PRAYERS – Jon Cook; Millie Mutka; Jim Moravec; Myria Strong; Kathy Mayo; Barb Zima’s friends Mick, Steven and Marilyn Hummel; Gregory Bowens; Laurie Nelson; Amber Ross’s daughter Linda; Jerrie Van Haverbeke’s niece Jolane Gervasi; Sandy Bishop’s friend Kelly Newman; Randy & Diane Niemczyk’s daughter Julia VanAvery, niece Sarah Joda, Denise Runde and Denise Hazel; Dick Volland; Valeria Hesselberg; Chris Markussen; Anne Verona’s sister/brother-in-law Pat & Woody Woodworth and friends Dennis Peterson, Natalie Madine, Eli Peters and Randy Ballard; Strong’s friend Erin Molle; Debbie Cyrtmus’ mother, Rose Wicker and sister, Corrie Trittin; the Ebert’s friend Patricia Kulzick; Karen Stanton’s friend Mary Lou Zelinski; Patricia Rasmussen’s sister Christine; Joyce Leander’s cousin Laurie Nelson and friend Casey Hohs; Sandy Bishop’s brother Larry; Ashley Clark’s friends Keith & Becky Hernandez and Kristie Dehart; the Waggoner’s sister-in-law Cheryl Busse, and friends Karla Zyhowski, Melissa Branta ; Karen Engels niece Lisa and friend Bob; Ann Carlson’s people Walt, Darren, Curt and Troy; peace for all nations and comfort for those in distress.
PRAYER LIST PROCEDURE – Submit your prayer requests to the office in writing, by phone, by email or in person. If requesting prayers for someone other than yourself or an immediate family member, please obtain permission – unless the circumstances are public in nature.
GUESTS – if you are visiting us today, please sign our book at the entrance to the sanctuary.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE – is Dec 24 at 5:30 pm.
DECEMBER CHURCH CALENDAR IS OUT –Copies are in the Narthex. And we will be updating the website calendar.
ADVENT SOUP SUPPERS – we are collecting non-perishable food items at our Advent Soup Suppers for the Vilas County Food Pantry. Our last Advent Soup Supper will be Dec 17.
MITTEN AND HAT TREE – Mitten and Hat Tree in the announcements. God’s Work – Our Hand’s is collecting gloves and hats to go to the NPHS district schools. We will be collecting all of December. There is a tree in the Narthex to hang your donations.
BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE – is Dec 21 at 1:00 pm.
NORTHLAND SINGERS CONCERT – is today at 4:00 pm!
GRAB A CUP? GRAB TWO ! – we need assistance with coffee hour. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall. Please consider assisting with set-up or clean-up.
JOLABOKAFLOD – is the tradition of gifting a book to someone on Christmas Eve. I will be hitting the local library book sales/thrift stores to find some good reads. Books will be wrapped and here for the taking after our Christmas Eve service. If anyone else is interested in participating – please feel free. (Please do not purchase new books).
CHRISTMAS GARDEN – The Christmas Garden form is available. Please fill out and return to the Front Office by the morning of Dec 18. The cost is FREE, zero, zilch, nadda, nothing. If you would like to give a donation, that is appreciated, but not necessary.
NEW YEARS GAME DAY – but early. On December 28 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, the Christian Ed team will be hosting an appetizer potluck with games for all ages. Drinks will be provided. Bring an appetizer (or not. It isn’t required) but bring your game face ‘cause it’s on like Donkey Kong!*.
* “It’s on Like Donkey Kong” is an iconic slang term that originated from the world of video games, specifically the classic arcade game Donkey Kong. This phrase encapsulates a sense of excitement, intensity, and readiness for a challenge.
FUN FACT: Hanukkah begins at sunset today. Hanukkah isn’t a major Jewish holiday. It isn’t mentioned in the Torah (fact checked: because it occurred after the Torah was written). It started to become widely celebrated in the late 1800s because of its proximity to Christmas. The Menorah, dreidels and donuts are part of the celebration. It means ‘dedication’ and is also referred to as ‘Festival of Lights’. All due to the miracle of a 1-day supply of oil lasting 8 days.
NOTES FROM ANN – I have three things for you. Tho it ’tis the season – the following is something I see year round here at Prince of Peace. And that is generosity of spirit. Every. Single. Day. Whether it is an added dose of patience, a balancing of expectations, working through an overload, giving of time, coordinating a committee, dealing with the details that no one else wants to deal with, giving what you can – where you can – this congregation is incredible. Give yourself a Christmas hug – you deserve it.
Today I was finishing up in the sanctuary. I had asked for people’s unused Christmas lights as I had received permission to put them up in the sanctuary. After I had made the request, I received some great feedback. One person cautioned against making it a spectacle and taking away from the meaning of Christmas. One person was concerned about cords being a trip hazard. One person suggested making outlines of trees on the walls. I was able to successfully use all of the completely valid and useful suggestions! As I was finishing up today (and I learned a lot about outlining Christmas trees on walls. And a lot about Command Strips) I looked around. Nothing matches. It isn’t perfect. Yet it works – beautifully. You know me and analogies … I thought – that sums us up quite perfectly. None of us match. We aren’t perfect. Yet we work – beautifully!
Finally – this morning was a bit rough. Our pup Freddie has been having health issues. He is the one dog who *never* potties in the house. For about the past six months, he has had issues with incontinence. Over the past two days – he has had issues with pooping in the house. I woke up this morning to such an incident. As I was taking care of that – one of the cats threw up. The milk I used to make my first round of oatmeal was spoiled. The second time I made oatmeal (in the microwave) it boiled over. After I arrived at church, Pastor Grant presented me with a rice krispie treat leftover from soup supper. I don’t know who made them – but they are/were rice krispie treat perfection. I sighed after taking the first bite and said, “That makes up for poop.” No higher compliment!
Picture is from last night’s Northern Lights (12/10). I didn’t stay out long enough for the big red flash that a lot of people captured, but I did get this!