THE CONNECTION

November-December 2019

United Lutheran Church, ELCA

21 Mesnard St., L’Anse, Michigan Ph: (906) 524-6484; Email: ulc_lanse40@yahoo.com

Website: www.unitedlutheranchurchlanse.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ULCLanse

Pastor: John Ansell; (906) 201-2864

Come and Worship! We celebrate with worship on

Sunday worship at 10 a.m. and Mondays at 6 p.m.

OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9 am – 12 noon

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Wednesday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

United Lutheran C

hurch, ELCA

21 Mesnard St. L’

Anse, MI 49946

Greetings Everyone, The days are getting shorter and the weather colder which means we are heading into November and December. During these months there is always a lot going on especially when it comes to being with family and giving thanks for the blessings we have. Yet we also enter a time of reflective anticipation with advent which leads to the celebration of Christmas. November and December is a time to not only recognize our blessings but to also to reflect on our faith as we await the celebration of Christmas. As I reflect particularly this past year our community has done a lot. We can be thankful for the way in which people have been engaging more in the church life and have been able to contribute to the church in ways that help support the ministry here at United Lutheran. As we look back at last year’s financial concerns we can take some comfort in the improvement of our revenues yet we must be careful not to lose the momentum we have gained. As a community we are striving to learn what it means to be not just United Lutheran but being united in Christ. As we look forward to next year I hope that we continue to learn and grow as a faith community. The highlighted hymn for November and December is People Look East. This is an advent hymn that sings of ways to prepare us for God’s entrance into the world. The hymn was written by Eleanor Farjeon and the music is a French carol arranged by Barry Rose. Farjeon was an English writer who wrote children’s books in the early part of the 20th century. She was born in 1881 and lived until 1965. At a very young age she had a passion for writing especially things that where very rhythmic and simple. She also wrote the hymn Morning Has Broken. Barry Rose is an English musician who was born in 1934 and is still alive today. He adapted a the music of a French carol (Besancon) to the lyrics written by Farjeon which added a festive nature to the hymn. People Look East, in my opinion, is quite lovely and lively hymn because it encapsulates the advent season of looking and preparing with anticipation for the coming of Christ. For November and December despite the cooler temps and shorter days we can be thankful for the things we have. I hope that we all take the time to give thanks and start to look forward to the joys of what can come. May God continue to bless us all this and every month.

Sincerely, Pastor John Ansell

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS

We are a family UNITED … and what a great way to get to know each other better … over

coffee! But we need YOU to put on the coffee and be

willing to clean up afterwards (and perhaps provide something to go with the coffee).

Check the sign-up sheet in the barrier-free entrance. Remember, the focus is the fellowship … so keep the food simple.

All the monetary donations received during the Fellowship Hour

go toward World Hunger.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS FOR November/December

Hosts are needed for November/December

Please check the Volunteer Wall to sign up to Serve Coffee.

May Your Christmas Be Blessed! Mildred L. Jarrell

May your Christmas be blessed With joys of old,

Filling the heart with gifts untold. Friends at the doorway Bustling good cheer,

Carolers singing the songs we hold dear.

May your Christmas be blessed With the homiest things,

The warmth of a hearth, a kettle that sings, A snug little house with loved ones near,

And a heart filled with blessings To last through the year!

Women’s Christmas Gathering Thursday, December 12

6:00 pm All women are invited to join together for a time of fellowship, food, and fun. Please bring a “finger food” to share. A prize will

be given to anyone who brings a friend! If you would like a ride, just give us a call.. Ruth Anne 524-7648, Renee 524-6013, or the church office 524-6484. Hope to see YOU there.

Craft items for the Fall Bazaar: We are looking for additional craft items to sell at

the Bazaar. If you would like to make crafts for the Fall Bazaar, but cannot attend

the crafting group on Wednesdays, please make them at home. We will be collecting donations of craft items on Friday,

November 1st. Thanks!

Trinkets in the Tunnel: We are collecting Trinkets in the Tunnel for the Fall Bazaar. There is a room downstairs marked to place the items. Please – NO books, clothes, or furniture!

Time Change!!

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday, November 2nd, before

you go to sleep.

Church Decorating Join us on Saturday, November 30th at 10 a.m. to decorate the church for

Advent and Christmas Seasons.

Everyone is welcome to join us!

Fall

Bazaar Saturday, November 2nd

11:00 am – 2:00 pm

United Lutheran Church

21 Mesnard St., L’Anse

Crafts

Baked Goods, Jams, Jellies

Theme Baskets

“Trinkets in the Tunnel”

Lunch, coffee, goodies, etc.

Place your order for a Fresh Wreath

SHUT-INS

Please remember our shut-ins. Keep them in your prayers. If you have a moment, stop and visit them.

At Bayside: Joyce Taipalus. At home: Ellen Biekkola, Arlene Patterson, Judy Testen.

Tom DesRochers, Ben Dorsky, Kevin Dougherty, Mike Everson, Karen Hall, Nita Jestila, Ronald Jestila, Jean

Johnson, Samantha Koski, Janel LaPlante, Carole Larson, Damon LaTendresse, Michele (Mickey)

Martinac, Al Niemela, Judy Parks, Ellie Parmalee, Peggy Robillard, Taylor Sanregret, Jennifer Sauvola & baby, Barbara

Walford, Mary Ann.

The Family and Friends of Eugene Roth The Family and Friends of Timothy Kohn The Family and Friends of Beatrice Harju

The Family and Friends of Joe Soli

Dear God,

I humbly ask that you heal us from any hurt, shame, sickness, and

guilt. Heal our hearts, O Lord God. Give us beauty for ashes, the

oil of joy for mourning, and let us wear the garment of praise

instead of the spirit of heaviness and burden.

I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC! Do you play an instrument? Do you sing? Do you know of someone who sings or plays an instrument? We are looking for

some people to provide special music during worship. Please call the church office if you are interested in providing special music!

Thanks!

Articles for Newsletter Looking for ideas and articles for the newsletter. What would you like to see? Do you have information to be put in the newsletter?

Remember that the newsletter deadline is the 10th of every month. Please submit any information to the church office by that date to be included in the next month’s newsletter. The January

February Newsletter deadline will be December 10th.

Deposit for Contributions

Did you know that even if you do not attend worship YOU CAN still give to your church? Go to your financial institution and tell them you want to set up a deposit to United Lutheran Church General Fund Account #900104257; SNB Routing #091101879 It is as easy as that! Thank you for supporting your church!

.

Plans for the Wreath Making Fundraiser Extravaganza" To all who are donating boughs,(cedar, balsam, double balsam, white pine, whatever!!;) Please deliver branches to our home on or before November 9th. Please pile them on the tarps, or the ground, on the south side of our garage. A NEW REQUEST....We need help "clipping" boughs to the "right size" before making wreaths. Help us any afternoon, November 9th-15th, 1-4, Bring your clippers, boots, hat and gloves. Dress warm. Wreath Assembly, McCord's garage, Saturday, November 16th, 9-4; Sunday, November 17th, 1-4, Monday, November 18, 9 - finish. Lunch provided on Saturday and Monday by Wonderful Members who bring soup, cookies and breads!!! If you are not able to help, come out to see the "operation" and have a cup of coffee! The coffee pot is always ON!! Wreath Pick Up any time November 19th to 23rd by calling McCords at 524-4711. OR pick up and pay at the Church parking lot 9:30-11:30, Sunday, November 24th*****.

It’s Almost Time …

Annual Cookie Walk

Saturday, Dec. 7th

9:30 – 11:30 am

Everyone is asked to bake a batch (or two) of your favorite Christmas cookies for this annual fund-raising activity. And / or, you could also make your traditional Christmas breads and/or candies…

You still have time to dig out your favorite Christmas recipes and decide what you would like to make…….

Please plan to have your cookies (& breads, etc.) to the church by 4:30 on Friday, Dec. 6th.

This year we are asking for you to pick up a tray or two to put your cookies on before you bring them to the church.

We also need people who are willing to set-up on Friday night and help with the sales on Saturday.

●Friday night workers should plan

on being to the church at 4:30.

(A light supper will be provided.)

●Saturday workers need to arrive

by 9:00 am.

Come and meet your friends for Saturday morning coffee…

Worship Attendance

Sunday School Sunday Monday

August 4-5 -- 48 14

August 11-12 -- 44 15

August 18* -- 37 --

August 25-26 -- 7

Sept. 1-2 -- 41 12

Sept. 8-9 -- 50 11

Sept. 15-16 54 18

Sept. 22-23 59 18

Sept. 29-30 22 87** 20

*Worship in the Park (rained out, held at church)

**Baptism (Madison & Braylin LaPlante baptism)

.

WINDOW FUND ENVELOPES

If you are interested in donating to the Window Fund to replace

the windows in the education window, there are envelopes in the

Barrier-free entrance.

When you do your Christmas shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1041889, Amazon donates to United Lutheran Church.

You can use Amazon Smile if you have Prime also. If you have any questions, please call the church office

Sunday School! Sunday School Sunday School is at 10 a.m. .

GRADES 2-5: Please remember to bring your Bibles every Sunday! We will be using them to

read our Bible lessons!

NO Sunday School on December 1st, December 22nd, and December 29th. Please mark these dates on your calendar!

6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Confirmation Class

CONFIRMATION CLASSES will be on November 3rd and November 24th at 11:00 a.m. and December 8th at 11:00 a.m.

Remember your Bibles for Confirmation Class!! We are studying the Bible this year! It is important for you to

bring your Bibles!

SARAH CIRCLE

Sarah Circle will meet on Tuesday, November 5th at 9:30 a.m. (Kris Kokko is hostess) and Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at 9:30 a.m. We will meet at Dee Soli’s house. All ladies are welcome to attend.

Worship Schedule for Christmas and New Year’s

Sunday, December 22: Worship at 10 a.m.

Monday, December 23: No Worship

Tuesday, December 24: Worship at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, December 24: Worship at 10 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25: Worship at 10 a.m.

Sunday December 29: Worship at 10 a.m.

Monday, December 30: Worship at 6 p.m.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 26th following worship. Watch the January-February newsletter for more information.

Annual Report deadline will be Friday, January 10th. Please have all reports into the church office by that date!

Council Highlights

Ø Financial Secretary’s records were audited, by Jeannie Gourneau & Marilyn Harden, through July 2019. Everything was found to be in order.

Ø Adult Bible Study, Sunday School, and Confirmation began on September 15th.

Ø Worship in the Park was held on August 18th. It rained so the event was held at the church. We had a smaller group than the past two years, but it was a nice event.

Ø Third Street Parcel will be sold. Ø Travis Hanson, a Thrivent Financial representative, spoke

about Thrivent Choice Dollars at a coffee hour following worship.

Ø Superior Clean Team was hired to clean the church. Ø Floors in the Social Hall have been stripped and waxed. Ø Council decided to send out a letter of thanks, regarding

our finances, to all congregation members. Ø Set the Annual Meeting date for January 26th following

worship. Ø Upcoming events: Fall Bazaar, Wreath making at

McCord’s, and Cookie Walk.

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING Regular Council Meeting will be on

Sunday, November 10th and December 8th following worship (11:15 a.m.)

Please remember that all congregation members are welcome to attend the council meetings. If you have any questions or

concerns, please let a council member know.

News from the Women of the Church The Women of the ELCA kicked of the new program year on Thursday, October 17 at. 1:00 pm. All eleven of us enjoyed tasty desserts provided by Gail Hakola, Joanne Kemppainen, and Leann Davis. Thank to, ladies. We REALLY enjoyed the fact that while we were conducting our business, Pastor John did our dishes, THANK YOU, Pastor! The agenda was full with some items acted upon, some items to think about, and some just reminders of upcoming events. Action was taken to give Christmas donations to St. Vinnies, Bayside, the Shelter Home, Omega House, the WINGS Program, and the new Ripley Recovery Residence. Time was also spent discussing the Cookie Walk and some of the changes and who will do what. Since this was our first meeting of the new program year, we had a lot of mail to review. Among the flyers and newsletters was a hand-written Thank You from Lola and Kale Cichosz for our helping them attend Fortune Lake Camp this past summer. This is one of the things we do with proceeds from our annual Cookie Walk. The women will pay half of the early registration fee for anyone wanting to attend Fortune Lake. Items to ponder included serving groups; possibly changing their structure and defining the actual service provided. A meeting of all Calling Coordinators and any interested women will be scheduled in early January to take on this task. On a sad note for us (happy note for Margo), Margo has stepped down from her leadership responsibilities as President to allow her to relax and have more time to enjoy her family. So another item we are pondering is who will assume the responsibilities of President. Until then, as Vice President I will step in. Dates to remember included the Bazaar on Nov. 2, Cookie Walk on Dec. 7, and the Women’s Christmas Gathering on Dec. 12. The next time we meet will be our Christmas Gathering. Please consider yourself invited to join us. The more the merrier, as they say. Hope to see you there!

— Ruth Anne, Acting President

BELLS OF CHRISTMAS Eugene Field

Why do bells of Christmas ring? Why do little children sing?

Once a lovely shining star, Seen by shepherds from afar, Gently moved until its light

Made a manger’s cradle bright.

There a darling baby lay Pillowed soft upon the hay;

And its mother nad and smiled: “This is Christ, the holy Child!”

Therefore bells for Christmas ring, Therefore little children sing.

Thomas Jefferson’s Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

5 c. all-purpose flour 1 c. packed light brown sugar 2 T. baking powder 1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground ginger ½ tsp. ground allspice 1 c. solid vegetable shortening 2 c. roasted, mashed, and cooled sweet potatoes (I used canned) 1 c. heavy cream (plus more if needed) ½ c. coarsely chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, brown, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and allspice. Add the shortening and cut in with 2 knives or hands until crumbly. In another bowl combine sweet potatoes, cream and pecans. Make a well in dry ingredients and add potato-cream mixture. Mix to combine. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough to 1 ½ inches thick. Cut out with a 2-inch floured biscuit cutter. Place biscuits 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 5 minutes, then turn down temperature to 375 and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or let cool on a wire rack until room temperature.

In our travels to Philadelphia back in 2015, these were served in a historic restaurant there. Delicious! Jeanne Anderson

Thanksgiving Time Elisabeth Weaver Winstead

November leaves come tumbling down To sweep the cloud-gray sky.

And from the empty cornfield rows, The bronze-tipped pheasants fly.

Gold pears adorn the orchard trees, And squash reflects gold days.

Ripe apples gleam in shining bowls, Near hearth fires all ablaze.

Large pumpkins line the roadside patch, The barn hold fragrant hay.

We thank our God for nature’s gifts, Given to us this day.

This treasured harvest feast we share With those we cherish best;

With happy hearts, we bow our heads In gratitude expressed.