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Messiah Lutheran Church Information Guide Sunday, December 13, 2020

Messiah Lutheran Church *1801 W. Plano Pkwy. * Plano, TX * 972-398-7500 Rev. Dr. Victor J. Kollmann, Senior Pastor

Bible Class Opportunities

THE PARABLES OF JESUS-A study of the parables of Jesus and how they apply to our lives today. This class will resume on January 3. THE UPPER ROOM—is a lively, discussion based class. Thoughts, ideas and wisdom are shared each week. We are very pleased to share The Upper Room Bible Study via Podcast. Subscribe today at: messiahlutheranpodcast.com/subscribe This class will resume on January 3. FOCUS—is a small group that goes through the Bible one book, one chapter, one verse at a time. Our mission is to lead a comprehensive understanding of the Word of God.

GMC– During this time of year our thoughts turn to the many things we’re thankful for. Join us for this Bible study where we’ll explore ways to recognize those things we’re thankful for (including trials in life!) and talk about ways to show that thanks to God. We’re meeting in-person and online for this study (email gmc@messiahlutheran.com for access to the link). MOSAICS-Messiah Mosaics is a class geared at anyone in their 30s or 40s, married or single. This is a discussion based class that examines how God's Word influences our daily walk with Christ. MEET MESSIAH-If you would like to know about Messiah, meet at the Guest Information Desk at 9:30am. A few of our members will take you on a tour of our campus and answer questions you may have about our church.

GROUP LEADER(S) TOPIC LOCATION

Adults Pastor Kollmann The Parables of Jesus Gymnasium

The Upper Room Pastor Otte The Gospel of John: Witnessing to a Post Christian Culture

E215S

Focus Steve Sokolyk Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

E237N

Growing Marriages in Christ (GMC)

Paul Krizan Giving Thanks To God E110S Conf. Rm.

Mosaic Sean Gremmer God’s Influence on Daily Life E220S

Meet Messiah Joan & Randy Konkel Campus Tours Guest Desk

Pastor Kollmann and Pastor Otte’s Bible classes

will not meet during the month of December.

They will resume on January 3rd.

mailto:gmc@messiahlutheran.com

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Sunday School Opportunities

Class/Grade Room Teachers Toddlers/Preschool E116S Sandra Murcott, Kari Beyer, Mary Hooper

Kindergarten E247N Barbara McCoy, Meredith Beber

First/Second Grade E216S Steve Livingston, Autumn Glass

Third/Fourth Grade E218S Chris Price Fifth, Sixth & Eighth Grade E243N Michael Neumann, Adrienne McGregor

Confirmation-7th Grade E241N Vicar Matt Lee

Ninth-Twelfth Grade Youth Rm. Barb Coen, Jodi Sorenson, Katy Moyer

PASTOR KOLLMANN’S TUESDAY MORNING WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY meets on Tuesdays from 9:30AM-11:00AM in the Upper Room. This class is going through the Lifelight study on the book of Revelation.

PASTOR KOLLMANNS WEDNESDAY MEN'S LUNCH AND BIBLE STUDY-You are invited to join this weekly study on Wednesdays as they study the book of Revelation. This class meets at 12:00 PM in the Upper Room.

Mid-Week Bible Study Opportunities

Women’s Thursday Morning Bible Study Led by Karrie Looney Thursdays, 9:30-11am

2nd Floor Multi-Purpose Room

We are watching and discussing “The Chosen” series, as well as the roundtable discussions that accompany each episode. If you would like to participate contact Ellen Thorne, eet75002@yahoo.com for more info.

Messiah Lambs Early Childhood Center Amy Myers, Director

amyers@messiahlutheran.com/ 972-398-7560.

Messiah Lambs offers a nurturing, Christ filled learning environment for children who are 6 weeks old through 4 year old preschool. Registration is currently open for the new year. Please contact the Lambs office at 972-398-7560 to schedule a tour of our program and see what we have to offer.

Messiah Lambs is growing! As families begin to return to work and school, our enrollment is increasing. We need part-time teacher’s aides in a few of our classrooms to provide love and care for our students. If you feel you are being called to help teach and care for young children and you are available a few days per week, please email Amy Myers at amyers@messiahlutheran.com.

mailto:amyers@messiahlutheran.commailto:amyers@messiahlutheran.com

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Both in-person and virtual Sunday School for grades 5 through 12 is offered every Sunday at 9:45 AM. • Michael Neumann teaches grades 5, 6, and 8 each Sunday (Adrienne McGregor is assisting him). • Vicar Matt Lee is teaching Confirmation for grade 7.

• Jodi Sorenson and Barb Coen are teaching grades 9-12 (Katy Moyer is assisting).

MESH, which is for grades 9-12, is now being taught in-person by Michael Neumann each Wednesday in the couch room from 7 to 8:30 PM. Vicar Matt Lee teaches JAM every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:15 PM virtually.

IN SEARCH OF SUNDAY MORNING CAREGIVERS to staff our nursery. Looking for candidate referrals of an adult, or maybe a college student who is in the area, available on Sunday mornings. This is a paid position. FAMILY ADVENT SERVICE-December 16th at 6:00pm. The theme is “Unpleasant Presents.” A MESSIAH FAMILY CHRISTMAS is a multi-generational Christmas program, tracing the family tree of Jesus. The program will be Dec. 20th at 10:00am in the Sanctuary.

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Messiah Serves: Our Social Ministries & Outreach Dawn Johnson – 972-948-8966 – dawnmj@fastmail.net

The mission of our Outreach Ministries is to be Jesus’ hands to our church, city, national, and international community. We do this through weekly opportunities

for hands-on service such as those listed below and through contributions to community charities such as Network of Community Ministries and the

Assistance Center of Collin Country, wonderful organizations who are equipped to deal with the long-term needs of struggling individuals.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY

Network has orientation every Thursday at 4:00 PM that includes a tour to see what area you would like to help with and complete paperwork. No appointment needed. Orientation usually lasts about 30 minutes. Please note our hours of operation and volunteer times are Monday through

Thursday 9 am to 6 pm and Friday 9 am to 12 pm. If you are unable to attend at this date and time or are interested in volunteering as a group, please call our Volunteer Coordinator at (972) 234-8880 ext. 126 or email her at aedling@thenetwork.org VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED URGENTLY FOR THE BELOW LISTED POSITIONS:

• Food Pantry Volunteer

• Clothing Closet Volunteer

• Reception Volunteer

• Driver Volunteer

• Interview Volunteer

• Seniors’ Net Volunteer

• Handy Men Volunteer

MOST NEEDED ITEMS

• Canned Vegetables

• Canned Meats

• Soups

• Beans

• Rice

• Pasta

• Peanut Butter

• Jellies

MESSIAH LAMBS is hosting an Angel tree that provides gift cards for families within our congregation who may need a little extra assistance this Christmas. You can purchase these gift cards from the Lambs. Please stop by our table outside the Lamp Gift Shop. The deadline to purchase cards is TODAY . We will purchase the cards and distribute them to these families in time for Christmas. Thank you for your generosity.

mailto:aedling@thenetwork.org

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December Worship Opportunities

Sunday, December 13– The Third Sunday of Advent-Holy Communion Wednesday, December 16-Family Advent Service 6pm (Chapel) & Advent Service (Sanctuary) 7:00pm Sunday, December 20-Fourth Sunday in Advent--Holy Communion (8:30 AM) ”A Messiah Family Christmas” (10:00 AM) Wednesday, December 23-Advent Service (Sanctuary) 7:00pm Thursday, December 24– Christmas Eve Family Services at *3:00 (*“mask required” service) 5:00 p.m. , and 7:00 p.m. These services will include favorite carols as we welcome our newborn King! Friday, December 25-Christmas Day Service at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary. Happy Birthday, Jesus! Sunday, December 27-Worship Celebration-Holy Communion Wednesday, December 30-Wednesday Traditional Worship Celebration- Holy Communion-7:00 PM –Chapel Thursday, December 31-New Year’s Eve Service at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. We look forward to 2021 with prayer and praise!

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Christmas is shaping up to be a little different this year. Usually Texans dream of FINALLY having a White Christmas for our big family gathering. This year we’re just hoping to see friends who are dear to us from across the yard. This year, the arts, children, and music ministries have decided to combine our usual programs in to one big production called A Messiah Family Christmas. We’re inviting families at Messiah to share their talents with us in a Christmas worship experience that will explore the family of Jesus. Our hope is that this experience will help us see that this year’s intimate family celebrations are part of the bigger celebration of the birth of Christ. Then as we anxiously wait to be all together again, we’re also waiting for the return of our Savior. If you or your family would like to share a special talent, please contact our directors

tmeeks@messiahlutheran.com dorothy@messiahlutheran.com aplenger@messiahlutheran.com

Sunday, December 20th

Final Family Advent Series

Wednesday, December 16th @ 6pm in the

Chapel

How do you react when you receive an unexpected gift? Have you ever missed a gift and left it unopened? What if you could have the most unbelievable present that never loses value or goes out of style? Come each week to learn about Unpleasant Presents from some of our friends and relatives. Yet God only gives us His best!

MESSIAH’S FAMILY IS YOUR FAMILY Throughout the Advent and Christmas services, help fill the Messiah Family Christmas Tree with the faces of all who are worshipping with us whether online or in person. Please send a family photo to

messiah@messiahlutheran.com. It will be put into a 3x3 inch Christmas ornament and added to the tree. If you need a place to snap a picture, stop by the photo spot in the narthex by one of the Chrismon trees. Then send it in! For those who post on social media, please tag your photos with #MLCPlano #MLCFamilyChristmas.

mailto:messiah@messiahlutheran.com

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Pray for One Another This Week Please pray for Teresa Martin, a friend of mine who is very ill with Covid. Cheryl Meyer A prayer of thanks for birth of our new granddaughter, Hadleigh Grace on December 3rd. That both mother and child are happy and healthy. Renee Whaling Meredith - healing broken Leg and Gabriella - positive for COVID. Meredith Parks Safe travel for Fred as he comes home from New York December 13. Michelle Duchow Ruthann continues to work at SMU, may they all stay safe. Prayers for our son, daughter in law and granddaughter to be safe. Les and Ruthann Swanson Prayers for my friend's husband, Alan Brauning, who has COVID and is in ICU on ventilator. Lori Lessmann Prayer for the family of Linda Maciejewski whose father (Gerald Hartzheim) passed away this past week. Ken Teel, close friend. Pray for Ken, his wife, Becky and family. Ken is in ICU on a ventilator in Plano. Jolene Henry Please, God, let this virus come to an end so we can enjoy the holidays with family and the children can go back to school. Harvey, friend. Pray for 3 year old Harvey who has been diagnosed with Autism. Mike and Noel Henderson Kaylee, spouse. Please pray for continued job search. Alex Menke Pray that we would make allowances for one another. Richard and Kathy Edwards Nell Froning, friend. Praise to God for my friend Nell who has been such a blessing to me during my heart procedures and healing time. May God bless her abundantly. Jerry and Jane Baedke

Marcy Merritt, Judy’s daughter. Pray for a successful surgery on December 10. Larry and Judy Plunkett Jessica Gremmer. Pray that God shines His light through new opportunities and Toyota Christian Fellowship Group. Sean and Jessica Gremmer Pray for continued healing after surgery for Joyce Laux. Pray for uncomplicated distribution of the Covid vaccine and positive attitudes about receiving the vaccine to end the pandemic. Joyce Laux, Suzanne, Ginny and Grace Wilson Sandra Simanek and family. Pray for recovery from illness. Milo and Marlene Dvorak Pray that the virus vaccine helps America. Dorothy Rigg Olivia Martinez, daughter. Pray God’s strength and healing as she faces treatment for cancer. Paul and Vada Nelson Pray for God to defeat corruption and give us joy in this season. Norma Hernandez Please let our family gather for Christmas. John and Sandy Parks RECOVERY: For Healing-Brenda Buchwald, Fred Chasak, Cy Collins, John Devine, Karen Gray, Bob Larson, Joyce Laux, Alice Nussman, Cindi Staal, Bill Swan, and Hugo Wenschau. Scott Binder-heart, Chuck Hays-hip, Jeff Sorenson-shoulder, Sandra Ward-back, and Meredith Parks-leg. SHUT-INS: Michael & Barbara Albert, Chris Andersen, Jim and Marge Anderson, Carol Avellanet, Jan Bender, Jane Collins, Marian Collins, Peggy Embler, Rosella Frank, Barbara Gable, Kathleen Haarberg, Stu & Kris Johnson, Karen Krejci, Jerry Krontz, Jean McCutcheon, Ann Murphy, Jean Osburn, Bob & Marilyn Schwarz, Ricky Switzer, and Ron Ward.

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Third Sunday of Advent THURSDAY Worship Service 8:30 AM Kingdom Yoga 8:30 AM Worship Service 9:45 AM Women’s Bible Class 9:30 AM Bible Class/Sunday School 9:45 AM Chair Kingdom Yoga 11:15AM Worship Service 11:00 AM F All Level Kingdom Yoga 6:45 PM

TUESDAY W SATURDAY Women’s Bible Class (Kollmann) 9:30 AM Intermediate Kingdom Yoga 8:15 AM Chair Kingdom Yoga 11:15 AM S Beginner Kingdom Yoga 9:15 AM

WEDNESDAY NEXT SUNDAY- Men’s Bible Class 12:00 PM Fourth Sunday of Advent Family Advent Worship Service 6:00 PM Worship Service 8:30 AM Advent Worship Service 7:00 PM A Messiah Family Christmas 10:00 AM MESH 7:30 PM

Together in the Lord This Week

THE LAMP GIFT SHOP

The Lamp Gift shop has been in operation since 2013 providing our members a convenient way to pick up cards and gifts with a Christian theme for friends and family. Your patronage of the Gift shop is vital as all proceeds go towards purchasing new inventory. It does not operate for profit, and similar to other retail shops, the lack of sales due to the impact of the Coronavirus has reduced the income necessary for acquiring new items.

Please stop by and check out the clearance items that will be displayed on a table outside of the shop as well as inside. Between now and Christmas, there will be lots of dramatic reductions that may be ideal for your holiday gifts. Thank you for your support!

PRAYER GARDEN BRICKS

It’s gift giving season, and maybe you are at a loss for something for a particular person in your life. If you would like to honor a special person in your life in a unique way, consider purchasing an engraved brick. You can pick up a brick order form at the Information Desk in the Narthex of the main Sanctuary. Bricks are $25 each and the form indicates how much lettering is allowed.