Weekly Calendar

Saturday, December 6
9:00 a.m.                       Christ Lutheran Craft & Bake Sale

Sunday, December 7
9:00 a.m.                        Worship/Communion
10:00 a.m.                       Coffee/Fellowship
10:00 a.m.                       Sunday School

Tuesday, December 9
9:00 a.m.                          Root River Conference Pastors
6:30 p.m.                          Stewardship

Wednesday, December 10
9:00 a.m.                           Dwelling in the Word
6:00 p.m.                          Confirmation Dinner Church

Thursday, December 11
9:00 a.m.                           Men’s Fellowship

Saturday, December 13
11:00 a.m.                         Funeral for Hazel Knies

Worship Assistants in November

Acolytes
7 Josh Bakken/Taylor Kerns
14 Braelynn Dierkes/Jezlyn Finseth
21 Rosemary Pikula/Maggie Wingert
24 4:30 pm Camryn Severson/Ava Severson
28 Sawyer Johnson/Jackson Fischer

Computer
7 Harper Pickett
14 Lily Ledin
21 Easton Grabau
24 4:30 pm Lilianna Dempewolf
28 Melony Wingert

Lectors
7 Dawn Hellickson
14 Sunday school Christmas program
21 Aaren Mathison
24 4:30 pm Steve Corson
28 tba-Twelve days of Christmas

Greeters
7 Dawn Hellickson/Nancy Hengeveld
14 LaVerne & Denise Paulson
21 Gary & Joyce Hellickson
28 Joyce & Kevin Every

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

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

Communion Assistants
December 7 ………………………….Katie Harstad/Amanda Heibel/Dawn Hellickson
December 21…………………………………..Dena Mathison/Randy Hahn/Mary Glaser
December 24 4:30 pm…………………….Melissa Severson/Carol Solberg/Sara Niemeyer
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*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.

*The Craft and Bake Sale set for Dec. 6 is just days away! Help spread the word by telling family, friends, and neighbors!. Find the event on Facebook and share and like it!  Please refer to the November Ambassador and the upcoming December Ambassador for updates and also pick up an information sheet in the narthex to see baked good prices, donation drop-off times, and more. Call or text Gail Bunge at 507-259-1444 if you are interested in volunteering. There may be a few spots yet open. Thanks!

*2025 Advent Series and Devotions – Our theme this year is “The Power of YES,” and our lessons offer voices from different stories and different characters who have one thing in common; each of these people said YES to God. Refer to your December Ambassador on a complete worship schedule for December. There are also printed Advent devotionals available in the narthex or by PDF – let Amanda know if you want one emailed to you.

*CHANGE OF DATE –Fall Book Read-Muus vs Muus; Discussion has been pushed back to Thursday, Jan. 8^th, 6:30-7:30 pm at the home of Nancy Hengeveld’s.

*Sunday School Christmas Program -The Sunday School Christmas Program will be Sunday, December 14, 2025, during the regular 9 AM worship service. We will be practicing the next couple of weeks, and will be extending our Sunday School time to allow for additional practice.

·        Sunday, December 7 – Program Practice 10-11:15 AM

*Help Wanted – The church council is looking for additional individuals to manage the Sunday morning opening/closing responsibilities from approximately 8:15am-11:15am. Looking for others to help once or twice every 6 weeks or so. This position will be paid $35 each Sunday to unlock the church, turn on the audio and video systems, assist in the computer management for display and online livestreaming, and then shut down computer, TV’s and sound equipment at the end of each service and lock up the building. We require that individuals be at least 14 years old. We welcome all interested people to contact the church office with their name and phone number for further details. Thank you!

*Reserve Usher List – If you would be willing to be put on the Reserve (Substitute) Usher List, please let Amanda know.

*Good Earth Village Lunch & Learn – “Lunch & Carols: Christmas Sing-Along”
When: Tuesday, December 16^th; 11am check-in; Speaker: Dylon Starr. Sign up in the narthex or pre-register on your own.

*Pizza Party & Christmas Scavenger Hunt for grades 6-12 – Friday, Dec 19, 6-7:30 pm (approx.) – Say What? There’s a Friday night and no school activities!?!  We’ve got fun for you! Youth will arrive at church for a pizza dinner between 6 and 6:30 pm, then be sent out with friends on a Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt. Santa? Blue Lights? A Star? A wreath? When you find one, take a group picture that includes the item and check it off your list! Come back to church for prizes and hot cocoa.  Adult volunteer drivers are needed to transport the kids. Please let Pastor Kris or Melissa Severson know if you are able. This event requires a permissions slip because of the driving. Sign up online at www.christlutheranpreston.org and we will email or text a permission slip. Friends are welcome!

CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT CHRIST LUTHERAN

• Dec 21^st, 4 pm -The Longest Night Worship Service –
  Gather for a quiet, contemplative service on the longest night and the shortest day, the winter solstice. This service is symbolic of our darker nights when we find ourselves grieving, lonely, or longing for something different. The Longest Night service makes space during a season that is noisy with celebration, to acknowledge the “both/and” of our emotions. On this night, when things are their darkest, we will pause to remember that God’s light comes in the darkness, that in fact without the darkness, we will not notice the light. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
• Wed, Dec 24^th, 4:30 pm -Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion, “Shepherds Said Yes”, Luke 2:8-20. Through Scripture, beloved carols, candlelight, and Holy Communion, we reflect on the hope and light Christ brings into the world. This cherished service offers a sacred space to pause, worship, and welcome the birth of Jesus. Children receive a special gift. New to worship? There is a place for all at Christ Lutheran.
• Dec 28^th, 9 am -Twelve Days of Christmas Worship Service, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English Christmas carol that lists a group of increasingly superb gifts given on each of the 12 days of Christmas (the 12 days that make up the Christmas season, starting with Christmas Day through Epiphany, January 6.) This service combines scripture, carol, prayer, and explanations of the 12 gifts that are fundamental to the Christian faith. All ages will appreciate this service.

*HELP US FILL THE RED KETTLE! Bells will be ringing for the Salvation Army on Friday, December 19th 8:00-4:00 at F & M Community Bank in Preston and from 4:00-7:00 at Preston Foods. Bell ringing shifts will be 1⁄2 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 19th, 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!*GEV SIGN UP SUNDAY – Registration for Summer Camp at Good Earth Village opens this Sunday, December 7th! Check out all the new additions and returning favorites as our program schedule has been unveiled for Summer 2026! For our Sign Up Sunday 2026 celebration we are offering 40% off Tier 1 youth programs! And we are also excited to once again offer 30% off Intergen Family Camp!! Please remember that this sale is only available for 24 hours only on December 7th!! Visit www.goodearthvillage.org/summer-programs/ for more information.

                          *4 WAYS YOU CAN GIVE TO CHRIST LUTHERAN*

• 💵Cash & Check. Feel free to bring your gift to any worship service or mail it directly to the church office. Checks can be made payable to Christ Lutheran Church. Giving envelopes are available from Amanda in the church office.
• 🏦 Bill Pay Through Your Bank.  (no fees incurred, recurring giving option) You can set up automatic payments through your bank’s bill pay system. Just add our church as a payee and designate your gift amount and frequency. You may set this up as a recurring payment.
• 🌐 Online Giving Through Tithe.ly. (fees apply, you may choose to cover them or not). Visit our giving page at give.tithe.ly.com and give a one-time donation or set up recurring gifts.
• 📱 Text-to-Give. (fees apply, you may choose to cover them or not). Text **GIVE** to (844) 935-2668 and follow the instructions to quickly and securely give from your mobile phone.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• Dec 6th, 9am-2pm – Christ Lutheran’s Craft and Bake Sale
• Dec 10^th, 6pm – Confirmation Dinner church – parents attend with youth
• Dec 14^th, 9am – Sunday School Christmas Program
• Dec 17^th, 6pm – Confirmation Christmas Party
• Dec 19^th, 6pm – Pizza Party/Christmas Scavenger Hunt, grades 6-12

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Birthdays and Anniversaries
12/4 Lesa Tienter
12/5 Chase Gatzke, Jaidyn Finseth
12/6 Zach Olstad
12/7 Bryce Corson
12/8 Judy Johnson, Kurt Reicks, Karen Schmidt, Christy Gildner
12/9 Diem Finseth, Scarlett Mathison
12/10 Jaxton Heibel
12/11 Joel Mielke, Janet Erdman

Please keep in your prayers….
The family of Hazel Knies
Logan Walker
Sharone Rustad
Colson King
Jodi Milne Trochlil
Amy Timmerman
Lynn Tienter
Marilyn Bunge, who is at Green Lea Manor, Mabel
Walt Hansen, who is at Minnesota State Veterans Home, Preston
Mary Lou Hansen, who is at Harmony Care Center
Ila Mae Olstad, who is at Park Lane Estates
Arlene Bakalyar, who is at Park Lane Estates
Arnie Keene,  who is at Park Lane Estates
Barb Barrett, who is at Park Lane Estates
Averlene Marzolf, who is at Traditions
Helen Haugerud, who is at Traditions
Linda Hahn Smith, who is at Traditions
Arlen Kiehne, who is at Chatfield Care Center
Val Christensen, who is at Chatfield Care Center
Jim Fossum, who is at The Fillmore Place