, 10:15 a.m.,

followed by the Congregational Meeting

December 18—One Service, Christmas Cantata at 10:15 a.m.

December 24—Christmas Eve Services

4:30 p.m.—Candlelight Service with carols, readings, children’s message, sermon, special music. The children’s bells will perform.

10:30 p.m.—Candlelight Service with carols, readings, sermon, Muddy Creek Choir, and communion.

December 25—One Service at 9:30 a.m.

January 1—One Service at 9:30 a.m.

2

Upcoming Opportunities

Choir Cantata

10:15 a.m.

Sunday, December 18

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to enjoy this special Sunday where there will be congrega-tional carol singing as well as the choir cantata! Why not invite a friend to join you as we celebrate the season!

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Services

Come and celebrate the season with our youth and children who will be offering their gifts of music and drama to remind us again of the wondrous story of Christ’s birth! There will be music, joy, bells, and the opportunity to join your voice with everyone in many favorite carols.

On Christmas Eve, you will have two worship options to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The first service is at 4:30 p.m. and will include carols, a chil-dren’s message, a sermon, spe-cial music, childrens’ bells, and candlelighting. This may be a good option for those who have other evening celebra-

tions with family, prefer not to drive late at night, or who have family members who go to bed at an earlier hour.

The second service is at 10:30 p.m. and will include carols, sermon, music from the choir, communion, and candlelighting. This is an excel-lent traditional option for those who wish to wor-ship late in the evening and greet Christmas Day at midnight.

We hope to see you on Christmas Eve, along with any family who may be visiting or friends that you wish to invite. What a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Christ!

Giving Tree

Beginning November 27, you are invited to support our holiday “Giving Tree” project by bringing in items for House of His Crea-tion in Lititz. The Giving Tree will be located over by the mailboxes. Please take a tag from the tree listing a gift to bring in for the mothers and children served by this organization. There will also be tags for yarn to bring in for the Prayer Shawl group.

Please bring in your gifts by Sunday, December 18th. Please wrap the gifts for the House of His Cre-ation and attach the tag you took from the Giving Tree. Yarn can be brought in at any time.

Thank you for helping to make Christmas more happy for children and families, and for supporting this project of the Social Ministry Committee at Muddy Creek.

Christmas Eve

Lawn Signs

Help spread the word about Muddy Creek’s Christmas Eve services! Beginning Dec. 4, the Evangelism Committee will be handing out yard signs which list the times of Christmas Eve services at Muddy Creek. All are invited to take one to put up on your lawn.

Questions, contact Brenda Berger at 336-6886 or bergerb@dejazzd.com.

Poinsettias The deadline for ordering red or white poinsettias (5 buds each) to help decorate the church for the Ad-

vent/Christmas Season is Sunday, December 4. The cost is $6.30 each, and they may be given in honor or in memory of someone. Forms are available at the church, or you may call the office to place your order.

Service of Carols

And Sunday School

Christmas Program

10:15 a.m. December 11

3

Upcoming Opportunities

Youth, Children and Family

Christmas Caroling (Cookies too!)

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 6:30 -8:00 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to come and sing carols to some special people near the church and then enjoy a few homemade Christmas cookies! Jingle bells and Santa hats appreciated!

Ladies’ Night Out

Friday, Dec. 9, 6:00 p.m.

Cookie Exchange & Christmas Games

Come join the ladies of Muddy Creek and friends for a fun night out. The night will begin with a provided lunch followed by some Christmas games. The evening will conclude with a cookie exchange. In order to collect cookies to take home with you, bring 5 dozen of the same kind of cookie, and a copy of the recipe. And don’t forget to also bring an empty cookie container to take home your cookie assort-ment! Please sign up on the table under the mailbox-es. Everyone can bring one guest. Note: Each person who wants to collect cookies should bring 5 dozen cookies with them! Hope to see everyone there!

Congregational Meeting

Sunday December 11

The Congregational Meeting to approve the 2017 Budget and elect Church Council members and Cem-etery Board members will be on Sunday, Dec. 11, fol-lowing the 10:15 Sunday School Christmas Program and Service. Copies of the proposed budget are availa-ble on the table under the mailboxes.

The Nominating Committee is nominating the fol-lowing people for the election to Church Council (four to be elected): Nick Duong, Tim Fritz, Mike Leid, John Schutter and John Shreiner. Dean Lutz is being nominated for the Cemetery Board.

Also, a Budget Hearing will be held on Sunday Dec. 4 at 9:00 am in the fellowship hall. This is an excellent opportunity to come with any questions, or to learn more about the budget.

Confirmation Gatherings

Youth in grades 6—9 are invited to attend mid-week gatherings at the church. Friends always welcome!

This month’s Wednesday Gatherings

6:30—8:00 pm

December 7

December 21 (Christmas Caroling)

This month’s Parent Class

Sunday, December 4 at 9 a.m.

Jesus ‘n Me Parent/Child Group

Monthly Sunday Mornings 9:00 am

0—4 year olds

Come join the fun in this interactive experience for parents and children (grandparents, or other adults are welcome with their little ones too!). Pastor Peter will lead everyone in simple songs, stories, activities, para-chute play, puppets, and more.

December meeting: December 18

Theme: “A Christmas Celebration”

4

News and Notes

We welcomed Landon Jacob Brooks through baptism on October 30th. Landon is the son of Cole and Katie Brooks.

Our sympathy to the family of Ruth Leid Potteiger, who died on November 10, 2016. The funeral was held at Mud-dy Creek on November 17.

Church Council

The Church Council received a presentation about the Lutheran Camping Corporation from the district dean, Rev. Tim Craven. The Nominating Committee presented five names for the Dec. 11th Church Council election, and one name for the Cemetery Board Election. Proposed changes from the ELCA for our Congregational Constitution were reviewed, for presentation at the January Congregational meeting.

Christian Education

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Youth Soup and Sandwich Fundraiser. Special thanks to Audrey Noll for coordinating the event. The youth raised nearly $800 for upcoming youth events!

Parish Life

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Corn Maze event a great success. There was a great turn out.

Property

The Property Committee wishes to thank the numerous wonderful volunteers who came out to rake leaves and help for the Outdoor Clean Up on Nov. 5. Also, the re-glazing of the all the storm windows covering the stained glass windows on both the south and east sides of the church was completed.

Council and Committee Highlights

2017 Offering Envelope Change: To be more cost effective, the 2017 envelopes will be issued in alphabetical order. This will eliminate numbers not currently being used.

Giving Statements for 2016: Anyone wishing to receive a giving statement who did not receive one in the past should contact Nedra Bearinger at 336-7444 before January 1, 2017 in order to receive one. 2017 Envelopes: These will be available in your mailbox in the annex beginning Sunday, Dec. 4. Please be sure to write your designations for your offering on the outside of each envelope: Current: general operating expenses Benevolence: mission dollars for the work of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and ELCA Building/Improvement: building and improvement projects at Muddy Creek Other: special needs designated by your choice such as altar flowers, Organ Fund, World Hunger, Good Samaritan Fund, Ephrata Area Social Services, Luther Care etc. Special Envelopes: (Communion, Lent, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) money goes to the mission of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and ELCA unless it is designated otherwise. Simply Giving Program: This is an option, used by many at Muddy Creek, whereby you can have your contributions electronically deducted from your bank account. You will still receive envelopes in case you want to use them for spe-cial offerings, or if you would like to place an empty envelope in the plate with SG written in the top right corner. Electronic giving provides convenience for you and much needed donation consistency for our congregation. Getting started is easy and can be done by using forms available in the money counting room following worship each Sunday. Bank Bill Pay: Please also consider using your bank’s online bill pay option to give offering to Muddy Creek .

Offering Envelope and Year End Giving Statement Information

5

December Birthdays

A Special Happy Birthday to our “Over 80” Members

Brenda & Friends Tours

Dec. 1—Gaither Christmas Concert at the Giant Center

Dec. 3—Dickens of a Christmas in Wellsboro

Dec. 10—Christmas at Mount Vernon

For more info contact Brenda at 336-6886 or

bergerb@dejazzd.com.

More info also on hallway table outside church office

Andrew Rutt

John Lutz-Kulp

Scott Youndt

Misty Ebersole

Brett Kemper

Haley Leed

Stanley Weaver

Cynthia Czarnecki

Stephen Ramsey

Timothy Leed

Kendra Seidel

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

JoAnn Loose

Mark Brier

Travis Gerhart

Lydian Leed

Ella Sensenig

Cannon Youndt

Wade Nixon

Robin Schnader

Mikayla Eshleman

Fern Lausch

Heather Colabove

Kash Weaver

10

11

12

13

14

15

December 11, 1930 Ella Sensenig

Age 86 Fairmount Home

33 Wheat Ridge Dr.

Ephrata, PA 17522

December 14, 1928 Fern Lausch

Age 88 68 St. John Circle

Lititz, PA 17543

December 24, 1931 Mary Ann Fritz

Age 85 28 East Swartzville Rd.

Denver, PA 17517

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 11, 2016

16

17

18

19

20

21

John Muscavage

Anne Nuss

Amanda Dittmer

Avery Rideout

Robert Rutt

Jerrry Beck

Karen Schnader

Nicole Snader

Donald Busser

Carter Greene

Shelby Stuck

Alexander Stuck

Carissa Witmer

Mary Ann Fritz

Mary Jo Wummer

Michael Bordner

Sandra Schutter

Todd Schweitzer

Hunter Heist

Jennifer Schweitzer

Holly Schnader

Claire Brier

Cole Brooks

23

24

26

28

29

31

ANNUAL REPORT DEADLINE: December 11, 2016

6

Coffee Ministry

December

4 Terri and Will Meckley

11 The Youndt family

18 Still needed

25 No Coffee Ministry

(please sign up on the clipboard on coffee table to help)

Money Counters

December

4 Lori and Mike Martin, Josephine Martin

11 Linda and Tim Fritz, David Sensenig

18 Gail and Ted Bare

25 Jeanette and Mike Leid

January 2017

1 Connie Harding, Diane Leed

8 Walter and Marie Buohl, John Schutter

15 Gloria Aseli, Brenda Berger, Audrey Noll

22 Sara and Ken Frazer, Carl Schenskie

29 Linda Gerhart, Hollie Kemper, Jim Weber

Ushers

December 4 Team 2, Michael Leid, Capt.

December 11,18,25 Team 8, Church Council

Dec. 24 (4:30 pm) Team 8, Church Council

Dec. 24 (10:30pm) Team 1, Julie Emrhein, Capt. Altar Guild

December Brenda Shreiner and Jane Wenger

January Marie and Walter Buohl

Bulletin Folders

(Thursday unless noted)

December

1 Joyce and Ernie Litzenberger

8 Kathleen Ebling, Charmaine Wenrich

15 Joe Dietrich

22 Becky and Bud Thunberg

29 Audrey and Roger Noll

January

5 Brenda and John Shreiner

12 June and Neal Leid

19 Charles and Janet Frantz, Pat Artz

26 Audrey and Roger Noll

Lay Readers

December

4 William Wood

11 none needed

18 none needed

25 none needed

Worship Helpers

7

January 29, Sunday —Annual Congregational Meeting

March 1, Wednesday—Ash Wednesday Service

Worship Helpers

Acolytes

December

4 Brandon Walzl

11 Ryan Brubaker

18 Sada Aungst

24 Needed (4:30 p.m.)

24 Courtney Zwally (10:30 p.m.)

25 Needed (9:30 a.m.)

January 2017

1 Needed (9:30 a.m.)

8 Will Meckley

15 Clay Hartman

22 Lucas Killian

29 Brandon Walzl

Upcoming Events

Worship Sunday School

October 30 139 19

November 6 143 44

November 13 120 33

November 20 105 36

Income Actual Expenses

October $ 17,941.86 $ 13,540.11

Year thru Oct. $153,336.47 $160,166.69

Attendance and Giving Report

Nursery

(10:15 unless noted)

December

4 8 a.m. Don & Nora Busser

10:15 a.m. Michelle and Scott Dimitris

11 No Nursery—SS Christmas Program

18 Jill Youndt, Brandon Walzl

25 No Nursery

January 2017

1 No Nursery

8 8 a.m. Don and Nora Busser

10:15 a.m. Michelle and Scott Dimitris

15 Michelle Walzl, Brenda Shreiner

22 Jill Youndt, Brandon Walzl

29 Jeff and Anne Brubaker

Communion Assistant

December 4 Kelby Weaver

December 24 Janine Aungst (10:30 p.m.)

January 8 Courtney Zwally

December Office Hours

Church Office: Tues & Thurs 9:00 am—11:30 am

Pastors: Tuesday 9:00 am—11:00 am

Thursday 9:00 am– 11:00 am

Additional hours by appointment and at

various times throughout the week

8

De

ce

mb

er

2

016

Su

n

Mo

n

Tu

e

We

d

Th

u

Fr

i S

at

1 7

p.m

. C

ho

ir

8

p.m

. C

an

tata

2

3

4 8

& 1

0:1

5 a

.m.

Wo

rsh

ip

9 a

.m.

Co

nfi

rma

tio

n P

ar-

ent

cla

ss

9 a

.m.

Su

nd

ay

Sch

oo

l

9 a

.m.

Bu

dg

et H

eari

ng

5

6

7

6:3

0 p

.m.

Co

nfi

rma

tio

n

Ga

ther

ing

8

7 p

.m.

Ch

oir

8 p

.m.

Ca

nta

ta

9

6 p

.m.

La

die

s N

igh

t O

ut

(Co

ok

ie E

x-

cha

ng

e)

10

10 a

.m.

Ch

rist

ma

s P

ro-

gra

m R

ehea

rsa

l

11—

On

e S

erv

ice

10:1

5

9 a

.m.

Su

nd

ay

Sch

oo

l

10:1

5 a

.m.

Wo

rsh

ip—

Ch

rist

ma

s P

rog

ram

Co

ng

reg

ati

on

al

Mee

tin

g

12

13

6:3

0 p

m P

ray

er S

ha

wl

Ga

ther

ing

at

Yv

on

ne’s

14

6 p

.m.

De

vel

op

men

t T

eam

7 p

.m.

Ch

urc

h C

ou

nci

l m

tg.

15

7 p

.m.

Ch

oir

8 p

.m.

Ca

nta

ta

16

17

18–

On

e S

erv

ice

10:1

5

9 a

.m.

Su

nd

ay

Sch

oo

l

9 a

.m.

Pla

yg

rou

p

10:1

5 a

.m.

Wo

rsh

ip –

Ch

oir

Ca

nta

ta

19

20

21

6:3

0 p

.m.

Co

nfi

rma

tio

n

an

d F

am

ily

Ca

roli

ng

22

7

p.m

. C

ho

ir

8

p.m

. C

an

tata

23

24

4

:30

p.m

. &

10

:30

p.m

. C

hri

stm

as

Ev

e W

ors

hip

25

- O

ne

Ser

vic

e 9

:30

Mer

ry C

hri

stm

as!

No

Su

nd

ay

Sch

oo

l

26

27

6

:30

pm

Pra

yer

Sh

aw

l G

ath

erin

g a

t Y

vo

nn

e’s

28

2

9

30

3

1

Pas

tors

: N

ancy S

chw

abe-F

ry

P

eter

Sch

wab

e-F

ry

Ad

min

istr

ativ

e A

ssis

tant:

L

ind

a M

oh

n

Dir

ecto

r o

f M

usi

c:

Gre

g G

eh

man

Sexto

ns:

Mar

k S

ay

lor,

Bre

nd

a an

d L

inda

Ber

ger

Pre

sident:

Bra

d R

auch

Vic

e-P

resi

dent:

Walt

er B

uo

hl

Council

Sec

reta

ry:

Gail

Bare

Tre

asure

r: S

cott

Str

ick

land

Ple

ase

wri

te y

ou

r up

com

ing

even

ts o

n t

he

cale

nd

ar i

n t

he

hal

lway

at

the

chu

rch

No

te:

Th

e S

ob

riet

y

Sis

ters

mee

t ev

ery

T

hu

rs e

ve

nin

g a

t th

e ch

urc

h.

Mudd

y C

reek

Lu

ther

an C

hu

rch, 1

1 S

ou

th M

udd

y C

reek

Road

, D

enver

, P

A

175

17

, w

ww

.mcl

chu

rch

.org

, 71

7-3

36-2

770—

for

urg

ent

pas

tora

l n

eed

s ca

ll p

asto

rs a

t 59

8-5

095

.

Off

ice

emai

l:

off

ice@

mcl

chu

rch

.org

P

asto

rs’

emai

ls:

nan

cy@

mcl

chu

rch

.org

pet

er@

mcl

chu

rch

.org

Nam

es o

f ad

dit

ional

con

gre

gat

ion

al l

ead

ers

and c

hai

rpeo

ple

are

fo

un

d o

n t

he

bu

llet

in b

oar

d n

ear

outs

ide

the

chu

rch

off

ice.