Hi, Everybody:
This Sunday, December 6, is the 2nd Sunday in Advent. Online Worship Service and Zoom Coffee Chat/Communion are as usual, but there is no Adult Forum. Instead, HTLC members please come by the church from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for our Drive-By Voting. According to our constitution, we need to vote with in-person written ballots to change our constitution so that we can vote without in-person written ballots to change our constitution (got that?). Instead, we’ll be able to vote through live electronic/telephone means (like Zoom). This way, we can actually hold an Annual Meeting this coming year during all this COVID-ness. With COVID-19 numbers on the rise, it looks like it’ll be a while before we can meet in person again (“cross” your fingers for Easter!). The other constitutional changes are just to bring our constitution up to ELCA standards. So come by and vote – Pastor Tim will be there and there will also be pre-packaged treats!
For our Cause of the Month in December, Marielle Miedema is again collecting donations for snack and personal care bags for the homeless for her 5th annual Marielle’s Winter Relief Project — five years! Thank you, HTLC!! Donations will go to Abode Services for distribution. Snack bags may include pop-top soups, granola bars, fruit cups or pouches, and water bottles. Personal care bags may include white socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and gloves. This year we are also looking for mini bottles of hand sanitizer. We are happy to accept financial support as well, if you prefer not to shop. Contact Kathy (Marielle’s mom) or mail your donation to her and let us know it’s for Helping Hands. Marielle will also be at the church 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 6 to accept drop-off donations. We may set up a second Sunday for drop-offs as well.
Join us at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, for HTLC Advent Night on Zoom! There’ll be a talent show, holiday sweater contest, an interview with our Christmas pageant stars and more fun! We’ll also be holding an end-of-the-year Pledge Drive to help balance the budget. Pets are welcome to attend; festive attire is applauded. Sign up to be in the talent show (music, jokes, performances or pet tricks) with Marta Wicke. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 13, when Kathleen Keating and the Sunday School kids will be presenting a virtual version of this year’s Christmas Pageant! Watch for details. It’s bound to be fun!
Also, December 13 will be the last day to submit your family Christmas pictures to Carmen to be shown online during hymns on Christmas Eve and the 1st Sunday of Christmas. She is trying to work ahead, but hasn’t gotten much response yet. So send her your pictures of manger scenes, decorations, and family photos which you wouldn’t mind showing to the rest of the world (you know, the ones before the eggnog was served).
Hope you’re all doing your Reverse Advent Calendars (Reverse Advent Calendar or Reverse Advent Calendar – Food Barrel Edition). Today’s task is “Help clean up a mess that you didn’t make” (you can start with my office) or, if you’re doing the Food Barrel edition, it’s “boxed potatoes” (sounds like a dance combination of the Box Step and the Mashed Potato – a “mash-up” of styles, if you will). Food items can be put aside until they’re all collected, then you can drop them off the Sunday after Christmas (December 27, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.).
There’s lots more stuff happening this month! Here’s a list of upcoming special services and events:
- Dec. 06: Drive-by Voting – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Dec. 12: HTLC Advent Night and Pledge Drive – 6 p.m. live by Zoom
- Dec. 13: Christmas Pageant – pre-recorded online
- Dec. 20: Choir Sermon-in-Song – pre-recorded online
- Dec. 20: Adult Forum – Bethlehem Star Part II – 10 a.m. live by Zoom
- Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Services – pre-recorded online and 5 p.m. live by Zoom
- Dec. 27: Christmas Carol Service – pre-recorded online
Stay safe, everyone. Keep calm and do the Boxed Potato!
-Keith, your friendly Parish Life Coordinator (a.k.a. Church Secretary)