Christmas Eve and Post-Christmas Services
Christmas Eve, December 24 @ 4:00 pm
Service of candlelight, communion, carols, and the celebration of God’s Word made flesh. Includes a special storytelling time for kids and adults as we tie together our Advent theme.
Service of Lessons and Laughter, December 29 @ 9:00 am
Respond to the good news of Christ’s birth with laughter and rejoicing! Worship will feature three lessons with the opportunity for interaction and fellowship amongst the congregation. Because of the casual nature of this service, worship will not be livestreamed.
Epiphany Sunday, January 5 @ 9:00 am
Start the new year with the practice of using “star words” to guide your spiritual journey. As the wise men followed a star, so too will we rise up and follow in the way of Christ.
Kids “Elves” Day
Santa needs elves to get things done, but we just need our kids! Together, some of our elementary kids put our Silent Night candles together for Christmas Eve worship and also refilled the hand sanitizer containers in our sanctuary. We learned more about the Christmas story, played some games, and then went to HyVee! There, the kids took turns ringing bells for the Salvation Army (their chorus of bells echoed throughout the store!) and we purchased about $300 worth of food for the MCSA Food Pantry. The kids were excellent shoppers in picking out food and staying under the “budget” given to them. Special thanks to the adults who pitched in last minute to make this afternoon a success, and thanks to our kids for serving their congregation and community as they live out the Christmas story!
Caroling at Addington Place & Lutheran Living and Card Making Service Night
Our Family Faith Night crew had the pleasure of going caroling on Wednesday night at Addington Place and Lutheran Living. It was such a heartwarming experience for both singers and guests. We also had a group spend time crafting cards for Cards For Hospitalized Kids non-profit group, who distributes cards to Children’s Hospitals and Ronald McDonald’s houses throughout the United States. Thank you all for spreading the Christmas spirit!
Break for Faith Formation Groups
Due to the holidays, our faith formation groups will take a break for the coming weeks. Note the following dates for when each group resumes:
ReStoried – Sunday, January 5
Christians Underground – Wednesday, January 8
Family Faith Nights – Wednesday, January 8
Women’s Epiphany Party
Saturday, January 11, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
A Women’s Epiphany Party is an annual tradition for women at Shepherd. Each year, we gather for fellowship with one another, and each year takes on its own unique twist. Plans for this year are:
Food – Bring an appetizer to share
Service – Jump start a drive during the Epiphany season to assist the Community Diaper Bank. Over the holidays, the Community Diaper Bank stock has been depleted and needs to be refreshed! Size 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 diapers especially needed.
Faith Formation – We’ll have a short devotion to move us from the Sunday of Epiphany (celebrated on Sunday, January 5) into the season of Epiphany.
Candle Exchange – Bring a wrapped candle for an exchange!
Communication re Winter Weather and Worship
We’re heading into the heart of winter, and we’re mindful that the season sometimes throws us a curveball! Unfortunately, last winter we needed to cancel worship due to bitterly cold temperatures. Though we hope this does not need to happen again, we want to be clear with how we will communicate with you all.
If there is a potential for bad weather, stay tuned to the following places for announcements. We will communicate as soon as possible.
- Website – updates will be posted on our home page.
- Social Media – we’ll post on our Facebook and Instagram accounts
- Email – we’ll send out a congregation-wide email notifying of any changes
As always, use common sense when it comes to winter weather and take care of yourself! If you have questions, talk to Pastor Aleese or Delene McConnaha.
Year End Offerings
Sunday December 29 will be the last date SOTC will receive donations for the 2024 year. All donations following that date will be deposited/counted in the new year.
Counters Needed
We are looking for volunteers with counting our offering after worship Sunday mornings. Having a few more reliable individuals with this task would help ensure accuracy and efficiency. If you are available and willing to assist, please let Kathy Dunham know. We will have a short training session in the new year to make sure guidelines are followed.
Congregational Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 26
Mark your calendars for our annual meeting following worship on January 26. Annual report, agenda, and items for discussion will be shared in the new year.
Southeastern Iowa Synod 2024 Annual Report
As we look to the close of a year, our synod – the Southeastern Iowa Synod – has also created an annual report highlighting the ministries throughout our region. Take a look to learn more about how the synod is supporting work in congregations like ours and how the synod is supporting the work of the whole church.