Welcome to Worship Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church CELC

Welcome to Worship Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) is a congregation of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a part of the worldwide Lutheran community. We invite you to join us regularly for worship and in a variety of activities and opportunities in our congregational life. If you are new here, we welcome you; if you are a member of long standing, we celebrate your gifts and ministry.

Welcome to Worship Attention families: We encourage you to have your children participate in worship. They learn about worship and faith by being involved. If you or your children need a break, we have Wiggle Beach off to the left of the sanctuary, a nursery room available with your supervision, and activity bags found just outside the sanctuary doors. If you need assistance, an usher will happily direct you to any of these items.

Welcome to Worship New to CELC We are happy to have you with us and we wish you a warm welcome. If you would like more information about our church and its ministries, please look for a member of the Welcoming Team by this TV after the service. Please take a few minutes to view the announcements displayed on this TV.

Welcome to Worship Holy Communion The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated each week at CELC. All are welcome to receive this gift of God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. All who hunger to know the love of God are welcome to commune with us. The table of our Lord is set for all those who need grace, forgiveness, strength, and wisdom for ministry and mission to the world. If you have questions about the sacrament, or if you wish to receive instruction on the Christian faith, you are invited to speak with Pastor Jeff following the service.

CELC Preschool Monday-Friday 9: 00 a. m. -3: 00 p. m. Christ Lutheran Preschool is registering children for the 2020 -2021 school year. Christ Lutheran Preschool is a Five Star Step Up to Quality Award winner. The highest rating! This means that our program exceeds the state requirements for a licensed preschool. We have smaller student to teacher ratios than is required, all of our highly educated teachers take extra training classes each year and our lesson plans reflect the state’s preschool academic standards. We incorporate prayer, Jesus’ love for us and the well known stories from the Bible including Creation, Noah’s Ark and the birth of Jesus into our Kindergarten readiness curriculum. For registration or a tour, contact Teri Pienoski at 440 -933 -6714.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Mission Statement “Gospel In Action: Caring for all God’s children, we shall serve God through worship, learning, and sharing. ”

╬ Fill the baskets! Please help fill the baskets found in the gathering area. One basket will collect personal hygiene items, a second basket is for teen age appropriate gifts (CRS greatest need), and the third will collect family game night items. These baskets will be donated to CRS here in Avon Lake for local families this holiday. All donations must be given by Sunday, December 8. For more information or to make a monetary donation please contact the church office.

╬ Redeemer Crisis food packing will be taking place on Friday, December 13. Caravan from church at 5: 30 p. m. Pizza is served at 6 p. m. and packing starts at 7 p. m. Please see Ryan Smarsh for more details.

╬ Order you Poinsettia flowers. If you would like to order a poinsettia plant for the holiday season, please place your orders with the church by December 15. Each plant will cost $8. You can find a flower order envelope in the back of the gathering area. If paying by check please make checks out to CELC and write ‘Poinsettia Order’ on the memo line. You will be able to take your plant home Christmas Eve or Christmas day after each worship service.

╬ Hanging of the greens will be on Saturday, December 7 at 6: 00 p. m. Please come enjoy getting our sanctuary and gathering area prepared for the advent season.

╬ Fall leaf cleanup. Please join us on Saturday morning, December 7 at 9 a. m. to pick up the leaf accumulation from the fence areas around the church.

╬ The Sunday school children will be presenting their Christmas program this year via a power point presentation. Join us Sunday, December 15, for the Christmas story given by the Sunday school children.

╬ Youth will be selling cookies by the pound on Sunday, December 15. Get ready to pick out your favorite cookies and support our ASP youth mission trip at the same time.

╬ Youth will be serving their annual Christmas brunch after the service on Sunday, December 15. Please plan to stay after church and fellowship with other members while enjoying a wonderful brunch as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. This is a free will donation to support our youth going on the ASP mission trip in June.

╬ Share the gift of Christmas Caroling, on Sunday, December 15, from 3 -5 p. m. Meet at church at 2: 50 p. m. and caravan to all locations. For more information see Sue Frantz or Randi Smarsh.

╬ Would you like to share your gift of music with a Christian Christmas song, solo or ensemble, on Christmas Eve? Please contact Sue Frantz for more information and to reserve your spot by Sunday, December 8.

╬ Other opportunities to offer your gift of music include the 1 st and 5 th Sunday’s of each month during the offering. Please contact Sue Frantz from more information.

╬ Today’s flowers have been given by the Smarsh and Pete families in honor of Randi Smarsh’s 39 th anniversary here at CELC. Thank you Randi for your faithful dedication and your gift of music here at CELC.

╬ We rejoice in the baptism of Margaret (Greta) Sandra Svala and welcome her into the body of Christ.

Sunday, December 1 10: 30 a. m. Holy Worship Wednesday, December 4 12: 30 p. m. Adult Bible Study 6: 30 p. m. Bell Choir 7: 30 p. m. Sanctuary Choir Thursday, December 5 11: 30 a. m. Anna Circle

Friday, December 6 Pastor’s day off Saturday, December 7 6: 30 a. m. Men’s Bible study 9: 00 a. m. Church fall cleanup 5: 00 p. m. Holy Worship 6: 00 p. m. Hanging of the greens Sunday, December 8 8: 10 a. m. Early service 9: 15 a. m. Sunday school 10: 30 a. m. Holy Worship

This Sunday, December 1 at 10: 30 a. m. Greeters: Loren and Joanne Easterday Usher: Chip Crout Lector: Carol Meiners Cantor: Rob Pedersen Acolytes: Owen Knight Ben Pedersen Assists: Chris and Kelly Owens Bread: Carol Meiners Altar duty: Marilyn Culler Counters: Eric Klenz

Next Sunday, December 8 at 10: 30 a. m. Greeters: Sandy and Russ Roth Usher: Karen Lecorchick Lector: Bob Olds Cantor: Bethany Pearce Acolytes: Olivia Klenz Isabella Carlson Assists: Genny Helmink Karen Wagner Bread: Kelly Pedersen Altar duty: Marilyn Culler Counters: Dave and Anne Paine