Weekly Calendar

Sunday, December 15
8:15 a.m.                   Choir practice
9:00 a.m.                   Worship/Communion – Sunday school Christmas program
10:00 a.m.                Adult Ed.

Tuesday, December 17
11:00 a.m.                Lunch and Learn at GEV
11:30 a.m.                Exercise
3:00 p.m.                   Veteran’s home worship
6:30 p.m.                   Cub Scouts meeting

Wednesday, December 18
9:30 a.m.                    Traditions worship
10:30 a.m.                 Park Lane worship
6:00 p.m.                   Confirmation Christmas party

Thursday, December 19
11:30 a.m.                  Exercise

Sunday, December 22
8:15 a.m.                   Choir practice
9:00 a.m.                   Worship
10:30 a.m.                Blue Christmas worship
5:00 p.m.                   Christmas party for 9-12th grade youth

Worship Assistants in December

Acolytes
1 Cooper Holtegaard/Josh Bakken
8 Jackson Fischer/Lexi Engen
15 Lily Ledin/Grant Tieskotter
22 Lilianna Dempewolf/Katelyn Scheevel
24 4:30 Jax Heibel/Jezlyn Finseth
29 Turner Sprenger/Reese Larson

Computer
1 Kaylee Hernandez
8 Josh Bakken
15 Jezlyn Finseth
22 Harper Pickett
24 4:30 Lexi Engen
29 Braelynn Dierkes

Lectors
1 Darrel Olson
8 7^th graders
15 Children’s program
22 Traci Corson
24 4:30 Nancy Hengeveld
29 tba

Greeters
1 Dawn Hellickson
8 7^th graders
15
22 Traci Corson
24 4:30 Bruce & Teresa Hoff
29 Ron & Marilyn Schreier

Altar Guild……………………………………Jennifer Pickett/Diane Johnson/Sue Hager/Chris Olson

Ushers……………………………………………..Todd Ebner/Darla Ebner/Tony Severson/Darrel Olson

Communion Assistants
December 1………………………………………………..Melissa Severson/Darrel Olson/Carol Solberg
December 15……………………………………………………..Jen Pickett/Randy Hahn/Christy Gildner
December 24 4:30……………………………………….Carol Solberg/Dawn Hellickson/Sara Niemeyer

*Please let the office or a member of the Church Council know if one of your loved ones is sick or has passed or if you or someone you know is going to be in the hospital so that we may acknowledge them in our prayer list or pay them a visit.

*2024 CRAFT AND BAKE SALE – The Annual Christ Lutheran Church Craft and Bake Sale was a huge success!  Though we are still tallying our sales, we have netted well over $18,000 from monetary donations, sale proceeds, the Gnome Cafe and lunch, and the raffle–a record!  The church council will decide how to allocate those funds for charitable giving and our general fund.

Our raffle winners are:

Cookie platter: Sue Kunert
Mosaic glass wall art: Carol Knutson
Bean bag toss: Diane Johnson
Farm Charm gift basket: Jim Keune
Solo stove: Dorle Kaase
Quilt: Barb Dornink

We want to thank our many volunteers for their time setting up, greeting, cashiering, courtesy, Gnome Cafe working, cleaning up, and so much more!  Thank you to the raffle ticket sellers and buyers, the lefse and flatbread bakers, and rommegrot makers.  Thank you to the youth for set-up and help and to the congregation for your donations– shopping, crafting, creating, and baking.  We also thank those who assisted with children’s crafts, donated food for the Gnome Cafe and prizes for the raffle, and Christ’s Crafters for their contributions. It is a joy to witness the open hearts and helping hands of those at Christ Lutheran! The committee starts planning in June, and if you are interested in being on the committee in 2025, please know it is a time for great fellowship as we plan this fun event.  Reach out to one of this year’s committee members if you are interested or have questions.  Until December 15, you can purchase items from the crafting room. Please give any money for purchases to Amanda in the office.  Anyone who donated items that weren’t sold can pick them up from the crafting room by Dec. 15. Thank you again for your time, talent, and enthusiasm for our Craft and Bake Sale, the raffle, and the Gnome Cafe.  God’s blessings to you and yours this Christmas season!
*Lefse is still available to purchase – $6/package of 3 rounds. There are also items left from the craft sale in the craft room in the church basement. If you’d like to pick up your items or purchase any, they will be available through today. Please pay Amanda in the church office.

2024 Craft and Bake Sale Committee:
Susan Pikula, Alison Leathers, Gail Bunge, Teresa Hoff, Janet Erdman, Kayla Peterson & Lori Winkels

*Things I Like to Do – How might you use your gifts in new or familiar ways as we live out our mission to “Love God, Love People, and Follow Jesus”? The Evangelism Committee, led by Jennifer Pickett, has created a Things I Like to Do Survey. We invite you to fill out the survey by either paper copy (available in the Narthex or in the office) or on our website https://christlutheranpreston.org/member-survey-tell-us-what-do-you-like-to-do/
PLEASE fill out this survey before December 31st.

*GEV Lunch & Learn – Tuesday, December 17 – There’s nothing quite like singing with people who love to sing. Join music leader Richard Bruxvoort Colligan for this half-hootenanny, half-concert among the beautiful Good Earth winter woods. Richard’s lyric voice and acoustic guitar will lead us in singing favorite tunes together plus some songs to just relax and listen to. There’s sure to be laughter, stories, and good company. Sign up in the narthex by December 15^th.

*SAVE THE DATE – Sunday, December 15^th, 9 a.m. – SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.

*The Holiday Giving Tree is now up! Mittens, gloves, hats, scarfs and socks can all be hung on there! Items donated will go to Fillmore Central School and Fillmore County Foodshelf.  Thanks for your generous support, all items are greatly appreciated!

*Blue Christmas Service – Sunday, December 22, 10:30 a.m. Do you wish to spend time with God in reflection?  Some of us are mourning the death of a loved one, a job loss, or feeling overwhelmed by expectations. This service offers space to focus on the comfort and healing God offers during dark times.

*Christmas Eve Candlelight and Holy Communion – Tuesday, December 24, 4:30 and 8:00 p.m. Come! Celebrate the birth of Immanuel, God with us.

*2025 Offering Envelopes – If you have been getting offering envelopes in the past, they are now ready to be picked up in the West coatroom. If you would LIKE to have envelopes this year, contact Amanda, there are some extras. Thanks!

*Help us fill the RED Kettle!  Bells will be ringing for the Salvation Army on Friday, December 20^th 8:00-4:00 at F & M Community Bank in Preston and from 4:00-7:00PM at Preston Foods.  Bell ringing shifts will be ½ hour and everyone is welcome to ring!  If you are interested in ringing bells or have any questions, give us a call at 507-765-3823 and ask for Cami or Brenda.  Or you can email Brenda at brendar@fmcommunity.com.  If you are not able to stop by the kettle on the 20^th, but would like to donate, financial contributions can be dropped off anytime or mailed to F & M Community Bank, PO Box 467, Preston, MN  55965.  Checks should be made out to Salvation Army, Fillmore County.  Thank you!

Birthdays and Anniversaries
12/13 Chris & Kari Mensink – Anniv.
12/14 Jackie Do
12/16 Kari Bacon, Mike Woellert
12/18 Kelly Ristau, Chris Mensink
12/19 Pam Ristau

Please keep in your prayers….
the family of Casey Albrecht
Sandy Amundson
Danny Serfling
Jacob Johnson
Jon Haugan
Jason Schwingle
Val Christensen
Rosalie Krips
Katie Sullivan, sister of Kim Ristau
Jill Miller
Amy Timmerman
Carole Engen
Axel Heller
Bo Bakke
Bridget Case
Walt Hansen, who is at Minnesota State Veterans Home, Preston
Marilyn Bunge, who is at Green Lea Manor, Mabel
Arnie Keene,  who is at Harmony Care Center
Mary Lou Hansen, who is at Harmony Care Center
Ann Ott, who is at Harmony Care Center
Arlene Bakalyar, who is at Park Lane Estates
Irene Aarre, who is at Traditions
Averlene Marzolf, who is at Traditions
Helen Haugerud, who is at Traditions
Linda Hahn Smith, who is at Traditions
Barb Barrett, who is at Chatfield Care Center
Arlen Kiehne, who is at Chatfield Care Center
Alice Cummings, who is at Chatfield Care Center
Jim Fossum, who is at The Fillmore Place