FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOOPLE

December
2 0 1 3

FLCW Sunday School Program

Caroling 12/18 Womens Faith Night

Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

INSIDE:

Happenings 2 Youth 3

Community 4 Events Birthdays/ AnniverCalendar 4 5

It is thought that Americans will spend somewhere around $500 billion this Christmas season. Compare that to what it would take to provide the world with clean water for the year - $20 billion. Back in 2006 some churches took note of some stats like these and decided that it was time to reclaim the heart of Christmas. That amidst a season filled with consumption and self-focus, that change was needed. It was time to turn Christmas upside down. And so Advent Conspiracy was born. Spend Less on thoughtless, pointless, needless things, give more of ones service and gift of presence, love all the poor, the marginalized, the sick and the forgotten in ways that make a difference, and worship fully praise, sing, pray, and listen to God. This Christmas season, Im inviting you to join this movement in turning Christmas upside down. So a few things. Wednesday nights. On Wednesday nights this Christmas season well have pizza at 6:15, and then well worship at 7pm. Each week leading up to Christmas together well think about what it might mean for us to spend less, give more, love all, and worship fully.

Upside down Tree. If you noticed, the Christmas tree in the entrance is turned upside down. On it are ornaments with spend less, give more, love all, and worship fully challenges for you and your family take home, do, and hang on your own tree. Conspiracy Stuff. Also in the entrance area you will find Advent Calendars and a sheet

with Fair Trade and Alternative gift ideas. There are also family devotions that go along with the advent logs that were made during Sunday School. Youll also find in the entrance area the Love All Christmas Gift Box and the Love All Cards. As a way of spending less on ourselves and loving all, on the card you are asked to write down where you gave to and how much you gave away this Christmas season. These are anonymous and were asking that you submit them by De-

cember 23rd. Challenge. Finally, the challenge is whatever we spend on ourselves this Christmas season (gifts, entertainment, food, etc. you decide what to include), that we would give away that same amount. As the book admits, Advent Conspiracy is not a four-point checklist for how to do Christmas. It is not a formula or a fool-proof system to make your Christmas more meaningful. But as I see it, its an invitation - an invitation to prepare our hearts, to get in touch with the heart of Christmas, to reflect on those things that leave us empty and exhausted and those things that truly give us life - an invitation to celebrate the birth which says God loves us, is with us, is for us, and has called us to shine light in the darkness. Merry Christmas and happy conspiring! Patrick

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FLCW First Lutheran Church Women

Tuesday December 3rd at 6pm will be the FLCW Christmas Gathering. Bring appetizers and or sweeties for a light potluck supper. Share Gods Love This Christmas A list of items the GF Mission needs for there Holiday activities: razors, shower gel, deodorant, brushes, combs, sweatshirts, underwear, socks, Pajamas, tennis shoes, winter hats & gloves, work gloves, heavy flannel work jackets, Bath towels, washcloths, stationery, stamps, phone cards, paper, journals, multi-vitamins, Tylenol, ibuprofen. Womens sizes M-3X - Mens L-4XL The mission will wrap these items and give them as gifts

Womens Faith Night

Wednesday November 20th at 7:00pm

First Lutheran will serve a meal at the Mission in Grand Forks on Saturday December 7th

Adult Forums
This school year there will be adult forums on Sunday mornings. These forums will consist of different topics/studies and will take place in the fellowship hall for a half hour starting at 11am. The forums for November are as follows December 1 - Fiery Furnace December 8 - Valley of Dry Bones December 22 - Word made Flesh

Sunday School
Christmas Program The Greatest Story Ever Told Join the Sunday School and youth on Sunday December 15th at 9:30am for the annual Christmas Pageant. There may be flips and bells and even a wise men rap as we recall The Greatest Story Ever Told. A potluck will follow.

DECEMBER

Sr. League News

-Saturday November 16th the Sr. League served the evening Meal at Northlands Rescue Mission in Grand Forks. They served BQs, Potato Salad, Chips and Bars. The boiler was broken and they were excited to have volunteers with a hot meal! Thanks Sr. League

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Youth Caroling The Sr. and Jr. Leagues will be Christmas caroling on Sunday December 15th. Well meet at church at 4pm and then go share in some Christmas cheer!
. Wreaths Thanks for all the Christmas Wreath Orders will be delivered soon.

Fair Trade and Alternative Gifts Fair Trade www.Fairtradefederation.org www.tenthousandvillages.com http://fairtradeusa.org http://lwr.org/getinvolved/fairtrade/coffee_tea http://www.serrv.org/ Alternative Gifts Living Water International - www.water.cc International Justice Mission - www.ijm.org. Feed My Starving Children - https:// www.fmsc.org/Gifts-of-Hope Heifer International - www.heifer.org/ ELCA Good Gifts - https://community.elca.org/ ELCAGoodGifts Samaritans Purse - http:// www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/giftcatalog/

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Christmas Eve
Candle Light Service at First Lutheran 5:00pm Tuesday December 24th

Birthdays Birthdays
December 2 December 4 December 6 December 6 December 7 December 7 December 9 December 9 December 12 December 12 December 13 December 13 Loren Gullickson Dylan Feltman Richard Brown Rodger hall Ann Jackson Jacob Niemann Linda Duff Austin Markel Lisa Oberg Matthew Berg Claire Braathen Kadee Gullickson

December 13 December 13 December 14 December 14 December 16 December 21 December 21 December 22 December 24 December 25 December 27 December 27 December 30 December 31 December 31

Kari Olson David Fedje Val Gullickson Everett Fedje Dan Holt Kinley Torbit Sara McCollum Grant Nupdal Dylan Nupdal Linda Fagerholt Mila Fagerholt Joe Gullickson Tom Rinde Tom Nilson Kristie Gullickson

Anniversaries
Russell & Betty Crowder Brian & Stacey Reilly December 12 December 21

Readings this Month

Sunday December 1st - Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:1,8-30) Sunday December 8th - Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14 Sunday December 15th Christmas Program Sunday December 22nd - World made flesh (John 1:1-18

DECEMBER

December 2013
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sun

1
9:30 Bible Study 4:00 Confirmation 7:00 Advent

9:30 Communion 10:30 Coffee 10:30 Sunday School

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9:30 Bible Study 4:00 Confirmation 7:00 Advent

10

11

12

13

14

9:30 Worship 10:30 Sunday School 10:30 Coffee

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16

17

18
9:30 Bible Study 4:00 Confirmation 7:00 Advent

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20

21

9:30 Sunday School Program Potluck to follow

22

23

24
5:00pm Candle Light Service

25
Merry Christmas

26

27

28

9:30 Communion No Sunday School 10:30 Coffee

29

30

31

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9:30 Worship

First Lutheran Church PO Box 110 Hoople, ND 58243

3030 Glendale Avenue 701.894.6404 1luthoop@polarcomm.com www.1luthoop.com

Were on facebook!

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them." - C.S Lewis from Mere Christianity But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for seeI am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.'" - Luke 2:10-12
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