www.auroratrinitylutheran.org

December 2015 Newsletter

Special Worship Services: Food Shelf Sunday Sunday, December 6th

Please donate non-perishable food items that will help to create a special meal for Christmas. You may also donate cash. Aurora donations go to

Steele County Food Shelf in Owatonna. Trinity donations go to Ellendale Food Shelf.

Please give to this worthy cause, as we Feed Bodies with the Love of Jesus

Noisy Offering: Sunday, December 13th (both churches)

Aurora Sunday School Christmas Program:

Sunday, December 13th – 6:30 p.m. Come and see what the Sunday School students

have been preparing.

Blue Christmas Wednesday, December 16th at 7 p.m. (Aurora)

Christmas Services: Christmas Eve

Aurora- 5:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Communion Worship Services: December 6th & 20th

Special Christmas Services: Blue Christmas

There are times when you may not be of good cheer but are instead feeling a little blue this Christmas

season. This service is for all those who aren’t in quite a joyful, celebratory mood. Perhaps you have been

laid off, are dealing with an illness, fighting with loved ones or missing those who have died and whose

absence is ever so present this time of year. All are welcome to worship and pray in this brief service of lament and hope. If you are interested there will be coffee and cookies following the service and Pastor

Stephanie will be available if you would like someone to talk to. The service is at Aurora on December 16th at

7:00pm.

A Tale of Two Christmas Eves After a hearty discussion the council has decided to

provide two services for Christmas Eve this year. The first will be at 5pm and a later one will be offered at

10:30pm. We will not be changing the traditions of the Christmas Eve services, but adding an additional

opportunity for those who are available in the late evening.

Other Opportunities for Worship: Star of Hope Lighting Ceremony will take place on

Sunday, December 6, 5:00pm at Daybreak Community Church and Homestead Hospice House. Program and

lighting ceremony with music, prayer, and a message

of hope in memory of loved ones!

Bible Study

For three weeks join me in reflecting on the season of advent. We will talk about the season itself, traditions, scripture and might even look at the classic hymn “O come, O come Emmanuel.” There will

be two times both in the afternoon and evening on the first 3 Tuesdays of December (1st, 8th and the 15th). We will try meeting in

the afternoon at Olivia’s Restaurant at 2:00 and in Starbucks at 7:15pm. If we find the space does not fit our needs we may change

locations.

Opportunities for Service:

Trinity Mitten Tree: Trinity Mitten Tree will be up through December 6th. Please donate new and gently-used, clean mittens,

gloves, stocking caps, scarves, socks, hats, and whatever will keep in the warmth during the cold

winter. This is donated to the Christmas Wish Tree Project and the Elementary School in Blooming Prairie.

Get out your knitting needles and crochet hook to create!

Christmas Box Packing:

Trinity is planning to pack boxes for our members and friends who need some Christmas goodies. Please bring your contributions to the Darrell and Ramona

Jacobson home on Sun., Dec. 6 at 2PM.

Noisy Offering:

Noisy offering will be taken Sunday, December 13th. It

will be used to help fellow church members who need

assistance this holiday season. Empty your piggy

banks, and bring your coins to make some noise in

church. It will be music to God's ears!

Advent Event

All ages are welcome to have some fun and prepare

for Advent! We will be gathering at 5:30 p.m. on

December 4th at Aurora for some pizza and then

kick everything off with a story. Join us as we make

some crafts, decorate cookies and learn about the

sparkle box.

Shoeboxes!

If you have any spare shoeboxes we would love them

for our advent event. It would be best if they had a

lid you could remove. You can place the shoeboxes in

the library. Please bring them before December 4th.

Thank you!!

Youth and Families Corner:

December Confirmation Schedule Wed., December 2nd & 9th – 6:30pm at Aurora

Aurora Sunday School Christmas Program:

The Aurora Sunday School Christmas Program will be on Sunday, December 13h at 6:30 p.m. Please

continue to help your child with their lines and songs.

Christmas Break

Aurora Sunday School will not be in session Sunday, Dec 20th and 27th. We will resume on

Sunday, Jan. 3rd at 10:15 a.m. (Please note time change)

Scholarships: Scholarship applications are now available. Forms can be found in the Aurora Narthex or available

from Pastor Stephanie or Lisa Korbel. Scholarships are for Aurora/Trinity students who are currently

attending a college or trade school. The scholarships will be awarded sometime in early

2016.

Council: Aurora- Thursday, December 17

th at 6:30 p.m.

January Time Change: Worship times will be changing on

Sunday, January 3rd Trinity Worship: 10:30 a.m./ S.S. 9:15 a.m. Aurora Worship: 9:00 a.m./S.S.: 10:15 a.m.

Newsletter Deadline:

Please have all information for the JANURAY

newsletter and calendar to Lisa by Fri. Dec. 18th. Send your info to: auroratrinityoffice@gmail.com or call

507-456-0740.

Be sure to check us out on Facebook at:

Aurora and Trinity Lutheran Parish

Or on our website at:

auroratrinitylutheran.org

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

The word “advent” derives from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” Throughout this season our

continual prayer is that God will come. It echoes through the past, in which the people of God hoped for the

messiah and rings true into today as we pray for God’s presence in our lives and the second coming of Christ.

The hymn “O come, O come Emmanuel” is centered in the hope that our Emmanuel, which means “God with

us,” will come and liberate God’s people from their loneliness, fear and darkness. Advent is thus a season of

waiting and watching for God to come.

In the midst of this already dark season there seems to always be a heartbreaking event that takes hold either in

our communities or around the world. In November we were reminded of how hate can manifest into the

destruction of life as we saw the aftermath of the bombings that targeted Paris. Yet it needn’t be a global event,

life can possess its own shadows of darkness whether it be in the wake of the death of a loved one, a cut in

hours or salary or depression that feels like a weight on the soul. Despite the overwhelming darkness we may

encounter or endure we are not alone and the light is not overcome.

Living in the northern hemisphere we know what it is like to have our days get shorter as the daylight seems to

give into the night. We watch as the life in creation seems to fade away and all that is left is shell of what once

was. Yet we also know that life will return in the spring and the sunlight stills shines beyond the clouds. Our

experience teaches us that winter does not last forever and even in the darkest of nights the stars shine.

History and experience also teaches us that the darkness does not overcome God. Throughout history God cared

for and continued to reach for God’s people. Even when hope can seem lost, God does not abandon us. Instead

God came into this world bringing new hope, life and light. For four weeks we light candles as we wait, watch

and pray for God to come. At the end of advent, on Christmas Eve, when the dark sanctuary slowly becomes

ablaze with light. One by one the light of Christ is shared with each individual and in its warm glow we sing.

The light is surely coming!

Pastor Stephanie

Aurora Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes

November 18, 2015

The regular monthly meeting of the Aurora Church Council was held on November 18, 2015 at 6:30pm. Those present were: Sara Pichner, Pastor Stephanie, Jeanne Pichner, Mark Prestegard, April Prestegard, Brett Paape, Alicyn Prestegard, Roberta Jensen, Jodi Keck, Paul Korbel, & Sabrina Ulland. Pastor Stephanie led us in Prayer Secretary’s report read & approved Treasurer’s report read & approved subject to Audit

October income=$5,381.01 expense=$17,668.22 Net Loss = ($12,287.54) General Checking Balance as of 11/18/15= $1,745.67 Loss for month of October primarily due to Pastor Hurtt final paycheck(s) (including housing allowance) & one-

time S.S. payment for his term at Aurora

Pastor’s Report Visiting shut-ins & meeting people in the congregation Attended theological conference & LEAD seminar Discussed having 2 services on Christmas Eve – motion approved to have 2 services in 2015. Will get

congregations feedback on the two services.

Old Business Emergency/Safety Sheet: Alicyn discussed information she found on what most church have posted for

emergency information; Jodi will check with insurance company on what they require. Insurance Coverage

Motion approved to increase medical insurance coverage to $20k as long as it’s <= $30/year Reviewed Child Protection Policy sample received from insurance company – Jodi will find out time frame of

when the policy needs to be completed & council will review proposed policy & provide feedback Parsonage:

Tenant, Angela, moved out November 1, 2015 Reviewed Parsonage, cleaned & carpets have been cleaned. Pastor Stephanie will be moving in Saturday November 21, at 3pm - Congregation invited to help Garage door has been repaired Other sprucing up will be done after Pastor Stephanie has moved in A Council Representative will walk-thru the Parsonage with Pastor Stephanie & explain any needed utility

functions in the house. Library Speaker quote received from Joe Kokal. Motion approved to have him come in & fix the Library speakers

up to $500 maximum & have him look into repairing Pastor’s headset. Snow Removal: D&M will continue to be our Contractor for snow removal

Tim Johnson will shovel sidewalks as needed & we’ll ask him to keep a supply of Ice Melt on h&. New Business

Easter breakfast was discussed as to who will coordinate. 2016 Budget Meeting is set for Wednesday December 2 at 6:30pm Discussion took place as to where collected food shelf items should go – decided to give to the Ellendale Food

Shelf. The collected coats will be sent to Project Home. West yard light is not working – Mark Prestegard will look into repairing.

Next Council Meeting is Thursday December 17 at 6:30pm Meeting Adjourned, Respectfully Submitted, Sara Pichner – Secretary

TRINITY COUNCIL MINUTES - OCTOBER 21, 2015

Present: Robert, Daryl, Roger, Caroline, Pastor Stephanie, Paul, Rich, Lorna, and Jan.

No Secretary Report was read - Secretary not present.

Treasurer Report was approved.

Pastor Report: Stephanie gave a brief report on her plans.

Old Business:

Pricing for windows and siding at front of church are coming and will be discussed at a later date.

Insulation in the basement is not done yet.

Concrete in the well house will be discussed at a later date. Straw will be placed around the foundation.

Renovation of inside walls of church will be discussed at a later date.

New Business:

New signage for the Church sign in the front will be updated with Pastor Stephanie’s name.

Aebelskiver will be discussed at our annual meeting.

Motion to adjourn by Caroline, seconded by Robert.

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Paulson for Crystal Nelson

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRINITY COUNCIL MINUTES - NOVEMBER 7, 2015

Present: Robert, Roger, Caroline, Pastor Stephanie, Paul, Lorna, and Jan.

Secretary Report was read Jan - minutes approved as read.

Treasurer Report was approved.

Pastor Report: Stephanie reported on plans for Advent and still signing up for meet and greet.

Old Business:

Nothing to discuss at this time.

New Business:

Lorna will give a date for the Sunday School Christmas program.

Christmas boxes - we will meet at Daryl and Ramona’s on December 7 at 2:00 pm. Please bring treats for the

boxes.

We received a $500 gift from an internship for Stephanie.

The council will meet after church on Nov 22 to discuss the budget for 2016.

Motion to adjourn by Lorna, seconded by Caroline.

Respectfully submitted,

Jan Nelson for Crystal Nelson