Events 2 2

ADVENT WORSHIP SERIES

Join us this Advent season for our Advent midweek services. We offer both morning (9:30 am) and evening (7:00 pm) services in the church sanctuary on December 6th, 13th, and 20th. This Advent season, we'll meditate on the Canticles of Christmas - the songs sung in Luke's gospel rejoicing in the birth of Christ. From the joy of Mary to the hope Zechariah and finally the peace of Simeon, we sing with these saints of old in worshipping our newborn King! We hope you can join us!

ELECTION RESULTS

2024 Ministry Plan was approved

Vice president, congregation John Krafft

Assistant treasurer, congregation Donna Haubenstricker

Ministry Council Larry Bernthal

Cindy Keinath

Commission on Spiritual Life Adam Beller

Commission on Christian Education Jacob Laux

Commission on Physical Properties Dennis Reinert

Congratulations to all who were elected, and thanks to all who ran and were willing to serve!

FRANKLIN AVE DINER - DEC. 28

It will be St. Lorenz's turn to serve our neighbors at the Franklin Avenue Mission on December 28th from 4-6pm. If you can help that day to prepare the meal, serve the food, or just come to celebrate with the folks in Flint, please call or text Beppie at 989-392-1857 or Laura at 989-652-8228. Dishwashers are also greatly appreciated. (No serving on Tuesday, due to Christmas the day before.)

Next turn to serve should be Feb. 13 & 15. 2024 (7 weeks).

THANKSforGIVING

We extend a huge "Thank You" for the tremendous generosity displayed in this year's Thanksgiving Food Drive. We were able to provide food, personal hygiene and cleaning supplies to 32 families, totaling 105 people. In additon to boxes of food each family had a choice of a turkey, ham, or ground beef (made possible by a very generous anonymous donor). Financial donations enabled each family to receive a gift card to shop for perishables, and all the families received a bible this year, thanks to the wonderful donation from the Gideons. Thank you again to Thrivent Financial for their generous support. What a blessing to be a blessing!

CHURCH LIBRARY NOW OPEN

The remodeling is complete, all the shelves have been restocked and books can be checked out again. The bible studies, bible commentaries, and bible reference material now have a prominent place in the main room. If there is a study you couldn't attend, you now have the ability to check it out. Bible studies and reference material can be checked out for three months. For those of you who were kind enough to keep books at home, Thank You, and they can now be returned for others to enjoy.

FAITH FORMATION ASSISTANT

As God continues to work inthis part of his kingdom that we call St. Lorenz, we are hiring a part-time (20 hour/week) Faith formation Assistant to provide administrative support to the Associate Pastor of Faith Formation, the Director of Youth Ministry, and the Director of Discipleship as they plan for, organize, and communicate the Faith Formation ministries of St. Lorenz. For more information click here.

To apply: https://stlorenz.churchcenter.com/people/forms/652460 (or use the QR code)

FINANCIAL END OF YEAR UPDATE

As we near our fiscal year end, we will provide updates regarding the projected financial needs to carry on our ministry at St. Lorenz. Based on anticipated expenses (which increased since last week's posting) in the Operating Fund, we will need receipts of approximately $890,000 to finish this year in the black; approximately $100,000 is expected from school and childcare; leaving $790,000 needed from our "envelope gifts." Please keep in mind these amounts are not our current surplus/deficit, rather it is the amount needed to cover the projected expenses through the year end. The gifts needed to total a challenging amount that will require continued faithful and generous gifts from our members, and it is one that we can reach based on our historical giving trend. Additionally, Missions will need $110,000 to reach our annual goal. These amounts may appear to be daunting, but rather than be discouraged, please continue to reflect on God's blessings in your life and respond to His great love in kind. On a positive note, we have received $142,000 in gifts for Capital Improvements this year, which means we have reached our 2023 goal. We thank God for the gifts we receive to conduct our ministry and show how beautiful it is to live with Jesus!

THE ST. LORENZ CHRISTmas CONCERT

Come to listen, sing along, and enjoy a Frankenmuth tradition: The St. Lorenz CHRISTmas Concert. All our church ensembles will be heralding the news of Our Lord's nativity with exciting renditions of some of your favorite carols. Of course, you will have the opportunity to sing some of the most beloved Christmas Carols yourself but come ready to enjoy some newly written carols to start the Advent and Christmas season. The concerts will be on December 9th at 6:30pm and December 10th at 3pm. No tickets are required.

GERMAN WORSHIP

On Sunday, Dec. 10th, St. Lorenz's monthly German worship service will be held at 11:00am in the Church Sanctuary. The Ten Commandments sermon series, "God's Divine Design," concludes with a focus on Luther's "Close of the Commandments." The German liturgy readings will be done by St. Lorenz German teacher, Barbel Sturmer and the 6th grade students and English sermon will be done by Pastor Bill Hoesman entitled "Divine Design(s)" based on Jeremiah 29:11-14. St Lorenz 4th graders will be singing "Still, Still, Still" and Jordan Maurer will sing a solo "Trostet, trostet, meine Lieben"

The next German worship service will be January 14th, 2024. O Come let us Adore Him!!

OWLs

The wonder of Christmas never ends when you are in the company of beloved family and friends!

Join us for a festive time that promises laughter, a delicious lunch and lots of music. It is on

Thursday, December 14 in the Worship and Event Center lobby, from 11 am to 1 pm. Doors open at 10:30 am with beverage service. Lunch is catered by Bavarian Inn. Be sure to wear your holiday attire. This event is open to all so bring a friend or invite a neighbor to come with you. To be sure enough food is ordered please RSVP by Tuesday, December 12 by calling (989)-652-0797 or email klamb@stlorenz.org. If you need a ride, please call Arleen Cronk at 989-274-5253.

CONNECT CHRISTMAS CHOIR SINGERS WANTED

Connect Worship will have an opportunity for any interested singers to participate! Thomas Winterstein is looking for enthusiastic people to sing in the Connect Christmas Choir. Choir experience is not necessary, everyone is welcome to join us to sing their favorite carols! You may sign up through Church Connect on the events page (stlorenz.churchcenter.com/registrations) or, if you do not use the internet, call Thomas at 989-652-6141, ext. 131. The Connect Christmas Celebration will be on Sunday, December 17th at the 10:45am worship service.

There will be a choir-only rehearsal on Sunday, December 10th, in the Worship and Event Center, immediately following the 10:45 service. There will be a full rehearsal with the band on Thursday, December 14th at 6:30pm in the Worship Center. I'd also like to let everyone know that, if they know and love Christmas carols, they'll be able to sing the music we'll be doing!

CARDS FOR PASTOR CHRISTIAN JONES

Pastor Christian Jones has had to step down from his pastoral position at FAM due to health isssues. We would like to thank Pastor Jones for his faithful and mighty service to the poor neighbors at FAM and to wish him God's richest blessings in whatever God has planned for him next in his ministry. If you so wish, you may send him a card of encouragement and thank him for his service to: Franklin Ave. Mission, Attn: Pastor Jones, 2210 N. Franklin Ave., Flint, MI 48506.

Please keep him and his family in your prayers (His wife's name is Kristi), and pray that God will provide a new missionary and deaconess to shepherd the FAM flock; who are so badly in need of someone to lead them, and all the volunteers who come every week tobe the "hands, feet, face, and voice of Jesus to the East side of Flint.

****COMING SOON! A NIGHT OF HOPE****

On Friday, January 19th, Heidi Goehman, Tanner Olson, and Matt Doering, will present an evening of hope, music, poetry, conversation, and tools for meeting our mental health with hope. This FREE event will take place in the Worship & Event Center at 6:30pm. Women's Conference keynote speaker, Heidi Goehman, along with the poetry of Tanner Olson and the music of Matt Doering, will encourage your hearts and minds with the HOPE we have in CHRIST.

Refreshments, comfort dogs, and other resources will be available. Mark your calendar, bring a friend who needs this hope, and make plans to attend this very special evening!

On February 9, 2024, St. Lorenz will host a Night to Shine Prom, part of a global event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. St. Lorenz, along with other host churches around the world, will celebrate people with special needs on this unforgettable evening, centered on God's love. St. Lorenz is honored to be a part of this international movement that God is using as a catalyst for change to embrace people with disabilities, ensuring they know they are valued and loved. This amazing event would not be possible without the help of many volunteers. To volunteer go to the signups tab at the stlorenz.churchcenter.com/registrations or scan the QR code. If you do not have access to either sign-up, please call the church office for assistance.

To learn more and see all the churches that are part of this worldwide movement, check out www.timtebowfoundation.org.

LWML BOOKSTORE NEWS

Have you ever shopped for religious boxed cards at the store or online, then when you found them, they were expensive ($10-$18 a box of 12-15)? We have boxed cards at an incredible price of $6 to $7! It is getting harder and harder to find religious Christmas cards; we are determined to keep searching for the best religious Christmas cards at a low price! Stop in and purchase your Christmas cards early for the best choices! We are in the church basement.

You can use the self-serve slot on the checkout counter for purchases!

PRAYER WARRIORS STANDING BY

Need Prayer Warriors? Email your prayer requests for our Prayer Chain to bettertogerher511@yahoo.com on the St. Lorenz website, or call church reception. All requests are confidential. Submit your prayer requests today and let's see what God can do! Prayer requests to be included in the worship service or bulletin should still be directed to the church office.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

MOPs LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE HELPERS

Do you love spending time with babies and children? Do you want to help moms connect with Jesus and each other? Help support the MOPS ministry by volunteering to help with MOPS Kids! A critical building block of a good MOPS ministry is MOPs Kids - childcare provided for little ones while their moms meet for devotion and conversation. We are looking for helpers to volunteer on select Friday mornings from 8-11am. Help once, occasionally or be there each time! For the schedule, questions or to sign up, please contact Carrie Gring at Taipa1ca@gmail.com or (810) 820-0572 or Melissa Tebedo at melissa.tebedo@gmail.com or (989) 239-4910.