December 2016

CONNECTION!

Making a CONNECTION with one another

Hutterthal Mennonite Church

Freeman, SD

DECEMBER 2016 3 State Oral Interpretation (Harrisburg, SD) 4 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:45am Worship 11:10am Sunday School 5 7:00pm Annual Congregational

Meeting 7 10:00am Freeman Ministerial 9 9:00am HMC Cookie Walk @ Free-

man Community Center 11 3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:45am Worship 11:10am Sunday School 7:00pm Family Christmas 12 7:00pm Prayer Shawl 14 7:00pm Church Board 18 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:45am Worship 11:10am Sunday School 20 9:15am Pastor Peer (Sioux Falls) 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 9:45am Worship 11:10am Sunday School 28 12:00pm Connection! Deadline

(send info to Hutterthal@goldenwest.net) 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1) Marcia Schrock 3) Debra Kleinsasser 7) Brandy Lima 8) Joann Stahl 8) Darlene Hofer 8) Claire Hofer 9) Barbie Hofer 9) Gordon Waltner 9) Maureen Friesen 10) Todd Hofer 13) Michelle Friesen 14) Roberta Julien 18) Jason Hofer 20) Eric Neuharth 21) Joyce Hofer 23) Felicity Jones 23) Nathanael Jones 25) Sherryl Friesen 27) Moses Glanzer 28) Lyndon Hofer DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 27) Steve & Charlene Friesen

Thank you for the overwhelming re-sponse that Hutter-thal had for our Women in Mission relief kit project. I

was able to make 22 relief kits from the money contributed by both men and women. In a normal year I usu-ally made 5 or 6 but this year the response was fantastic. -Sharon Waltner

Connection!: published since April 2000 Connection! Editor: Jill Hofer Advisory Board: Rebecca Hofer, chp., Marcia Schrock and Twyla Hofer HMC Links

Website - http://hmcfreeman.org “Like” Us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/hutterthalmennonitechurch

Pastoral Links Facebook – www.facebook.com/MennPastor Twitter – @MennPastor Blog – mennpastor.blogspot.com

The children sang "Adam, Adam" with words and

music by Rhett Parrish, Jodi Hanna, and Ed Kee.

Several children sang solos throughout

the song.

Attendance Offerings

Nov. 6 127 $4,721

Nov. 13 99 $2,518

Nov. 20 102 $3,259

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY

SCHOOL PROJECT

Winter (Dec., Jan., Feb.)

CPMC Ecuador project

MENNONITE WOMEN

DECEMBER PROJECT

Cookie Walk

Hutterthal Library News! Letting Go of Worry & Anxiety by Pam Vredevelt is a practical guide to living a life that is in better balance and more joyful. Pam gives personal examples of using the techniques outlined in the book to help with conquering the everyday struggles of dealing with worry and anxiety. She notes that taking good care of ourselves (getting adequate rest and exercise) and reaching out to a trusted friend when we are anxious are ways to help get thru the "rough patch-es" we all experience in life. "We don't have to com-pulsively follow every train of thought that enters our head. We don't have to give it more power than it deserves. Sometimes a thought is just a thought." She offers hope for those who struggle

with the occasional worries we all face.

Paul Tschetter - The Story of a Hutterite Immigrant Leader, Pioneer, and Pastor by Rod Janzen has been donated to our church library by Wesley Tschetter and is an interesting read for those who have an interest in general history and our church history in particular. Paul Tschetter was one of the "12 spies" who came to America to "spy out" the land for the Hutterite people who were considering leaving Russia. He kept a diary of that extensive journey and this diary gives a great deal of insight into the thought processes of the man and the time period in which he lived. Already influential in Russia, and instrumental in convincing the Hutterites to move to America, Paul Tschetter evolved into a leader of the Hutterites, respected by both those that settled in colonies and those that chose to homestead individu-ally as well as those who were more traditional in their thinking and those who were more progres-sive. Mr. Janzen uses diaries, sermons, hymns, interviews and other sources to create a portrait of a

man that has been called the "Hutterite Joshua".

Raymond M. Hofer, 87 years old, passed into eter-nity on November 4, 2016 at his home in Freeman. Visit-ation was held at Walter Funeral Home (Freeman) on Wednesday, November 9 from 1-4pm and at Hutter-thal from 5-7pm with the

memorial services the following morning, November 10, at 10:30am. Those left to remember the mischievous twinkle in his smiling eyes as well as his one liners are his wife of 37 years, Joyce, his 5 children—Cindy, Nanette, Kim, Amy, and Dennie—and 2 step-children—Juli and Joel—along with grandchildren and a host of friends.

Larry Hofer remains hospitalized at San-ford as of November 13, 2016 with an in-fection following surgery to remove a tu-mor from the colon and repair a hernia on October 25. Larry is also experiencing diffi-culty eating so a feeding tube was installed. Larry requests prayer, but no visitors at this time. During the week of Thanksgiv-ing, he was moved to Freeman Hospital where he is still looking for his appetite, but continues to heal in other areas.

Jessie Gross, 92 years old, passed into eternity on November 12, 2016. Hutterthal family are sisters Marcella and Rosella Glanzer.

Randy Glanzer was hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs in early November.

Lucilla Dewald, age 94, is in hospice care with pneumonia. She resides in Pipestone, Minnesota in a nursing home. Lucilla is Glenda Langeland’s mother.

The meat canner was in Freeman at the Fred Haar Co. on November 14 & 15, 2016.

Reagan Medina, the granddaughter of Bruce and Monica Hofer, had a scheduled echocardiogram on November 10, 2016 and totally astounded the doctors! The holes in her heart continue to close and the doctors do not need to see her for 4-6 months instead of weeks! She is also eating solid foods, another milestone. Praise the Lord!

November Guests Signed to the Register: November 13:

Emil & Evelyn Schmidt (Texas) Sandy Schmidt Arguyo (Austin, Texas) Hes Schmidt (Texas)

November 20: Chuck & Karen (Hofer) Hittenburg

(Shafter, California)

By Twyla Hofer

CHRISTMAS LONG AGO James Whitcomb Riley

Come, sing a hale heigh-ho For the Christmas long ago! – When the old log-cabin homed us From the night of blinding snow, Where the rarest joy held reign, And the chimney roared amain, With the firelight like a beacon Through the frosty window pane.

Ah! the revel and the din From without and from within, The blend of distant sleigh-bells With the plinking violin; The muffled shrieks and cries – Then the glowing cheeks and eyes – The driving storm of greetings, Gusts of kisses and surprise.

HMC’s ANNUAL

CHRISTMAS COOKIE WALK

When: Fr iday, December 9 (snow date: Dec. 12), 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where: Senior Citizen Center

This is a fund-raising project to assist a local individual who is having health

issues and wishes to remain anonymous. Your willingness to help, by bringing

Christmas cookies and/or candies, will make this event a success and express

our love & care.!

Please bring your goodies to the Senior Citizen Center on Dec. 9 by 9 a.m.

Questions? Please contact: Sherryl Friesen , Barbie Hofer, Amanda Mettler, Edie Tschetter

Thank you for helping!

Straight up—by Todd Jones “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family

in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be

strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the

saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes

knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” ~ Ephesians 3: 14-19, NKJV

“Filled with all the fullness of God:” This is the reason He came. The incarnation — God

gathering near to us in the Person of Jesus Christ — was the fulfillment of God’s desire to dwell

with His people. God sent His Son that we might “be filled,” knowing the vast dimensions of His

love not just intellectually, but experientially. God sent His Son, the Word was made flesh, that

we might be “rooted and grounded” in His love. God the Father wants the love of Jesus to be the

anchor of our very existence and the foundation upon which everything in our lives rests. How

extravagant is God’s love for us! It is wide enough to include you — to include every single one. It

is long enough to extend into the vastness of eternity. It is deep enough to reach to the very

depths of our brokenness and sin. And, it is high enough to draw us into the fullness of His pres-

ence. Like the cross, the love of Christ essentially points in every direction that we might know

its width, length, depth, and height — that we might know and experience the magnitude of that

love.

Jesus came that we might be “filled us with all the fullness of God” — that He might

“dwell in our hearts through faith.” He came to bless … and He desires that we, in turn, might be

a blessing one to the other. “By this,” He testified, “all will know that you are My disciples, if

you have love for one another” (John 13: 35, NKJV). Not by the size of our building, the fre-

quency of our church attendance, or the vastness of our Bible knowledge, but by our love will

others know that we have received Christ as Savior and Lord. As G. Campbell Morgan has stated,

“The measure in which Christian people fail in love … is the measure in which the world does not

believe in them, or their Christianity. It is the final test of discipleship, according to Jesus.”

This gift of love that we have been given — this fullness with which we have been filled —

was poured out upon us that we might pour it out upon the world. This gift we receive in Christ

we are blessed to give. We know that truth as surely as we know our own name … and now the

season of Advent calls us to experience and practice it. We have talked of love long enough. Now,

may it begin to define us; may this gift — this incarnation — become our defining characteristic

as a people until “filled with all the fullness of God” speaks not only to us as a people, but to all.

Merry Christmas!

Midweek Bible Study 2017 The Deacons would like to invite you to our annual Midweek study beginning January 18, 2017! These Wednesday studies will include opportunities not only for adults, but for children as well. Beginning with soup fellowship at 6:30pm, we will gather together as a church family be-fore breaking into groups — child care (ages 0-pre-k), children’s ministry (K-6th grade), and youth-adult Bible study — at 7:00pm. A sign-up sheet is in the foyer to help us better plan for our time together. Adult Study: Courage For the Journey - led by Jill Hofer and Michelle Hofer “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the

Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 Have you been feeling weary, worn out, heavy-hearted or discouraged? Consider coming out this winter for Hutterthal’s Midweek Bible Study. Drawing from Jill's current seminary studies and Michelle's Celtic pilgrimage experience, "Courage For the Journey" will guide you in find-ing needed refreshment in your daily walk with God. A series of six sessions filled with Biblical wisdom, practical guidance and light-hearted inspiration will prepare you for facing life's chal-lenges with courage and strength:

1. Wed., Jan 18th – The Way: Who is God? 2. Wed., Jan 25th – The Traveler: Who are we? 3. Wed., Feb 1st – The Restful Path: Sabbath 4. Wed., Feb 8th – The Shared Path: Soul Friends 5. Wed., Feb 15th – The Quiet Path: Solitude

6. Wed., Feb 22nd – The Joyful Path: Worship Children’s Ministry: The Parables of Jesus—led by Kim Jones

“And the disciples came and said to [Jesus], ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven….’”

Matthew 13: 10-11, NKJV

K—6th Grade students are invited to take part in our Midweek Children’s Ministry! Following our soup fellowship in the church basement, the K—6th grade will move to the Sunday School wing to explore the parables of Jesus. The parables are central to understanding the ministry of Jesus and who He is calling us to be. Engaging these stories together, we will learn together what the Kingdom of heaven is life and how that helps us know how to follow Jesus today. Over our six weeks together, we will be challenged by the following parables:

1. Wed., Jan 18th – The Parable of the Sower 2. Wed., Jan 25th – The Parable of Rich Farmer 3. Wed., Feb 1st – The Parable of the Talents 4. Wed., Feb 8th – The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 5. Wed., Feb 15th – The Parable of the Tower Builder

6. Wed., Feb 22nd – The Parable of the Yeast

The annual meat canning took place at the local John Deere deal-ership on November 14-15. Thanks to all who helped with bringing food and working! Thanks for making a difference in someone’s life.