Family and friends of Paula Cope.
Jon Cook; Millie Mutka, Zima family friends Stefan Sladek, Dave Butschli, Mick, Steven and Marilyn Hummel; Gregory Bowens; Laurie Nelson; Amber Ross’s daughter Linda; Randy & Diane Niemczyk’s niece Sarah Joda, and their dear friend Denise Hazel; Valeria Hesselberg; Chris Markussen; Mary Akins; Anne Verona’s sister/brother-in-law Pat & Woody Woodworth; Bobbie Schmidt’s brother William and her step-daughter Cheryl; Dawn Gonitzke’s brother Scott Premo; Pastor Grant’s friend Jane Trasosech; the Eberts friends Patricia Kulzick and John Oliver; the Waggoner’s sister-in-law Cheryl Busse; Karen Engels’ niece Lisa and friends Bob and Dawn and Gail Wogsland; Ann Carlson’s people Dwight, Staci, Curt, and Troy; and the people of Israel, Russia, Palestine and Ukraine. Those continuing to restore their communities after devastating floods around the world.
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.
WORSHIP ON FACEBOOK – Live on Facebook on Sundays at 9:00 am and posted for later viewing.
GUESTS – if you are visiting us today, please sign our book at the entrance to the sanctuary.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE BULLETIN – if you want to get announcements in the bulletin, please get your information to the Front Office Wednesday before noon.
COOKIE SUNDAY – is TODAY (if you didn’t already know). Cookies will be served in the Fellowship Hall after our fantastic Christmas Program.
CHRISTMAS GARDEN – forms are in the Narthex. You have until Dec 18 at noon to get your orders in! This is a free-will donation program.
PROTECT YOUR PEACE – when we share the peace at Prince of Peace – feel free to wave the peace sign; fist bump or avoid any sort of contact at all! We know you still share the love but want to protect YOUR peace and not get any cooties.
ENVELOPES – your giving envelopes are here. Check in the Narthex for your box. Any issues and/or need something in regards to the envelopes, please contact Mike Bishop.
ADVENT WEDNESDAYS – don’t forget – we have our final Advent soup dinner on Wed. 18th at 5:30 pm. To be followed by the Holden Evening Prayer at 6:00 pm.
NORTHWOODS SINGERS CONCERT SCHEDULE: FINAL DAY IS TODAY – HERE!
Sunday, December 15th, 2024, at 4:00 pm, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Reception will follow.
OH ENDOWMENT TREE! OH ENDOWMENT TREE! December is here, you may have noticed the POP Endowment Tree in the Narthex at church adorned with handmade ornaments contributed by members of our congregation. This year, we’d like to invite you to make a donation to our endowment fund. A portion of profits from the endowment fund is contributed back into our community for various programs–Caritas, Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Praise in the Pines, Northwoods Shares, Worship in the Wild, Sunshine for Humanity & more! All donations are tax-deductible and can be included in your 2024 taxes if received at the church by end of day on 12/31/24.
Grab an ornament, make a donation and know your contribution is benefiting our community! Questions can be directed to Zach Braunel, Shayne Wilfer or Betty Wright.
A special thanks to Adelyn Braunel, Lily Van Lishout and Hope Van Lishout who have been contributing their creativity by filling up that tree with ornaments as part of our Sunday School program!
ANGELS! SHEPHERDS! JOSEPH & MARY, OH MY! – 12/15 CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Today is the day!!!! Dust off your wings! Grab your headdress! Be a townsperson! Get ready for our 2nd Annual Non-Rehearsal Christmas program at POP! Again this year, we’ll be calling on the entire congregation to join us in the program. There will be a part (non-speaking) for everyone! This is a service you won’t want to miss!
Let the story of Jesus’ Birthday come alive before us and through us. Show up a bit earlier than normal so we can fit you for your favorite role in this year’s Christmas program! First come, first fitted for role of your choice!
NEW! MARK YOUR CALENDARS! PRINCE OF PEACE WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS!
Calling women of all ages to join us for the first-ever Prince of Peace Women’s Christmas! This special program is designed to bring women of our church—including friends and family—to share in food, fellowship & friendship! We’ll have men helping with the programming, cooking, serving, and cleaning. Registration form is available in the Narthex. You can also register by calling the church office. The cost of the dinner and special program is $40. What a wonderful gift to give to family & friends or yourself! Space will be limited to the first 35 who sign up! You won’t want to miss this first-ever event on Sunday, January 12- 5pm to 8 pm! (12 spots have already been filled).
Men—looking for a great gift for your wife, friends & family! OR…want to give of your time to this special event! We’re still looking for volunteers to help deliver this special evening!
Any questions can be directed to Rachel Strong, Shayne Wilfer, Barb Zima or Pastor Grant!
GOD’S WORK – OUR HANDS – actually needs a hand. They will continue to host the first Sunday of the month coffee hour, but they are asking for assistance. Asking members of the congregation to take turns bringing in homemade or purchased baked goods. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or contact Betty Wright at basslakewrights@gmail.com.
FLAT LUTHER – Flat Luther has been traveling! Check out his adventures on the window to the Fellowship Hall! More adventures have been documented.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR – practice continues for the Christmas Choir every Wed at 4:30 pm in the sanctuary. We will be singing at our Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 pm. Come one – come all! Contact Gary Ebert for questions – ebert@udel.edu or 302-766-0109.
DRESS A TURKEY? DRESS A TREE! – there is a tree in the Narthex. It is there to collect hats and gloves for the upcoming winter for people/children in our community. Items collected are currently designated for our local school district.
FUN FACTS: As the holidays bear down on us like a runaway sleigh, many of us are decking our halls with festive Christmas decorations of red and green. But how did these two colors become such an important part of our traditions? While no one knows for certain, there are several theories that lie in both ancient and modern traditions alike.
In ancient times, Romans celebrated Saturnalia, an agrarian winter festival celebrated around the time of the winter solstice in honor of the god Saturn, who was, among other things, the god of sowing and seeds. When the winter planting was done, Romans celebrated with raucous abandon, feasting, drinking, and reversing social roles. Homes were decorated with candles and evergreens including holly. The red berries and green leaves became associated with Saturnalia celebrations, and were absorbed into Christmas celebrations with the advent of Christianity.
The Christian Symbolism of Red and Green: Evergreens and Holly The use of evergreens and holly for Christmas decorations continues to the present day. For Christians, the evergreen leaves, which don’t lose their color or die during the winter, are seen as a powerful symbol of the eternal life promised by Jesus Christ in the gospels. The sharp, pointy leaves of holly call to mind the crown of thorns, and its red berries are seen as emblematic of the blood shed on the cross.
A Cola Influence? In 1931, an illustrator named Haddon Hubbard “Sunny” Sundblom, working for Coca-Cola, created the iconic jolly Santa Claus as we know him today. Sundblom was inspired by Clement Moore’s 1822 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas. Sundblom transformed the character into the warm, happy, rosy cheeked bearded man wearing that iconic red suit that Americans grew to love (the particular shade of red borrowed from Coca-Cola’s branding).
The Merriest Colors Red and green are found at opposite ends of the color wheel, considered complementary colors. These color opposites, when shown together, create an effect in our eyes known as simultaneous contrast, and grab a viewer’s attention. Today, we can’t see red and green together without thinking of Christmas. {Source: Farmer’s Almanac}
NOTES: Had to share one of my favorite cartoons (I have a running list of about twenty). Then I have a picture of the Coca-Cola Santa to show you what was being referred to in the article. Finally I have a picture of a fuzzy faced deer. Very similar to the ones who were outside of our door this morning. I ‘could’ have taken a picture, but some days I feel like experiencing the moment instead of documenting it.
As you all are aware – it was a little bit chilly this morning. So cold that not only Magnus (the Chihuahau) ‘turtled’ out – so did Freddie – our larger (30 lb) muttley. Turtling out is what we call it when our dogs say, “Nope its too cold” and they go to their bellies in the snow because their little feet can’t take it. Today was a record ‘turtling’ time. Magnus turtled out within 30 seconds. Freddie – just over a minute. Milo – our Lab – thought it was a wonderful day and kept wanting to go back outside. (That is the way Labs live – full on).
But as I was bringing the dogs back in – the deer showed up in our yard. I noticed their fur was standing on point. The reflex of producing goose bumps is known as piloerection or the pilomotor reflex, or, more traditionally, horripilation. It occurs in many mammals; a prominent example is porcupines, which raise their quills when threatened, or sea otters when they encounter sharks or other predators. Or – I’m guessing in the case of the deer – making more a blanket to trap air to keep themselves warm. Whatever the reason – it definitely made them even more cute. Fuzzy faces with tips of frost on the ends of their fur. Really wanted to go out and ‘boop’ their noses. Pretty sure that would not have been well received. So that over-explains the third picture.
As I drove into work – in my van – which had been housed in a garage – with heated seats and a heated steering wheel (tho we did purchase it used) – after leaving a home where I had heat – 65 degrees supplemented with a wood stove – where I was able to have breakfast and coffee … I couldn’t help but think of those around me – even those I probably drove by – who may not even have half of those things. And how we are called upon to care for the widows, the poor and the needy.
I am thankful for the programs we have in the area – Caritas, Fork, Vilas County Food Pantry and our Weekend Backpack Program. I have contributed financially to most of these programs. I don’t think God wants us to only focus on the financial gifts we can give. Honestly, what I gave wasn’t a lot. It probably helped in the moment. I think He wants us to also interact face-to-face. The gift of time and interacting with someone – seeing them – is crucial. You may not be able to fix whatever situation the person is in – but you can always see them.
Definitely harder to do on bitter cold days when getting from one warm place to another warm place is a priority. Even a simple eye-contact, head nod and a smile can make a world of difference.
