Email prayer requests to knucrew@gmail.com

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer requests. Please place in offering or communion basket.

contact@CharityLutheran.org

facebook.com/CharityLutheran.

twitter.com/CharityBismarck

WiFi Guest Password: shelter1

www.charitylutheran.org

Sunday, Dec. 16

Third Sunday in Advent“He is to be Worshipped”

Matthew 2:1-2 and 7-12

Our Military: Joshua Horsager, Jonathon Horsager, Tyler Anderson, Erik Jorgensen, Brett Miller, Clint Lykken, Jason Hoge, Garrett and Lorna Illerbrunn, Rob Duncan, Justin Lindteigen, Jordan Bailey, Amber Monette, Pamela Miller, John Seedorf, Al Dohrmann, Wyatt Gross, Will Spencer, Louie Jablonski, Jason McEvers, Gary Christianson, Austin Wald, John Forde, Stephanie Hawronsky, Zachery Vincent, Emmett Tischmak, Leroy Taylor, Michael Berman, Marc Montplaisir, Missy Dassinger, Donovan Clark and Taylor Schock.

You are welcome to put names and photos in Karen Waliser’s mailbox. Let her know if someone should be kept on our prayer list.

Charity family prays for

Healing: Pat Martin, Kyle White, Jasmine Wutzke, Darlene Bentz, Marv Borgelt, Jack Fisher, Jon Mielke, Marlene Grate, Wilbert Fueller, William Seedorf, Roland Wiedrich, Andrea Nelson, Leona Werner, Richard Zimmerman, Alan Smith, Connie Giffey, John Dwyer, and Butch Wangen. If you would like your name listed here, please contact the church office at 258-1228.

AnniversariesDecember 19 – Ken and Connie GeigerDecember 20 – Thomas and Karen SwansonDecember 21 – Sean and Amy Helgeson

Missionary Prayer RequestLord, today we pray for our ConnectKids ministry. Father, we ask you to help, lead and provide for our bus kids but today we are also asking you to encourage and strengthen Melissa Hill. Lord, give her your grace and power as she ministers to these families. Be with them today as they celebrate Your Son’s birth. Amen.

8 - First Sunday in Advent

Shepherds' CandleToday we light the Shepherds’ candle. Think about the joy experienced when they found Jesus in the manger. It is the time of year we busy ourselves with shepherding our own business and affairs and fail to adequately express the joy that Jesus brings as He is born daily to our lives through faith. We need to stop and behold Jesus.

Luke 2:15-20 proclaims the story of the shepherds. “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary, Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.

SOURCE: Advent Candle Lighting for the Family, by Kent Grothe, Connections, Nov/Dec. 2009.

Communion and Healing

Pastors and StaffSr. Pastor Scott Bauman - 202-1370 Scott.Bauman@CharityLutheran.org

Associate Pastor Sam Coleman - 226-0404 Sam.Coleman@CharityLutheran.org

Doug Leet - Executive Director of Ministries Doug.Leet@CharityLutheran.org

Jess Toman - Youth/Children Coordinator Jess.Toman@CharityLutheran.org

Heidi Brown - Nursery Director Heidi.Brown@CharityLutheran.org

Alli Sullivan - Preschool Director Alli.Sullivan@CharityLutheran.org

Maggie Portra - Elementary Director Maggie.portra@CharityLutheran.org

Melissa Hill - ConnectKIDS Director Melissa.Hill@CharityLutheran.org

Emily Brown - Middle School Director Emily.Brown@CharityLutheran.org

Andrew Hershey - High School Director Andrew.Hershey@CharityLutheran.org

Jon Samuelson - Technology Director Jon.Samuelson@CharityLutheran.org

Luke Torgerson - Director of Worship/Music Luke.Torgerson@CharityLutheran.org

Judy Smith - Accountant/Bookkeeper Judy.Smith@CharityLutheran.org

Lauri Desir - Administrative Assistant Lauri.Desir@CharityLutheran.org

Sue Balcom - Communications Coordinator Sue.Balcom@CharityLutheran.org

Jeff Brown - Custodian Jeff.Brown@CharityLutheran.org

2 - First Sunday in Advent First Sunday in Advent - 7

FINAL NIGHT TONIGHT4 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 per person or $20 for a carload. Grab your winter clothes and boots and head out to Circle C Ranch, 15821 Cattle Drive (10 miles north of Bismarck near mile marker 99).

This week at CharityTODAY 10:45 a.m. Adult Bible Class • Fireside Room. Contact: Arlie Mann 751-2580. NOON Annual Voters’ Assembly 3 p.m. ConnectKIDS Christmas Party at Riverside Elementary.

Monday 9:30 a.m. Young Moms’ Bible Study • Fireside Room Contact: Siri Penn at jerandsiri@gmail.com.

Tuesday 8:15 a.m. Sharing God’s Word • Kelly Inn. Contact: Duane Bentz 255-1624. 9:30 a.m. Women’s Study • Fellowship Hall. Contact: Carol Bjork 222-0040. 3 p.m. Prayer Group • Charity Chapel.

Wednesday Activities on Christmas Break will resume January 9.

Thursday 9:30 a.m. Women’s Study

Saturday 8:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study • Fireside Room. Contact Mike Smith 226-0098.

Sunday Andrew Hershey talk has been rescheduled for Sunday, Jan. 6

Up-to-date information can be found at

www.CharityLutheran.org Weekly updates, news,

programming details, schedule changes

and more....

“NOT A FAN,” a study by Kyle Idleman will be the topic of the men’s Bible study at 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays in the Fireside room. Plesae call Kevin Kindel at 226-0539 for more information.

AMAZING GRAYS will meet again at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, for a potluck supper followed by a sing-a-long with Colleen Reinhardt. There is no December meeting.

CHRISTMAS BREAK: There will be no Sunday school Sunday, Dec. 23 and Sunday, Dec. 30, for Christmas break. Also, there will be no WOW Wednesday, Dec. 19, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. Please check the website for current information.

REGISTRATION for youth ski trips is now open at www.CharityLutheran.org under fillable forms.This year’s scheduled trips are:

• 5th and 6th grades to Bottineau February 1-2. Cost is $85.

• 7th and 8th grades to Terry Peak February 22-24. Cost is $225.

• 9th thru 12th grades to Bridger Bowl March 22-25. Cost is $275.

Remember all forms need to be filled out and signed, including the medical waiver and the deposit of $50 is needed to insure your seat on the bus. If you have questions, please contact Emily Brown at emily.brown@charitylutheran.org.

THERE WILL BE a Middle School Progressive Dinner from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.19, with appetizers, main course and dessert. RSVP by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, to emily.brown@charitylutheran.org if your youth plans to attend.

YOUTH UNBOUNDED will be held at the indoor ice skating rink from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29. Cost is $2 per person plus $3 for skate rentals. Pay at the rink.

2019 GIVING ENVELOPES can be found on the tables in the hallway outside the church office. Please pick up your envelopes as soon as possible. If you do not find your name, contact Judy at 258-1228; she will provide envelopes for you.Remember you can set up automatic giving on our website at www.CharityLutheran.org.

Charity CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT SERVICES

Monday, Dec. 2412:30, 2 and 4 p.m.

Communion 10 p.m.

Please provide the names of the person(s) you are honoring and print legibly; names will be printed in the Christmas bulletin.

A thank offering for: _______________________________

In memory of: _______________________________

In honor of: _______________________________

A thank offering for: _______________________________

In memory of: _______________________________

In honor of: _______________________________

OR ORDER ONLINE AT:www.CharityLutheran.org

6 - First Sunday in Advent First Sunday in Advent - 3

Charity’s Advent Banners This is the third Sunday in Advent, a time of transition from darkness and death to new life and fulfillment, with the birth of the Christ Child at Christmas.

Several women from Charity created the banner on the wall to your right. It is one of four in a series depicting the prophecy of Christ’s birth as written in Isaiah.

The symbols of the Advent wreath are meaningful and exciting. Most important is the symbolism of light. The progressive lighting of candles symbolizes the coming of the spiritual light of Christ into the world and anticipates the change in physical light which takes place at Christmas.

The wreath itself is round, a circle and is a symbol of the eternity of God, who, like a circle, has no beginning nor an end. The candles placed on the wreath remind us that in Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem, God entered into our world of time and change.

Each candle on the wreath stands for a Sunday (and its following week) of the Advent season. Candles one, two and four are blue or purple.

Candle three is pink or rose. In the ancient world purple dye was very expensive and could only be afforded by kings. The blue/purple candles tell us that the one whose birth we are preparing to celebrate is our true King. The rose candle (third Sunday) tells us that Advent is half over and Christmas is getting nearer and nearer. Its lighter color is a symbolic anticipation of our joy when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The Advent wreath is made of evergreens, which are symbolic of life itself and, since they last through the winter, point to God’s gift of life which comes to us even when the world is dark and threatening. Many kinds of evergreens can be used when making a wreath at home. Each has its own symbolic meaning.

The Many Symbols of the Advent Wreath

Each Sunday, a new banner will be added crafting the sense of anticipation and progression during the Advent season. This series is based on Old Testament readings.

These lessons from Isaiah tell about a time when people will return to God. There will be justice and peace. The stump of Jesse and the barren desert will sprout and bloom. Sorrow will give way to joy, war will be replaced by peace and God will give his people the ultimate sign: a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

Although each banner is independent, all four together form a unified panorama.

The first banner is a mountain towering over a barren desert. This represents the mountain of the Lord spoken of in the first reading from Isaiah. The second banner continues the sweep of the desert, but in the foreground is a stump with one new branch growing out of it: the Root of Jesse from which a new shoot appears.

More stems, leaves, and some buds APPEAR IN THE THIRD PANEL as the desert begins to rejoice and blossom.

Finally, a special flower opens in the last banner: the fruit of the virgin’s womb.

Charity Lutheran ChurchANNUAL MEETING of the

VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY

TODAYChild care and lunch provided.

Please join us for a light lunch and the annual church business meeting. A quorum will be needed for the vote on the 2019 budget and nominees for the Vision Council, Trust Fund Committee and Nominating Committee. PLEASE plan on attending. The nominees are as follows:

Vision Council - John Seedorf, Mark Anderson, Matt Kaldor.

Trust Fund Committee - Wayne Levang, Don Nordquist, Dave Lee.

Nominating Committee - Mike Smith, Randy Traynor and Jerry Walz.

Other business will include approval of the 2019 budget.

Call 258-1228 for more info on Stephen Ministry.

If you would like to help fill the church with Poinsettias for Christmas, please fill out this form, remove at perforation and drop it off at the church office with your check as soon as possible. Suggested donation per poinsettia is $10.

On the back side of this form you can print the names of the people you are honoring or remembering this Christmas. They will be printed in an upcoming bulletin.

Name: _________________________

Phone:______________

Check/Cash enclosed: $ _________

4 - First Sunday in Advent First Sunday in Advent - 5

Financial Peace for YouthJohn Seedorf will be offering Financial Peace for Teens, a Dave Ramsey study from 5:45 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, through Sunday, April 7, in conjunction with Winter Busters.

The classes are held in the new youth room. Contact Emily Brown, emily.brown@charitylutheran.org, for your seat in the class and/or if you have further questions. Better hurry, the class is limited to the first 10 students.

GriefShare Pastor Scott Bauman, along with a couple of former Grief Share participants, will facilitate a 13-week GriefShare course from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday evening beginning January 8 through April 2.

This course is open to anyone and will be held at Charity Lutheran, 120 A spen Av, Bismarck. Use East Door and head downstairs.

Feel free to invite anyone struggling with recent or past loss of a loved one(s). If you have questions, or would like to register for the class, call Macel Monthye at 701-751-2488 or Lorri Mittleider at 701-400-1849.

Winter BustersSomething new for you this winter. THE HEART OF FAMILY is an online, interactive course designed to share the principles that Kirk and Chelsea Cameron have learned in over 25 years of marriage and parenting. They are solid, biblically-based, and faith-filled. This isn’t a self-help seminar. This is about bringing the lessons God has taught them to you.There are several options for your small group to participate in this class.

1. Small groups Monday at Charity.2. Small groups anytime and anywhere you choose.3. Online as an individual couple.

There is a fee for online access to the class and that will be determined by the number of participants.

Monday, Jan. 14 through Monday, March 4

6:30 to 8 p.m.

anxious for nothing This Bible and book study called, “Anxious for Nothing: finding calm in a chaotic world,” invites readers to delve into Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Stop letting anxiety rule the day. Join Max and other members of Charity on the journey to true freedom and experience more joy, clarity, physical renewal, and contentment by the power of the Holy Spirit. Anxiety comes with life. But it doesn’t have to dominate your life. Books available soon.

Mondays 6:30-8 p.m.

Sign-up sheets on the desk across from the elevator ...

If you have questions, please call the church office at 258-1228, or watch for additional offerings and announcements.