December 2005 Cornerstone

PASTOR WAYNE SEZ: December

Worship opportunities in December:

Quickie Christmas Quiz

What instrument accompanied the first singing of the carol, “Silent Night,” and what did mice have to do with it?

In 1818, the mice had gnawed holes in the bellows of the organ in the Church of St. Nicholas in the Alpine village of Obernorf. Father Mohr wanted some special music for the Christmas service, so he wrote the words to “Silent Night.” Franz Gruber played the guitar when the song was first sung that night. They later shared the song with the organ repairman, who spread the song throughout the Tyrol where it became a popular folksong.

A Chronology of Christmas

4th Century: In 326 AD, the Emperor Constantine builds the Church of the Nativity and declares Christ's birthday an official Roman holiday. The Bishop of Rome establishes December 25th as the day to celebrate Christ's birth. Bishop Nicholas of Myra in Lycia  (Turkey), as bishop of the area, helps the poor and orphaned. In the middle ages his feast day is set for December 6th, and he is known as a giver of gifts and the patron saint of children.

6th Century: Advent set aside as the four Sundays before Christmas

8th Century: Boniface, English missionary to the Germans, replaces sacrifices to Oden’s oak with a fir tree adorned in tribute to the Christ child.

11th Century: Word "Christmas" first used in English

13th Century: Francis of Assisi introduces a live nativity scene in the church and festive carols in the language of the people.

17th Century: Puritan law makes December 25th an official workday.

18th Century: Handel’s Messiah written in 24 days

19th Century: In 1865, Philips Brooks visits the Church of Nativity on Christmas Eve. Three years later he writes the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem for his Sunday School class.

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Assisting Minister

Wanda Green

Ushers  

Dick Joyce

Gene Norris

Dick Hartnett

Brian Smith

Jeffrey Smith

Counters

Dave and Roberta Dietrich

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE

7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service

9:00 a.m  Christmas Day Communion Worship Service

(Please note this time change.)

In celebration of Christmas, poinsettia plants will once again fill our chancel area with beautiful color!  If you would like to place a poinsettia as a memorial or in honor of a loved one, please fill out the form in the paper newsletter and either mail to the church office or place in the offering plate.  The cost is $5.00 for each poinsettia plant and the names of the dedications will be published in the bulletins for each Christmas service.  Be sure to indicate if you would like to take your poinsettia home after the Christmas services or if you wish a shut-in to receive it.

Children’s Christmas Pageant

“Grumpy Sheep”

Please plan to attend our Christmas pageant on Sunday, December 11 at 10:00. Please note that it will take place during our Sunday School hour, and will not be done during the worship service.   The program will be followed by refreshments provided by the Christian Education Ministry.  Thank you!

- Camilla Russell, Choir Director

Children’s Christmas Service

Come join us on December 18th during the Sunday School Hour for stories and singing for all ages and catch the true meaning of the season. 

AUGSBURG FORTRESS BOOK SALE

Our Annual Augsburg Fortress Book Sale has begun and will continue through Sunday, December 4th.  This is a wonderful opportunity to do some Christmas shopping for young and old on your list!  All sample books will be donated after the sale to our Library and a portion of the sales will be given back to the church.  Brought to you by the Nurture Committee.  See Kristina Glenzinski or Julie Smith for questions.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROLING

Please join us Saturday, December 4th, following a light lunch as we go Christmas Caroling.  We will be leaving from here to share holiday songs with our shut-ins.  We welcome everyone young and old and in-between.

Members and friends of Grace and Peace who are unable to attend regularly to remember during this holiday season with our prayers and cards.

SECRET PALS

We are approaching the end of the year when we reveal our identities to our secret pals.  Because our secret pals are shut-in, we must contact them either by a phone call, a card, or better yet a personal visit.  Take a small Christmas gift when you make a visit.  Some suggested gifts are writing paper and envelopes, stamps, a poinsettia or other plant, or slipper socks with skid proof bottoms.  This is one way to reach out a loving hand to those who can't be with us.

MITTEN TREE

The "Mitten Tree" is in the Great Room ready to be decorated with mittens, scarves, hats, etc., for the LSSI children.  Donations may be used items (clean & in good repair) or new items.  Bring them each Sunday during the Advent Season and help decorate our "Mitten Tree".  On December 11th they will be wrapped with the packages for our families from the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT APPLICATIONS

The Endowment Committee of Grace and Peace Lutheran Church accepts Endowment Fund Grant Applications throughout the year.  Requests involving community outreach and special ministries of Grace and Peace Lutheran Church are encouraged.  The Committee emphasizes giving to causes which are new and different each year.  Anyone wishing to submit an application is asked to first obtain an application form from the Church Office.  Upon completing the application, return it to the Church Office anytime during the year.  Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year.  However, those received by December 31, will be those considered by the Committee for distributions of the following year commencing in March.

- Grace and Peace Endowment Committee

PEORIA DINING TOUR COUPON BOOK

Offered by

The Lutheran Women of Greater Peoria Area

The Lutheran Women of Greater Peoria Area are offering the Peoria Dining Tour Coupon Book again this year. They are now available and are valid until November 1, 2006. The cost this year is $35.00. Ten dollars from each book will go equally to the Lutheran Hillside Village and Lutheran Social Service of Illinois. Last year we were able to divide $6,500 between these two organizations.

This year the Dining Tour is bigger and better than ever! We’ve added a new category of food—PIZZA. That means your now have four categories from which to choose—FINE DINING, CASUAL, PIZZA AND FUN FOODS. This year there are over 300 valuable BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE coupons valid at local area restaurants. This book should appeal to all ages.

Please contact Wanda Green. They are also available in the church office. With the purchase of the coupon books, you will help us provide for needs at the Lutheran Home and at Lutheran Social Services and at the same time enjoy an evening out or lunch with a friend. These coupon books make great Christmas gifts.

SPECIAL SUNDAYS IN 2006

The flower chart, missionary support calendar, and coffee hour schedules for 2006 will be available in the Narthex so you can select and sign up for your favorite dates.  All three opportunities are great ways to honor someone or some special occasion at the same time you are giving service to the church.  Thank you for celebrating with us.

COOKIE SHARE

On Sunday, December 18th, the coffee hour will be hosted by all of our congregation!  We are asking everyone to bring a batch of your favorite cookies or candy to share.  This will be a wonderful opportunity to taste the sweets of the season.

A MERRY GARAGE GANG CHRISTMAS! 

The Peoria Historical Society's Flanagan House Museum

presents

The Case of the Perfect Irish Christmas - A House Tour Mystery

Christmas festivities in Irish tradition will greet us on Friday, December 2, at the Flanagan House at 942 N.E. Glen Oak Avenue.  The Flanagan House was built in 1837 and is the oldest home in Peoria.  It will be beautifully decorated for Christmas and there will be live music to enhance the mood.  Clues will take us from room to room and we will meet historical characters from the Flanagan family.

We will meet at the Flanagan House at 6:00, tour the home, then out for pizza/dinner at a place yet to be determined.  If you would like to attend and don’t care to drive at night, please call Roxanne Hochsprung at 683-3345 or Linda Ericsson at 446-3002 and your transportation to and from will be arranged.  Admission for this Flanagan House tour is $5.00 and the funds will be used for the maintenance and upkeep of this historic home.

Our own Carin Caras volunteers in the gift shop and tells us there are many unique items for your holiday giving.  Carin also offers this bit of background and history on The Flanagan House:

Judge John C. Flanagan, a practicing Philadelphia attorney, first came to Peoria in 1834 to settle his father's estate. Entranced by the beauty of the Illinois River Valley, he moved his mother Jane;, bachelor brother James; his two sisters, Louisa, an invalid, and Leticia; and her husband, David Maxwell. Also joining the family was Louisa's companion, Johanna Costello, an Irish immigrant sponsored by the Judge who later married Peoria Michael Donnelly.

John Flanagan practiced law in Peoria and gained for himself the honorary title of "Judge" for his contributions and participation in community affairs. A well respected, popular and fair minded individual, the Judge was also a staunch Democrat and good friends with Senator Stephen Douglas who was a guest in the house many times.

Judge Flanagan never married but devoted his life to the care of his eldest sister Louisa. During early childhood the two young sisters drank paint while having a tea party. Both became violently ill and while Leticia was not permanently injured, Louisa’s health was seriously affected and she became an invalid for life. Also, never marrying, Judge Flanagan continued to live in the house with his growing family until his death in 1891.

The house passed to his two sisters and later to his niece Louisa Maxwell Williamson who kept the house in the family until 1902.The "mansion" on the hill, as it was called, was completed in 1837 and was the largest home in Peoria during its time.  In 1962 the home was given to the Peoria Historical Society by owner, well known actress, director and society hostess Mabel Morrill

Please plan to attend this fun holiday activity with your friends from Grace & Peace!

FYI – Garage Gang is the name of our adult fellowship group!

FROM YOUR YOUTH DIRECTOR

The Annual Northern Conference JLYO Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Lock-In at Landmark Recreation Center is January 15-16, 2006.                

Cost per student is $20. Adult Sponsors are free. This event begins at First English Lutheran Church at 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, moves to Landmark at midnight, and ends at Landmark Recreation Center at 5:00 a.m. Monday morning.  Musical guest this year is Christian Rapper, AGAPE.

We need to know how many will be going ASAP. So I can let Jill Goldhammer know a reasonable amount of time. I think this is a good opportunity for our youth. Please let me know as soon as you can thank you, Gwen Womack.

Youth News

Pajama Party

“Parents Night Out”

Donations Appreciated

December 16th, 2005

Time 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

GRACE AND PEACE REACHES OUT

Lutheran World Relief Ingathering

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Sam and Sue Sylvester drove 2 vehicles to St. John Lutheran in Bloomington for the big Lutheran World Relief ingathering of central Illinois. They took their van and the Norens’ truck. They had the 147 quilts and blankets, 100 school kits, 37 layettes, 64 health kits, 13 boxes of clothing, and one of sewing fabric from Grace and Peace.

In addition the people from St. John Lutheran in Lacon sent supplies with their interim pastor, Dick Hanson, for another 16 health kits.  We had 32 quilts from St. Timothy in Wyoming, and 10 boxes of quilts, etc. from Our Savior in Washington.

We have not received the report from Irine Roelfs yet about the big totals from all the churches in our area.  She had secured 3 semis to be filled this year.  However, many churches sent supplies to the gulf region following the 2 hurricanes so the quilt numbers may be down. 

With the donations for quilt sponsorship and a matching grant from the Peoria/Stark County Thrivent Chapter, Grace and Peace is sending $1,000 to Lutheran World Relief to assist with the shipments overseas.

Thank you to everyone who helped in any way on this project. We start again in February, 2006.

Human Service Center Thanksgiving Dinner

November 22, 2005

Thank you to Carol Luecht for organizing the annual Thanksgiving dinner for the Human Service Center again this year.  Besides all the people who donated pies, salads, money, and cooked turkeys, at least 28 members of our congregation were at St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral to prepare, serve, and do clean-up.  Our age range was from almost 6 to 81 so there was a great cross section of our membership there.

Thank you also to Miriam Circle for assembling 40 fruit baskets to be used as table decorations and door prizes for the 218 people who were served.

LSSI Gift Collection

Christmas time is coming soon!  On Sunday, Dec. 4, there is still time to be part of the annual gift-giving to the foster children of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.  You have three options of ways to help.  We will have 80 names again this year.

1. Buy a sack of toys and clothing for a certain child, wrap it, and return to church by Dec. 11.

2. Select and pay for a sack that is partially completed, do the rest of the shopping, wrap, and return to church by Dec. 11. or

3. Give a donation of money to cover the cost of one or more child’s gifts.  We will do the shopping.

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

For the Women of Grace and Peace, October and November were very busy months.  We have provided true thankful service in many ways to our church community and the Peoria community as a whole.  The month of December you will not necessarily notice our visible presence through meetings and activities here at Grace and Peace.  However as stated in our constitution, we will continue to:

     commit ourselves to grow in faith.

     affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings,

     engage in ministry and action, and

     promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.

My husband and I traveled to Iowa to visit our daughter and her family for Thanksgiving weekend and attended church with them on Sunday.  The pastor talked about how the month of December seems to be a ‘busy’ month for many individuals.  He also commented to make sure the ‘busy-ness’ is for the right reasons!  Those action verbs listed above are important for all of us to remember not only during the ‘busy’ month of December but the whole year through.

In my mind a direct contrast to ‘busy’ is the word ‘peace’.  As a noun, peace is defined as harmony, accord, friendship, love, brotherhood.  That word ‘peace’ is also an important part of our Women of Grace and Peace Constitution.  It is listed under Section 3 – Dedication:  Psalm 34:14b, “seek peace and pursue it.”

And at this time of year, the word peace is at the forefront.

Luke 2:14:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Isaiah 9:6:  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

1 Thessalonians 5:13:  “Live in peace with each other.”

And again at my daughter’s church was a remark in the bulletin that the small candle on the altar reminds us to pray and work for peace.  What a Christmas gift – PEACE!

At a special meeting the Women of Grace and Peace held after worship on Sunday, November 6, a few amendments to the constitution were unanimously adopted.  Copies of the document are available from any board member if you would like to have one.  But the mission statement above and our dedication will not change!

Merry Christmas!

Your Executive Board:       Roxanne Hochsprung, Coordinator; Nancy Howerter, Secretary; Linda Ericsson, Treasurer; Ann Joyce, Helen Hamilton, and Ruth Grenzow, Circle Representatives

Women's Circles

Ruth/ Rachel Circle

December 13 - 10:00 a.m.

Meeting at Church

Miriam Circle

December 13- 6:30 p.m.

Mary Jane Hinshaw’s Home

Rebecca Circle

December 12 - 11:30 a.m.

Christmas Luncheon

MISCELLANEOUS

SHARE Food

December 4 - Share Sign-up

December 17 - Share Pick-up

November Key Person

Barbara Bollman

Office Closed

December 23 & 26

2006 will soon be here!!  All reports to be included in the Annual Report are due in the office by January 8, 2006. 

January Cornerstone Deadline

December 25

If you haven’t returned your pledge cards, please remember to turn them in.

GRACE AND PEACE LUTHERAN CONGREGATION COUNCIL

November 15, 2005

PRESENT:  Paul Mueller, Linda Ericsson, Mary Whitledge, Sandy Peterson, Carol Luecht, Pastor Shelksohn, Kelly Smet, Dick Joyce, Julie Smith and Roberta Dietrich.  Guest: Louise Cheatham

President Paul Mueller called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Shelksohn led prayers and shared a  devotion.

Sharing the Vision - Council members commented on how impressed they were with Wes Hendricker from Kairos who interviewed church members and led information meetings concerning the feasibility study for our new building design. 

Dick Joyce brought discussion about the possibility of how to have available transportation for our elderly and shutin members.  He suggested that an Endowment Grant could be submitted for contracting with a transportation service.  Members are at the present time picking up several members who are in need of rides. 

AREAS OF MINISTRY AND BUSINESS

Youth  - Kelly reported that the Halloween party was a success with an attendance of approximately 30 people.  Upcoming events include a Skating Party on November 18th for JLYO and LYO and on November 19th a sing-a-long, crafts and dinner for everyone.  Gwen and Pastor are researching two different mission trips for LYO.  Gwen is working with Jill Goldhammer at Salem to coordinate joint activities for the youth groups.  Gwen is beginning a mentoring program for the youth. 

Christian Education - Sandy Peterson reported that the Children's Christmas pageant will be on December 11th during the Sunday school hour followed by a coffee hour hosted by Christian Education Ministry.    Pastor will have a special Children's Service on December 18th during the Sunday school hour.

Community Action - Linda reported that the Habitat House is done and a house blessing was held on November 12th.  The Human Service Dinner will be held on November 22nd and Carol Luecht still needs some money donations.  Signup sheets have been posted and many people are signed up to help.

Endowment - The Crittenton Center will have a presentation of their ministry and a thank you for their grant during coffee hour.

Evangelism - Cookie ministry has been replaced with a mug and bookmark with Grace and Peace Logo on it and times of our services, telephone, address, etc., are on the bookmark.  Christmas door hangers are being produced for a distribution to our neighbors.  Al Berg and Central Sales have purchased a sponsorship of the bulletins for a quarter.

Finance - David Dietrich submitted a draft of the proposed 2005 budget.  Discussion was held.  An updated draft will be presented at next Council with the anticipated income from pledges to be included.

Long Range Planning - No report

Nurture - The Grace and Peace Young Adults will not meet in December.  The Augsburg Book Sale will run through December 4th with delivery of books before Christmas.  Christmas Caroling to shutins will be on December 4th with a light lunch being served. 

Property - No report.

Stewardship - Stewardship met and finalized the Commitment Sunday activities.  Offering envelopes have been ordered for 2006.

Worship and Music - Written report was reviewed.  Pastor's 25th year in the ministry will be this year on June 7, 2006.  A special service or celebration at coffee hour will be planned for his anniversary.

OLD BUSINESS

The Nominating Committee have several names for the slate and continue their work.

NEW BUSINESS

Pastor and Cindy will host Council on December 20th at 6:30 p.m. at their home.  Snacks will be provided.  Theresa was asked to send a reminder to Council members to have their reports in the office by the deadline for the Council Packet.  Dick Joyce made a motion to "hold the Annual Meeting on January 29, 2006” and Julie Smith seconded.  Linda Ericsson made a motion “that the time be 10:00 a.m.” and Mary Whitledge seconded.  The motions carried.

Minutes - The minutes from the October 18th council meeting were approved.

Women of Grace and Peace -A written report was submitted.  A new funeral policy has been developed which has four groups sharing the duties on an alternating basis.

Pastor’s Report - Pastor reviewed his report.  Christmas Day service will be held at 9:00 a.m. instead of the usual 8:30 a.m. time.  Pastor did two baptisms and two weddings in the month of October.  Mark and Sandra Rodlund have requested a transfer.

Executive Council - Met and set agenda. 

Next Council Meeting is December 20, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.  Executive Meeting is December 12, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.  A motion was made to adjourn.  The Council closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Montgomery,

Recording Secretary

Page content last updated: December 19, 2005

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