1 | T h e M e s s e n g e r

The Messenger

December 2015

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1 A Word From Our Pastor

2 CELC News

3 Member news

4 CELC Classifieds

5 Circles and church groups

6 Christmas Season

Information

7 Welcome information

8 Worship Information

Inserts December calendar &

Worship Assistant list,

Oct. 2015 Council Meeting

Minutes, Preschool

Scholarship Fund

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church

Our Mission Statement

Gospel In Action:

Caring for all God’s children, we shall

serve God through Worship,

Learning and Sharing.

A Word From Our Pastor Rev. Jeff Steeber

During Advent, we anxiously and excitedly

await the much anticipated birth of our Lord

and Savior. On Christmas Eve, we hear the

proclamation that the Christ is in our midst.

On Christmas day, we celebrate that due to

the miraculous act of God, the world will

never be the same. Do you want to hear

more about all of this? If you do, I’ll see

you in worship.

Peace and All Good Things,

Pastor Jeff +

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SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, December 6, 2015

Join us for a holiday celebration after the Sunday service!

Check out the board in the Gathering Area for sign-up sheets with Volunteer Opportunities!

Opportunities include:

Providing soup, bread, and finger foods;

Supplying two dozen or more cutout cookies, either sugar or gingerbread (undecorated);

Bringing decorator frosting for the cookies;

Supervising the cookie decorating;

Set-up and Clean-Up

Anyone planning to decorate cookies should bring sugar sprinkles, candies and other edible decorations for the cookies.

For more information, contact Sue Jagoda. Hope to see you there!

Advent Worship: Services will be

held Tuesday evenings @ 7:00 p.m. on

December 1, 8, 15 & 22. Holden

Evening Prayers. Coffee and cookies

following.

Redeemer Crisis Center

Help our friends in need...

food packing at

The Redeemer Crisis Center

located at 2970 W30 Cleveland.

Help our friends in need by packing bags of

food at The Redeemer Crisis Center located at

2970 West 30th

, Cleveland. Please save the date

of Friday, December 18 to pack food bags and

to wrap gifts. We will have a caravan leaving

CELC at 5:45 p.m. We’ll get to the Center by

6:30 p.m. for a pizza dinner and the packing

begins at 7:00 p.m. You’re also welcome to

meet us there. Please give Ryan Smarsh

notification if you will be joining, whether it is

in the caravan or driving solo for an exact head

count. Please call 440-309-3808 or see Ryan in

person at Sunday services.

Christmas Worship Schedule:

December 13th @

10:30 a.m. Worship

Service - Kids Christmas Program

December 20th @

10:30 a.m. Worship

Service - Sanctuary Choir Program

December 24th @

7:00 p.m. – Christmas

Eve Worship Service.

December 25th @

10:00 a.m. – Christmas

Day Worship Service.

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Member News

December 2 Mark Principe

John Skaggs

Ron Smarsh

December 4 Shirley Mitchell

December 5 Chip Crout

Amy Lodge

December 6 Claire Mohney

Betty Wagner

December 10 Carl Musat

December 11 Benjamin Mars

December 12 Robert Nordman

December 13 Fay Warren

December 15 Eric Mohney

December 16 Sharon Moore

December 17 Tommy Nordman

December 18 Norma Jean Carlson

December 19 Trisha Keldsen

Emily Higley

CELC wishes all our December Babies

a Very Blessed Birthday!

December 20 Sharon Davidson

Nicholas Kocel

December 21 Allison Moore

December 22 Barbara McCain

Lauren Skaggs

December 24 Jamie Crout

December 28 Doris Klement

December 29 Stephanie Wolf

If we have missed your birthday or the date is incorrect, please contact the church office so

we may update our records. We want to celebrate all of you! Thank you

Amherst Community Chorus: To celebrate their 20th

year, will present “A Musical

Christmas Tribute” on Sunday, December 13th at 3:00 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Social Hall, 200

St. Joseph Dr., Amherst (off Cleveland St.). Ticket prices are Adults - $6 , Senior citizens -

$5 , Students - $4. Children 5 and under are admitted free. There will be refreshments

following the concert.

Driveway Snow Removal: The City of Avon Lake will remove snow from your

driveway this winter free of charge if you are 65 and live in your own home. If you qualify

call the Avon Lake Service Department @ 440-930-4126, and ask for Dawn. She will take

your name, your information, and answer any questions.

Family Promise Week: to begin on Sunday, November 29. Many volunteers are

needed to make this week a success. Please contact Chuck Heindrichs if you are available

to help with meals, play-time, and/or over-nights. Contribution Envelopes are in your

Worship Bulletins. Thank you for your continued support.

Please Remember: There will be no service on Saturday, December 26.

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Christmas Program: Gwen, JoAnn,

Kevin, and Loren hope you’ve made plans

to attend the Holiday Choral Concert on

Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m., in

Stocker Center at Lorain County

Community College. Britten’s “A

Ceremony of Carols” will be performed

with harp along with traditional Holiday

tunes and “Messiah” selections preformed

with orchestra. What a good way to get into

the Holiday Spirit!

The Congregational Life

Committee: has been asked to purchase

some additional hymnals. The cost per

hymnal is $22.50. If anyone would be

interested in helping with this purchase and

to give in honor or memory of a loved one

please see a committee member (Joe

Guthman, Brenda Crout, Fred Kirtner,

Michelle Young, Rob Pederson, and

Bethany Pearce) or place your donation in

an envelope labeled appropriately.

Children’s Christmas Program: The

program will be on Sunday, December 13

at 10:30 a.m. If you have any questions

please contact Stacy Jantz or Betty Floyd or

leave a message with Bonnie Hicks in the

church office.

Advent Celebration Soup Lunch and

Cookie Decorating: Save the date for

Sunday, December 6 for the After

Church Advent Celebration Soup

Lunch and Cookie Decorating. Details

are on the board in the gathering area.

Christmas Preparations: We will be

decorating the church for Christmas on

Saturday, December 5 at 9:00 a.m. If

you would be able to help, your advice,

and willing hands would be greatly

appreciated. Hopefully we will share

some refreshments and great

conversation. We have a few new items

to change up the decorations, so please

come and share at this exciting time of

the year!

5 | T h e M e s s e n g e r

Circles & Church Groups

YOU are INVITED

Free Community Lunch Bunch

Thursday, July 19, 2012

11:30a.m.—1:30 p.m.

Let us treat YOU to a Homemade

Lunch and Musical Entertainment!

ALL are Welcome!

Avon Lake Presbyterian Church

32340 Electric Blvd.

(Near Jaycox Rd.)

440-933-6240

Mark your calendars for the

upcoming church rummage sale.

Help will be needed on all days

* Set-up September 12th 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

* Sale is September 13th 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

& September 14th 9 a.m.– Noon

Donations may be brought in and dropped off in the

social hall on

Wednesday, September 12th

Food donations are needed for the rummage sale

lunch. Items needed include: Breads, small loaf,

not cut & pies. No cookies, brownies or muffins

please. Call Sharon Davidson at 440-933-3923.

If you can help or have any

questions please call Quello

Columbaro 440-933-2131

Mrs. Knip's and Mrs. Manternach's 3 Day

Pre-K Class is shown surrounding part of

the candy that was donated by families of

Christ Lutheran Preschool in Avon Lake.

The sweets were given to the Homeless

Shelter in Lorain. The children talked

about helping others and sharing during the

time that they were collecting.

A Giving Tree will be in the gathering area from

Nov. 22 to Dec. 13, 2015. This year, Genesis House,

a shelter for women and children hurt by domestic

violence, need the following items:

Women’s:

body wash, lotion, deodorant,

razors, hair care products

(including, multi-cultural

shampoo and conditioner)

toothpaste and toothbrushes

liquid antibacterial hand soap

Gift cards to:

Target, Wal-Mart, Drug Mart or

grocery stores

Children’s:

shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes,

arts and crafts supplies, new or

gently used baby monitors,

diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5), pull-ups,

baby wipes, lotion, body wash and powder,

toys

(such as; new balls, jump ropes, Frisbees,

etc.)

Additional Items: Paper towels, kitchen

garbage bags, toilet paper

Please DO NOT donate sample sizes or hotel sizes as

these items cannot be accepted. Please put your gifts

around the tree. Gift cards can be given directly to

Quella Columbaro. Thank you for helping

these women and children.

Preschool News

6 | T h e M e s s e n g e r

Order your Poinsettias for the Christmas Eve Worship Service. Poinsettias have been

ordered from Pandy’s Garden Center. The plants are red, 7.5” pots, and cost $10.00 each.

To reserve your poinsettia, fill out a flower envelope found in the gathering area, place your

check, payable to ANNA CIRCLE in the envelope, and place it in the box provided by

Sunday, December 20th

. Plants may be taken home following the Christmas Eve Worship

Service.

Join us for the 19th Annual Christmas By-The-Lake Craft Show.

Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

At Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road (RT. 83).

In the ALHS Auxiliary Gym

Addmission is $3.00, Children: 10 and under-Free

Sponsored by the ALHS PTA – Proceeds support students of Avon Lake High School

7 | T h e M e s s e n g e r

`

CELC Staff

Pastor: Jeff Steeber

Church Secretary: Bonnie Hicks

Organist: Randi Smarsh

Custodian: Bill Higgins

Nursery: Beth Kral

Congregation Council

President: Paul Culler

Vice President: Betsy Floyd

Secretary: Barb McCain

Treasurer: Charles Heindrichs

Property: Rob Nordman

Finance: Dawn Rockas

Ministry Team Leaders

Education & Youth: Amy Klenz

Amy Herkenhoff

Outreach: Kelly Kacenjar

Worship & Music: Brenda Crout

Joe Guthman

Music Ministry

Bell Choir: Joe Guthman

Senior Choir: Anita Hlava

Junior Choir: Chris Owens

Kelly Kacenjar

Bethany Pearce

Endowment Committee

Karen Lecorchick

Harold Wagner

Ed Baker

Paul Culler

Sue Jagoda

Mike Leiske

Circles

Anna Circle: Jan Wunderle

Deborah Circle: Quella Columbaro

Lydia/Naomi Circle: Sharon

Davidson

Martha Circle: Anita Hlava

Book Club

Doris Gaertner

Barb Rehker-Lee

Men’s Bible Study

~Meets each Saturday at 6:30

a.m. at Athena’s Restaurant

Payer Chain

Arline Walters - Chair

Anita Hlava

Armgard Hartitz

Quella Columbaro

Anita Principe

Loretta Heindrichs

Lisa Primuth

Carol Aufdenkampe

Joanne Polacok

Ruth Higgins

Genny Helmink

Iris Monda

Sharon Davidson

Gwen Hogrefe

Ryan Smarsh

OWLS

(Older, Wiser, Lutheran, Seniors)

Harold & Karen Wagner

Sunday School

~Each Sunday at 9:15 a.m.

(no Sunday School during

summer months)

Third Grade Bible Class

Paul Culler

First Communion

Pastor Steeber

Confirmation Class Paul Culler

Sue Jagoda

Dawn Rockas

Marilyn Culler

Pastor Steeber

Mission Trip

Eric Mohney

Vacation Bible School

Stacy Jantz

Brenda Crout

Saturday Service

Joe Guthman- 1st Saturday

Praise Band – 2nd

Saturday

Frank Lee – 3rd

& 4th

Sat.

Chuck Heindrichs -4th

& 5th

Family Promise

Chuck Heindrichs

TGIF & KFC

Melissa Steele-Steeber

Welcome Committee

Barb McCain

CELC Preschool

Administrator:

Teri Pienoski

Good Kids Childcare

Director: Julie Skaggs

2011 Women’s Picnic All women of Christ Lutheran Church are

cordially invited to the Annual Women’s

Picnic hosted by Martha Circle.

It will be held in the Social Hall

Wednesday, August 10

from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

2011 Women’s Picnic All women of Christ Lutheran Church are

cordially invited to the Annual Women’s

Picnic hosted by Martha Circle.

It will be held in the Social Hall

Wednesday, August 10

2011 Women’s Picnic All women of Christ Lutheran Church are

cordially invited to the Annual Women’s

Picnic hosted by Martha Circle.

It will be held in the Social Hall

Welcome to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church

If your name,

church group or

committee

is missing from this list, please

contact the church office.

You may call 440-933-6263 or

email celc@centurytel.net

Thank you!

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church December 2015 Newsletter 32747 Lake Road

Avon Lake, Ohio 44012

celc@centurytel.net

www.christlutheranavonlakeorg

Worship Opportunities

Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

The nursery is available

during worship

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Thought for the Day

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and, behold, everything becomes

softer and more beautiful.