“Peace United Church of Christ is a multigenerational community of faith.

We welcome people of all ages, races, and life situations to join us

in our calling to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.”

TIDINGS December 2018

Volume 71, Number 8

Rev. Jon Haack, Pastor

301 North Main Street

PO Box 268

Elkader, Iowa 52043

563-245-2126

Carol Muyres, Secretary

Office Hours

Monday -Friday - 9a.m. to Noon

Email:

peaceucc@alpinecom.net

Website:

www.peacechurchelkader.org

Facebook:

facebook.com/peacechurchelkader

Tales of Christmas It’s that time of year that we anticipate Christmas, the birth of our Lord. Like much of the world, we will anticipate that celebration with planning Christmas dinner, buying Christmas presents, and helping Santa stuff stockings as only good elves would do. We al-so celebrate it by telling tales of the holiday’s past. In my family, some of us will tell of the year the tree was put up and decorated three times because the cat seemed to have an evil desire to topple it. We will tell the tale again of when my brother Jim decided it was time to burn the Christmas tree but forgot to open the damper in the fireplace. We will recall how Mom always made oyster stew for Christ-mas Eve supper, which made Christ-mas Eve worship service at Church a challenge for the burping. And no Christmas celebration would be complete without recalling how Mom stood at the bottom of the stairs with Kodak instamatic camera in hand, and flash cube in her mouth to wet it so that the cube would actu-ally flash properly to capture on film the boys’ descent down the steps to open presents on Christmas morning. Funny thing—I don’t recall ever seeing those photographs.

My challenge to you is to consider how you will write the tale of THIS Christmas. Will your story include worship by candlelight at Church? Will it include reaching out to someone less fortunate with a Christmas wish or gift? Will it include inviting someone to Christmas dinner? You see, the stories of those Christmas celebra-tions gone by tell themselves. But how the story unfolds this year is largely up to you. Maybe this year you will honor the kid inside of your heart, have fun with the joy of Jesus’ birth, and playfully choose the colors with which your Christmas picture will be dis-played.

May the gift of the Baby Jesus be anticipated and cherished this year for you and your family. God bless your Advent and Christ-mas seasons this year, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessings, Pastor Jon Haack

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

Worship 9am Chancel Choir

3

Stephen’s

Ministry 4pm

4

5

Bible Study 9am

Bell Choir Rehearsal 5:30pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal

6

7 Central State Bank has refreshments & holiday cheer dur-ing business hours. CSB will match up to $5 per person making donation to church of choice.

8

9

Worship 9a.m

Bell Choir

Sunday School 10:15-11:15am

Christmas Fantasy Con-cert at Opera House 2pm

10

11

Girl Scouts 5pm

Cub Scouts 6pm

12

Bible Study 9am

Bell Choir Rehearsal 5:30pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm

13

Peacemakers 2pm

14

15

16

Worship 9am

Bells &

Confirmation students

involvement

Sunday School 10:15-11:15am

17

Council Meeting

6:30pm

18

19

Bible Study 9am

Bell Choir Rehearsal 5:30pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm

20

Grace Café In Herbster Hall,

5 to 6:30pm Mission Comm-

ittee hosting.

21 22

23

Worship 9am Children’s

Choir Sunday School

10:15-11:15 —————— 30

24 Office Closed CHRISTMAS

EVE WORSHIP 8pm ——————- 31 New Years Eve

25

Christmas Dinner at Peace

UCC

Care Center Service 1:30pm

26

Bible Study 9am

Bell Choir Rehearsal 5:30pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm

27 Peacemakers 2pm

28 29

Worship Assistants Sunday, December 9, 2018 Ushers: Volunteer Needed Greeters: Gerry & Sandy Kramer Reader: Janet Ott Fellowship: Carol Muyres & Joe Chapman Videotaping: Dirk Buckman Opening/Closing: Marlene Marmann

Sunday, December 16, 2018 Ushers: Kenny & Penni Leonard Greeters: Eunice McMillin, Bonnie Syverson Reader: Fran Derhammer Fellowship: Ken & Sharon Seney Videotaping: Jay Moser Opening/Closing: Open: Sue Stott, Close: Sandi Coobs

Sunday, December 23, 2018 – Ushers: Susan Johnson, Lucena Phelps Greeters: John & Jane Metcalf Reader: Ann McCorkindale Fellowship: Treats from your home! Videotaping: Volunteer Needed Opening/Closing: John & Sue Gnagy

Sunday, December 24, 2017 — Christmas Eve Ushers: Car l Moser , Edie Seitz Greeters: Volunteer Needed Reader: Jane Metcalf Fellowship: Jon Haack Videotaping: Volunteer Needed Opening/Closing: Jon Haack Communion Prep: Volunteer Needed

Sunday, December 30, 2018 Ushers: Bob & Hila Garms Greeters: Maxine Kuehl, Ron Schuety Reader: Sue Gnagy Fellowship: Joanne Gray Videotaping: Volunteer Needed Opening/Closing: Gary & Nancy Kuehl

←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←← A big thank you to Peace Church Stephen Ministers for their caring and love for their care receivers this year. They bring comfort to those going through a rough time be it grieving, loneliness, or illness of some kind. As I write this, it amazes me that we just celebrat-ed 30 years of caring and sharing!! Please consider be-coming one of us. A new class will start in April. Men are also needed in this caring ministry. Think of times when someone is going through a difficult time and you wish you knew what to say or do. This will give you the tools to help. You are loved. Consider sharing that love with someone. Our sympathy to those who lost a loved one this year as you think about their first Christmas in Heaven. Current Stephen Ministers are: Sharon Seney, Janice Possehl, Jane Metcalf, Marilyn Nielsen, Laura Moser, Hila Garms, Ruth Grau, Arlene Reimer, Sue Stott, and Fran Derhammer. Thanks again to all past, present, and future Stephen Ministers. Merry Christmas

1 Ivadean Doeppke

2 Dean Gray

6 Maxine Kuehl and Gloria Elvers

10 Susan Johnson

11 Terry Baumgartner and Melissa Buckman

12 Dolores Klink, Betty Landis, Dirk Buckman

19 Neal Perry

21 Darwin Winke

24 John Gnagy

26 Carol Kruse, Stephanie Dennler

27 Sandra Coobs, Anne Freitag

28 Bruce Landis, Donna Buckman

29 Janita Doeppke

30 Kim Frentress

31 Duane Klink

Lend a Hand — Volunteer Opportunities √ Fellowship Sunday, December 23rd — We invite you to bring treats from your home to share for Fellowship following the 9am service.

√ Christmas Eve Music — We welcome volun-teers to sing or play a musical instrument to make this Christmas Eve (December 24 at 8:00pm).

√ Bell Ringer — The Peace UCC Bell Choir has an opening for substitutes. Ability to read music is help-ful. Training on bell ringing is available. Please contact Brandon Douglas. √ Giving Tree—Ornaments have items on them to donate to needy children. Pick an ornament with the gift of your choosing, to bring in.

Mailing Address to Add

John & Pat Cantwell’s new address: 4502 Elmore Avenue #247

Davenport, IA 52807

Bread for the Journey

Sunday, December 2nd Sign of Things to Come

Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10

1 Thessolonians 3:9-13

Luke 21:25-36

Sunday, December 9th Make Ready

Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9

Luke 1:68-79

Philippians 1:3-11

Luke 3:1-6

Sunday, December 16th Look Forward

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Isaiah 12:2-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

Sunday, December 23rd Moving with Mary’s Song

Micah 5:2-5a

Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Sunday, December 30th Who Is This Child?

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

Psalm 148

Colossians 3:12-17

Luke 2:41-52

Worship Attendance/Offerings

November 4, 2018 71 $3885.01 November 11, 2018 80 $2631.01 November 18, 2018 78 $2741.00 November 25, 2018 74 $1271.00

Special Prayer Requests

Military persons, Joanne Gray, Ruth Grau, Evan Coobs, Bob Haack, Deb Sadewasser, Harry & Gloria

Robbins, Denise King, Harley & Sharon Reichert, Heidi Aulwes, Greg Anderson

Care Center/Assisted Living Residents Vi Sadewasser, Karen Glesne,

Eydie Seeland, Irma Glawe, Jean Welsh, Orlan & Beverly Reimer, Joanne Ishman, Lavon Meyer, Hilda

Jachs, Bob Dennler

Please contact the church office to add or remove a name from either list above.

Christmas Eve Pointsettia time of year . If you would like to order one for any loved one in your life,

please contact Carol. If you would like it to honor someone, or in memory of someone, please note that on the sign-up sheet passed at church. Or call me at

563-245-2126.. Carol orders them from Elkader Floral. The cost for them this year is $18.00 payable to Peace UCC. Deadline December 10th.

PICS NEEDED We need your help!!! If you have pics of the Peace Church graduating classes of 2017 and 2018, or the

Confirmation Class of 2017, and they include Pastor, please share with Carol in the church office or email

them to the office so we can print them for our Church history.

Acolyte December Schedule

2nd Millie Burns and Maddie Burns 9th Hannah Koehn and Ashlyn Koehn

16th Jamison Feicker t and Alyson Feicker t 23rd Jonah Burns and Isaiah Burns

24th Christmas Eve evening service -volunteer needed

30th Reese Kuhse and Ella Buckman

Baking Mixes Flour

Sugar Brown Sugar Baking Soda

Baking Powder Powdered Sugar

Clayton County Food Shelf 100 West Hill St. Olaf IA

563-783-7794 If you are in need of food or daily household

necessities please go to the above address, Monday thru Friday between the hours of 9-noon and 1-4pm.

FOOD SHELF COLLECTION

Peace United Church of Christ

Church Council Meeting Minutes

November 12, 2018

Call to Order: President Gus Augustson called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Those present were Pastor Jon Haack, Gus Augustson, Dave Derhmmer, Michelle Gifford, Sharon Seney, Gwen Dettbarn, and Donna Buckman.

Opening Devotion: Michelle led us in devotion.

Minutes: Donna made a motion to approve the minutes as r ead; Gwen seconded.

Financial Report: There was no repor t.

Pastor’s Report: Pastor Jon repor ted that he attended three different UCC events. He was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Iowa Conference. He also attended Future Ready Iowa.

Committee Reports:

Christian Education—No report.

Buildings & Grounds—Dave reported that there will not be any cement work or tuck pointing the rest of this year. Gary will get us on the list with Allen Mitchell for next year. There is a spot where the carpet is popping up that will need to be fixed. The dishwasher is leaking. The company who installed it will send someone to check it out. It is $20 a trip with $120 an hour for labor. It is at least 10 years old. The boilers have been refurbished and are running well.

Worship: Michelle reported that the church will be decorated for Christmas after church on No-vember 25, 2018. Michelle and Laura will come ahead of time and get things organized and ready. There will be a worship committee meeting on November 14, 2018.

Missions—Sharon reported that there is a new missions committee. They are looking for new pro-ject ideas.

Finance—Gwen reported that she is going to need committee budgets for 2019 soon.

VII. Old Business:

Stewardship Budget – Gus and Gwen have met once. The forms are starting to come in.

Fall Festival – Total expenses were $1,085. Total income $6,534.35.

Organ – The organ company was here recently for a second tuning which was included in our contract.

New Business:

Council Recruits – Some people have volunteered on the time and talent sheets. We will need three new members. There was discussion about setting up an all-church email. Sharon will explore and talk with Dirk Buckman.

Peacemakers – They need money. Dave made a motion to give them $150 and Donna seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Flower Fund – Sharon made a motion that people requesting flowers will need to come into the office no later than one month ahead of time and pay at the time of ordering. Gwen seconded and the motion carried.

Next Meeting – The next meeting will be December 17, 2018.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michelle Gifford, Church Council Secretary

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PEACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CAR-RT-SORT

P.O. BOX 268 NON-PROFIT

ELKADER, IOWA 52043-0268 U.S. POSTAL PERMIT NO. 45

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ELKADER, IA 52043

Stephen Ministers A big thank you to Peace Church Stephen Ministers for their caring and love for their care re-ceivers this year. They bring comfort to those going through a rough time be it grieving, loneli-ness, or illness of some kind. As I write this, it amazes me that we just celebrated 30 years of caring and sharing!! Please consider becoming one of us. A new class will start in April. Men are also needed in this caring ministry. Think of times when someone is going through a diffi-cult time and you wish you knew what to say or do. This will give you the tools to help. You are loved. Consider sharing that love with someone. Our sympathy to those who lost a loved one this year as you think about their first Christmas in Heaven. Current Stephen Ministers are: Sharon Seney, Janice Possehl, Jane Metcalf, Marilyn Nielsen, Laura Moser, Hila Garms, Ruth Grau, Arlene Reimer, Sue Stott, and Fran Derhammer. Thanks again to all past, present, and future Stephen Ministers. Merry Christmas