Come to Worship

Sunday, November 20

On this Christ the King Sunday, we will celebrate Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. using liturgy from LBW, Setting Two. Donuts and Dialogue begin a new study entitled “The Challenges of Discipleship,” focusing on Compassion.

Wednesday, November 23

Thanksgiving Eve worship will take place here along with our friends from First Congregational Church, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 27

On this First Sunday in Advent we will celebrate Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. using liturgy from LBW, setting one, with the lighting of the Advent Wreath. All are invited to the Advent Event in fellowship hall.

Sunday, December 4

Holy Communion will be celebrated in both services on this Second Sunday in Advent using LBW, Setting 1, at 8:30 a.m., with the Cherub Choir offering the anthem, and Electric Gospel at 10:45 a.m.

Pastor’s Notes: It’s time to say “Thanks!”

It’s still good manners to write a personal thank you note when you receive a gift. We have received so much goodness and mercy from our Creator God that we should find every opportunity possible to say “thanks.” One important way to say thanks is with your return of a proportion of your financial resources to God through this church. Thank you for those who have already returned your giving response sheets for 2006. Another important way for us to say “thanks” is to attend worship regularly, praising God for his blessings to us.

One of the really important times to say thanks in worship is during the Thanksgiving Eve worship service at church. This year again we will be hosting our ecumenical friends from First Congregational Church, UCC, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23. I hope you will make a committed effort to attend and welcome our guests and give thanks to God for his blessings to us. Bring your friends and neighbors.

On another note: 38 of our youth and adults have signed up to attend the national youth gathering in San Antonio, Texas, in the summer of 2006. Together with 40,000 other youth they will experience the presence of the Holy Spirit and their connectedness to other Christian youth in a way that will inspire them the rest of their lives. Each of them is working hard through fund raisers to make the cost more reasonable to those with limited means. In addition, I have challenged them to also raise enough money to sponsor two youth from inner city Milwaukee, our partnership congregation, All People’s. That challenge adds another $1,600-$1,800 to their needs. I know the generosity of many of you, generosity that doesn’t respond to fund raising items, but responds to direct needs. I would like to challenge you generous people to make a significant outright gift to our San Antonia youth project. With over $30,000 needed, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and in the Spirit of Christmas, I hope you will respond to this giving opportunity with the best gift that you can offer. I have seen lives changed wonderfully by these youth events. Youth, through song, prayer and meeting one another become grounded in a faith that survives all the struggles and issues of teenagers. Thank you for your generous response. Just write “San Antonio Youth” on the check or envelope. Of course, you can use your credit card through the church office, too!! Thanks to you, lives will be transformed.

I look forward to seeing you at church on Sunday and at our Thanksgiving Wednesday service.

Pastor Karl

We offer our Christian love to the family of Marie Larson at the death of her father; to the family of Craig Roever at the death of his sister-in-law; to the family of Barb McKichan at the death of her father; to the family of Annette Pamperin at the death of her aunt; and to the family of Kathie Nawikas at her death.



Donuts & Dialogue: The Challenges of Discipleship

Would you like to discover more about being a disciple of Jesus Christ? Would you like to find new ways to connect the Word of God with daily life experiences? Would you like to explore ways to deepen your faith practices in everyday living? Then The Challenges of Discipleship is the program for you! Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:40 a.m. as we delve into the background for Sunday’s Gospel reading, connect the Biblical theme with daily life, and go home with a faith practice for the coming week based on what we learn together.

All adults are welcome to Donuts and Dialogue in the Genszler Room on Sunday mornings at 9:40 a.m. Try it, you might like it!

November 20: Compassion

November 27: Advent Event, No Donuts and Dialogue

Thanksgiving Pie Social

Following the Thanksgiving Eve worship service, all are invited to the traditional pie feast in fellowship hall!

If you are able to bring a pre-cut pie for the evening, it would be greatly appreciated. Pies can be put on a cart in the gathering area, or brought directly to fellowship hall.

Parents’ Night/Morning Out!

It’s not too late...

Parents, it’s all set. The date, time, volunteers, activities and location are all ready. All we need now is you!

First United is now taking registrations for our first Parent’s Night Out on Saturday, November 19, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Children can be dropped off at First United and will be cared for by members of our youth along with adult supervision. We hope to offer this evening out on a monthly basis. Pre-registration will be needed so we can plan the proper amount of supervision.

Our first set of Parent’s Morning Out will be offered on the following Saturdays: November 26, December 3, 10 and 17. Each Saturday (if we have enough kids registered) we will be doing fun activities and playing with the kids from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Our Great Beginnings Preschool room will be open for 2-year olds to 4-year olds, and we also have rooms for the school age kids, and an infant/toddler room. Activities, crafts, movies and a snack will be available for the kids. These are great opportunities for parents to get holiday shopping or gift wrapping done. Please look for registration information and sign-up sheets on the Youth and Family bulletin board.

If you would like to help out, please contact Mary Gorges at 452-2401. Both of the programs will require registration before the dates so we can plan to have enough youth and adult super-vision. A good-will offering will go towards the children and youth programs here at First United.

Youth Group Pizza Sale

For those who ordered those wonderfully tasty pizzas from the youth group, the pizzas will be assembled and fresh made at church on Sunday, November 20, and ready for pick up that evening between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Can you help decorate the church for Christmas? The Outreach Committee invites you to join them for pizza and decorating at 12:00 noon on Sunday, December 11. We will order in ,eat lunch, then decorate the sanctuary and gathering area. Please see the decoration sign-up sheet on the kiosk and indicate the number of pizza slices you plan to eat.

Adopt-a-Chair

The choirs of First United need new chairs! For safety, posture, good singing, we invite you to “adopt-a-chair!” The cost is $80 for each chair, and we need a total of 50 chairs. If you are willing to “adopt” one, please make your check payable to First United. Thank you!

Great Beginnings News

Parents! We are inviting your two year old child to join our Great Beginnings Preschool family as soon as he/ she turns age three! Great Beginnings Preschool, sponsored by our church, is changing our format! We will, for the first time, be enrolling children in our program as they turn three years old. You do not have to wait until next September to find the perfect learning environment for your child! Please contact Cindy in the church office for more details!

Help Is Needed at Bridgeway

We are in need of two volunteers on Wednesday, December 7, to help prepare an evening meal at Bridgeway, a transitional housing facility for women with children. Bridgeway is located at 1251 Geele Ave., and is run by the Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization (SCIO). First United is a member of SCIO, and has agreed to help with their evening meal programon the seventh of every month. This may include helping the moms prepare, serve and clean up the evening meal, or it might be playing with the children so the moms can make dinner. The food is provided by Bridgeway, and the volunteers are invited and asked to stay for dinner to eat with the family. Can you help? Please sign up on the kiosk or call the office (452-2401). Thank you!

Monday Night Books

Get a head start on the next book for Monday Night Books! On Monday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Genszler Room we will discuss Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Please read the entire book prior to this date and come with your questions and insights. Gilead was the 2005 Pulitzer Prize Winner in fiction and chronicles the life of Reverend John Ames and his forebears during the Civil War. A complete book description and sign-up sheet are on the kiosk in the gathering area. Questions? Contact Pastor Gail (452-2401).

Daily Devotional Book Available

Are you looking for a good devotional? The Upper Room Disciplines is one of the most popular daily devotional books available. “Disciplines” follows the same revised common lectionary that we use for Sunday worship. It offers daily scripture reading, wonderful reflections from many different Christian authors, as well as prayer and thoughts for the day. The Upper Room Disciplines are $11 each, ($9.50 each if we have an order of ten or more). Please sign up on the kiosk to order.

News from our Boy Scout Troop 861

Welcome to our new Scoutmaster, Willie Torrison. Willie came to Troop 861 with a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a true love of Scouting. Seventeen Boy Scouts from Troop 861 attended this year’s District Camporee at Camp Rokilio October 7-9. The theme for this year’s event was “Lewis and Clark”. The Scouts completed in many events, hatchet throwing being a particular favorite! Two boys from our Troop demonstrated outstanding teamwork and took third place in the two-man saw competition, with a time of one minute and six seconds. Our scouts may also be able to earn their 50-Miler Hiking Badge on an adventure to Isle Royale National Park in July.

Special Offerings for the Holidays

As the end of the year approaches, there will be many opportunities for congregation members to give to special benevolence. Offering received at Thanksgiving will be given to support the Lutheran World Relief Blanket fund. Offerings for Christmas will be directed toward several deserving charitable organizations: the ELCA Disaster Relief Fund, the Greater Milwaukee Synod Outreach Fund, the Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization’s Transitional Housing fund, and our own Foundation Fund here at First United.

Gifts in a Jar

Do you need Christmas gifts for family, friends or teachers? Look no further because the youth of First United will once again be creating those great “Gifts in a Jar.” This year we are planning to make four different recipes in the quart-sized jars. There will be two different soup mixes, a muffin mix and a cookie bar mix. We will also have three recipes in the pint-sized jar. The ever popular Mochaccino mix will return as well as a Tea mix, and this year we will feature one just for the man on your list - a Nuts & Bolts mix. We will begin sales at the end of November and continue through December.

FLAMINGOS!!

They’re out there! Keep your eye to the sky! They may land in your yard some day soon!

The Flock Senior High Youth Group is raising money for their trip to San Antonio next summer, and are directing these flamingos to the yards of First United members. If you would like to make a contribution to anonymously place flamingos on another congregation member’s yard, call the Kleines at 467-8616, or the church office at 452-2401.

If you have flamingos placed in your yard, you may call the Kleines for assistance, and for a contribution to the San Antonio fund, have the flamingos transferred to someone else’s yard, or call to have the flamingos removed free of charge!

Thrivent Cookie & Bake Sale

November 27

Our congregation’s Thrivent members will be hosting the twelfth annual Cookie and Bake ale on Sunday, November 27, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., in the Quilter’s Room. All proceeds will go to our Adopt-a-Family program. Please help make this year’s event a success by donating some of your favorite home-made baked goods! Please sign up on the Kiosk to indicate what you plan to bring. Thank you in advance for your support and donations!

Annual Meeting Part I

December 4

On Sunday, December 4, the first part of the annual meeting of the congregation will take place in the Genszler Room at 9:40 a.m. Voting for various offices will take place at this meeting. (See “Meet the Candidates.”) All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend!

Two Opportunities to Share with Others

Please remember Christmas Treasures on Sunday, December 4. On that day we invite you to bring an unwrapped toy or gift for needy children of all ages. There is always a special need to remember teenage youth when selecting gifts. Gifts will be collected during worship at both services on Sunday, December 4.

Adopt-a-Family names will be available through Sunday, December 4! Through our Adopt-a-Family program, individuals and families of First United are given the opportunity to “adopt” one or more individuals and families from the Sheboygan area who, because of their financial situation, are not able to afford Christmas gifts for themselves and their family. You may select names on Sunday mornings in the Gathering Area or by calling Cindy Van Akkeren at 458-3761.

If you are able to adopt an individual or family, we ask that you please spend an average of $50 per child and $25 per adult.This is very important, because it helps ensure that the gifts will be equally distributed between families and with the individuals within a family. Our Adopt-a-Family program is meant to share a little Christmas joy with families, it’s not to provide an over-abundance of gifts! If you want and are able to give more than the amount we ask, please consider adopting another individual or family rather than over-spending on one! Thank you!

For those who would prefer to have someone else do the shopping, financial contributions are also appreciated and very much needed.

It will take many hands to make this year’s Adopt-a-Family a success. Please sign up on the kiosk, or call Cindy Van Akkeren (458-3761) or Deaconess Deb (452-2401) if you are able to help in any way. Thank you for sharing your gifts with those in need!

Muchas Gracias !!!!!

A big thank you goes to all who made “Youth Helping Seniors Saturday” a big success! Thank you to the congregation members who provided chores for us to do, to Rod and Mary Eissens for organizing the event, to the 25 youth and adults who came and worked all morning, and especially to God for providing a rain-free morning for us while we worked outdoors! We want to say a special thank you to Thrivent for sponsoring this event and donating $1,000 toward our trip to San Antonio. Muchas Gracias to all!!!

Giving Warms the Heart Sunday School Mission Project

The Sunday School classrooms are doing hands-on mission projects during this Christmas season. We are asking children ages 3's-6th grade to bring new socks, mittens, hats and gloves to Sunday School which will be distributed to needy families in Sheboygan. You may drop off these items through Sunday, December 11, at either the church office or in your child’s Sunday School room.

We say “Yes” to Stewardship!

Thank you to all of you who have filled out your 2006 Stewardship Responses. We received over 200 responses on Stewardship Sunday, and we appreciate your gifts to your Lord. Those of you who have not yet made your response, please pray about your giving for 2006, and return your response form at your earliest convenience. If you have not received a form, please call the church office at 452-2401 and we will mail a form to you. Also, if you are interested in giving through the Simply Giving program, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans underwrites the cost of this program. There is a form that needs to be filled out, and we can mail that to you also. Please consider increasing your percentage of giving to your God through First United. When we say “yes” to Stewardship, we can do so much more to help those in our church family, our community and around the world.

Good News Deadline

The next deadline for Good News articles is Monday, November 28. This issue will include December activities. Please get your article to the church office by noon on that day Thank you!

Christmas Program Practice

Christmas program practices will be held on Wednesday, December 14. On that evening, we will have family pizza in fellowship hall and a birthday cake for the Baby Jesus. When families are finished eating, they will be invited to make Christmas crafts for the shut-ins of our congregation, or members of their own families. These are the specific times for that evening:

5:00-7:00 p.m. Pizza & Crafts for families in fellowship hall

5:00-5:30 p.m. Cherub Choir practice

5:30-6:15 p.m. 3's-2nd grade Sunday School practice (meet in classrooms)

5:30-6:15 p.m. Christus Choir practice

6:15-7:00 p.m. 5-Star Sunday School practice (meet in sanctuary)

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Gorges at 452-2401.

Advent Event and December Program

Dates & Times

Mark your calendars. Here is a list of the up-coming youth and family events, practices, and programs happening here at First United during the months of November and December.

Parent’s Night Out

Saturday, November 19

5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

_____

Parent’s Morning Out

Saturday, November 26

8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon

_____

Advent Event

Sunday, November 27

9:40 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

Theme: Simply Sweet Christmas Season

(Held in Gathering Area)

_____

Parent’s Morning Out

Saturday, December 3

8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon

_____

Parent’s Morning Out

Saturday, December 10

8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon

_____

*Christmas Program Practice

Wednesday, December 14

5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

(*see article about Christmas practice for exact times of each practice)

_____

Parent’s Morning Out

Saturday, December 17

8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon

_____

Christmas Programs

Sunday, December 18

3's thru 2 nd grade-10:00 a.m.-10:20 a.m.

(Meet in rooms at 9:40/pick-up in rooms after)

5-Star Program

10:45 a.m. worship service

(Meet in fellowship hall at 9:40 a.m./pick-up in sanctuary)

_____

Christmas Day

Sunday, December 25

Sunday School Vacation

_____

New Years Day

Sunday, January 1

Sunday School Vacation

Worship Responsibilities

As Christmas quickly approaches, please check the worship responsibility page in this issue to see if you are scheduled to serve on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. And if for some reason you cannot serve on either of those days, PLEASE try to find someone to switch with, and notify the church office as soon as possible. We realize Christmas is a time that everyone wants to be with their families, but we also need people to serve those that visit First United, as well. Thank you!