Welcome to Worship at St. Matthew’sNovember 20, 2016

Welcome to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church as we worship, learn and serve together. An especially warm greeting to our guests. “Beautiful Savior, King of Creation!” Today the church celebrates Christ as King of all. Welcome!Introduction to the Day: Jeremiah’s promise of the execution of “justice and righteousness in the land” finds ironic fulfillment in the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. It appears so utterly contradictory that the king should be crucified with the criminal. This victory appears for all the world as a humiliating defeat. Yet through the gate of death our Lord opens the door to paradise.

Today is Christ the King Sunday. This is a recent festival of the church year coming about in 1925, to celebrate the 16th centenary of the Council of Nicaea. This festival is celebrated on the last Sunday of the Church Year, which is the Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent. This festival celebrates the kingly rule of Christ, who was enthroned upon the cross and will return as humankind’s ultimate sovereign and judge.Flowers at the altar are given by Al & Susan Van Lith in honor of Al & Debbie Land’s wedding anniversary; and by Trudy Zauner in thanks for a lifetime of blessings.A Library Book has been given to the church library by Diann Lebow in honor of her granddaughter Greta Oakland’s 8th birthday.Why are some people wearing nametags? We wear nametags on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month in order for us to know more people on Sunday mornings. Hunger Baskets to be passed today: When the offering plates are passed later in the service, it is followed by a basket for a special collection. This second collection will be directed toward local and world hunger. Thank you for your faith-filled response to this opportunity.Communion: All baptized Christians who celebrate the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine are invited to the Lord’s Table at the 11:00 service. If you are seated in the chapel and wish to come forward for communion please leave the chapel and join the center aisle line at any time during distribution. Gluten-free wafers are available if you ask your communion server. Those who desire juice instead of regular wine, please tell this to the communion assistant. Due to the weight of the communion trays, you may be asked to take your glass of wine from the tray as it is presented to you.Moriah Mucha, our Nursery Attendant, is not here today. Volunteers are scheduled for the Nursery at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:00.

Bulletin Layout Planning___1__ Welcome Panel -Stock___1__ Panel 2 - Staff

ADDITIONAL PANELS for THIS WEEK

__9___ Bulletin Panels___1__ ESUP ___1__ Children’s Panel___1_____1__

___1__ Children’s Panel??

BULLETIN EMAIL - ADDITIONSWelcome to worship and fellowship in the body of Christ.

“Beautiful Savior, King of Creation!” Today the church celebrates Christ as King of all. Welcome!

[Thanksgiving] For your countless blessings, God, we thank you. May we always use them to bless others.

Maybe now is the time to begin Simply Giving: St. Matthew’s Stewardship Committee partners with Thrivent Financial for electronic transfer of contributions from parishioners’ checking or savings accounts directly to St. Matthew’s bank account. There is an enrollment form in your Stewardship Packet. For more information, contact Holly in the church office, 414-774-0441 or hjurss@sbcglobal.net.

Gifts of Stock are WelcomeGifts of stock are always welcome at St. Matthew’s. Our brokerage account is with Robert W. Baird here in the Milwaukee area. The contact person is Curt Brewer, 262-523-5644. He can arrange to have your gift transferred directly from your account to St. Matthew’s brokerage account. Consult with your tax advisor to see if this has significant advantages for you. As always, feel free to contact Holly in the church office with questions.

St. Matthew’s Ev. Lutheran ChurchBulletin Announcements - November 20, 2016

TOY SWAP!The annual Toy Swap is Sunday, Nov. 20St. Matthew’s will again be holding its annual toy swap on Sunday November 20 at 9:45 in Fellowship Hall. Clean out those closets and donate toys that your children or grandchildren are no longer using.It’s not too late to bring your items. Toys can be brought the day of the swap.Our congregation will then “swap” for toys their family can use. If you have nothing to swap, feel free to browse the toy selection and consider a monetary donation. Leftover toys are donated to Cross Lutheran and the neighborhood Store at Reformation. Items such as children’s books, DVDs, sports equipment, baby equipment are also welcome. Monetary donations will be given to one of our partners toward a ministry serving children.

Help us decorate the church for Advent and ChristmasCome to church on Friday, December 2 beginning at 7 p.m. and help us decorate the Sanctuary and Commons for the Advent season. There is a variety of tasks to do, from decorating trees with special ornaments called Chrismons, to helping to carry the large metal angels that are hung in the sanctuary using the lift to attach the wires to the ceiling. All ages are welcome. It’s helpful to sign up so we know how many are coming; please call the church office, 414-774-0441. Snacks provided!

St. Matthew’s Foundation is a non-profit organization which invests and disburses funds for the benefit of initiatives se-lected by St. Matthews church, specifically scholarships and partnerships/benevolences. Donations to the Foundation are often made in honor of or in memory of a family member or friend. Another way to cre-ate a lasting influence on St. Matthews is by designating the Foundation as a beneficiary in your estate/life insurance plan-ning. For example, a family with two children could indicate each child as a beneficiary at 49% and the Foundation at 2%. Please consider this the next time you need to select beneficiaries for a policy or fund. Following is the informa-tion needed to do this:St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lu-theran Church Foundation, Inc.Entity ID #: 6S17449

Pie Social follows Thanksgiving Worship; A great social time togetherFollowing this year’s Thanksgiving Eve Service on November 23rd, the Fellowship Committee will host the annual Pie Social! Come hungry and bring a pie to share (any variety is welcome). The Fellowship Team will provide coffee, milk, whipped cream, and ice cream! All are invited to stay for pie after worship. If you are planning to bring a pie, please let the church office know so we can get a preliminary count!

Come to Thanksgiving Eve Worship7:00 on Wednesday Nov. 23rdJoin Us for an Evening Service Giving Thanks to GodAs winter darkness crosses the land, the nation takes time to offer thanks for the harvest and the abundant resources of this land. Christians recognize that the source of all good things is the God who feeds the birds and clothes the grass of the field. As we share these gifts, we are knit together into a community whose mission is among those who are poor and in need. We offer thanks to God for the bounty of the land and seek to share these riches with all in need. Please bring a food item to share with the hungry. The Adult, Youth and Children’s Choirs will be combining forces to sing a wonderful anthem combining He Has the Whole World in His Hands and This is My Father’s World.

Thank you to those who contributed to the Cross lunch meal this past Wednesday. Approximately 250 people were served. What a great variety of salads, fruits, and desserts we had. Thank you for taking time from your schedule to remember those in our community who are “food-insecure.” And a shout-out to Tom Geib for his leadership of this ministry and his ongoing dedication to Cross’s monthly meal as well as the Repairers of the Breach bag lunches that are packed twice a month here.

A Note about Sunday Bulletin Distribution: In order to make good use of resources, fewer copies of the bulletin announcements section of your Sunday bulletin have been printed. These Bulletin Announcements Inserts are available at the Welcome Center, from an usher, or downstairs across from the church office. OR receive a sneak-peak email of these announcements and other panels on Friday morning of each week! Please sign up on the bottom of the Events Sign-Up panel in today’s

Week of November 21-26Monday: 10:15, Staff Meeting11:00, Program Staff Meeting 1:00, Fallen Angels 6:00, Property Committee 6:30, Baptism Class 7:00, Finance CommitteeTuesday: 9:30, EmBELLishments 7:00, Righteous Ringers 7:00, Yoga Class 7:15, Lutheran A Cappella ChoirWednesday:10:00, Bible Study with Pr. Matt10:45, Cross Lutheran Lunch 6:00, New Generation Choir 7:00, New Creation Choir 7:00, Thanksgiving Eve Service 8:00, Thanksgiving Pie Social 8:00, Senior Choir RehearsalThursday: Thanksgiving Day - Office ClosedFriday: Church Office Open, 9:00-12:00

A Note about Sunday Bulletin Distribution: In order to make good use of resources, fewer copies of the bulletin announcements section of your Sunday bulletin have been printed. These Bulletin Announcements Inserts are available at the Welcome Center or from an usher. OR receive a sneak-peak email of these announcements and other panels on Friday morning of each week! Please sign up on the bottom of the Events Sign-Up panel in today’s bulletin announcements.

Shoe Recycling is Back!Reduce - Reuse - RecycleThe call for old shoes you’ve been waiting for is finally here! The city of Milwaukee has implemented a shoe recycling program, which allows for more types of shoes to be recycled. Bring any type of shoe, except high heels, to the blue collection barrel located in front of the church office. The shoes should be tied together or bound with a rubber band (available at the collection barrel). Thank you in advance for your participation in this worthwhile project. Any questions? Want to learn more? Contact Jen Kramer at jenkqk@yahoo.com

Adult Learning on Sunday Mornings 9:45-10:45 a.m. Meets in the Upper RoomChildcare Available in the NurseryNovember 20 - Today in the SanctuaryStained Glass StoriesAl Van Lith and Pastor Chris will not only share reflections about our beautiful stained glass windows that were installed in 1951, but will also share a newly revised resource that was originally created for the 1951 window dedication. An unveiling of the revised stained glass devotional book will take place on this Sunday showcasing the incredible art that adorns St. Matthew’s sanctuary, something we’re sure you will want to own for your own collection.

Coming Up...December 4Stephen MinistryStephen Ministry is a highly effective caring ministry already used in thousands of congregations. Through Stephen Ministry, congregation members receive training to provide emotional and spiritual care to people experiencing grief, divorce, illness, job loss, hospitalization and other life difficulties. Come to this interactive presentation that will explain how Stephen Ministry works and the difference it makes in people’s lives. We’ll also explore the needs for care in our congregation and learn how we can begin Stephen Ministry right here at St. Matthew’s. Sue Swing

Reformation Bookstore: If you placed a book order from the Reformation 500 Bookstore, the books have arrived and are in the Library for pick-up during education hour.

It’s That Time of Year!‘In Faith We Grow’ Annual Stewardship Program now in progressYour pledges are now due - Nov. 20.We are blessed with a top-notch staff, volunteers, ever improving facility, numerous ministries, mission trips and benevolence efforts that have a positive impact on ourselves, our church, and our community, both locally and globally. Our annual stewardship campaign is important in that it helps us determine our volunteers for next year’s ministries and it provides pledge amounts to set the church’s annual budget.As you complete your commitments for 2017, we ask that you please prayerfully consider how you can help St. Matthew’s continue to be a special place through financial commitments and/or involvement in our many activities and ministries.Thank you for your continued strong commitment and support of St. Matthew’s! Curt Brewer, Stewardship Committee Chairperson - 414-315-2739brewer.curtis11@gmail.com

Chocolate Advent Calendars are now available from SERRV, the company that provides our delicious fair trade chocolate bars. They are $8.00 each. Contact Rosie Haas if you want to have one held for you, 414-259-1747. Otherwise, you can watch for Rosie on the 2nd & 4th Sundays in the Upper Commons and purchase yours then.

Mt. Meru Coffee is now available in K-cups (regular only). Thank you, St. Matthew’s for your continuing support of our partnership with our brothers and sisters in Tanzania. Please stop at the coffee table on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Together we are making a difference. Questions may be directed to Bruce Johnson at 414-366-5053.

AnimatePracticesSmallGroupStudy

Thispastweekoursubjectwas

Community:AnUnexpectedFamily

Itwasfittingthatour7thandfinalsessionTogetherwasaboutCommunity!

Weenjoyedbuildingcommunitytogetherasweexploredkeypracticescentraltoourfaithforthepast7weeks!

Foreveryonetothinkabout…

WhodoyouknowwhomightneedtoOvercomesomethinginordertoentermorefullyintoourfaithcommunity?

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welcomethemin?

ReadACTS10foragreatcommunitybuildingstorythatdepictsaturningpointinthehistoryofthechurch!

Thankstoallforyourparticipation&prayers.

Upcoming Events

COFFEE and CHOCOLATE -

Mt. Meru Coffee - Mmmmm...Bruce Johnson, our Mt. Meru Coffee Ambassador offers delicious Mt. Meru coffee for sale each 2nd & 4th Sunday. This product which is purchased at a fair price from the local farmers who live in the area of Tanzania where we have a partnership relationship. Stop by and see! K-cups for single cup coffee brewing (like Keurigs) are also available. And remember that your purchasing dollars do even more good in 2016, as there are four matching gifts pledges in effect, making each $10 purchase worth an additional $4 in scholarship money to the students in Tanzania that St. Matthew’s is sponsoring.. Mmmm. it tastes good, and feels good, too!

LWR Fair Trade Chocolate available at St. Matthew’s: “Divine Chocolate” - Chocolate made with Fair Trade certified Cocoa beans grown by a farmer owned cooperative in Ghana, is available for purchase the 2nd & 4th Sundays of each month at the Mt. Meru Coffee/LWR Chocolate Project table, in several delicious flavors. Not only do these farmers receive Fair Trade premiums for their cocoa beans, they are part-owners of the Divine Chocolate brand processing

Ongoing Collection for Guest House: We have updated the list of ongoing needs for the Guest House. Please consider picking up one or two of these items when you’re shopping and drop them off in the box outside the church office. Thanks for your support of this important ministry.

Spray deodorant ShampooBody Wash Foot PowderCologne or aftershaveLaundry Bags Men’s watchesMen’s wallets

APPLE PIES - Pick up Your Pies Today!in the Commons before or after worship. If you didn’t pre-order, a few extra pies will be available for purchase. Pies are $12.00, and proceeds will benefit St. Matthew’s Women’s Ministry.

A Baptism Class will be held on Monday, November 21 at 6:30 p.m. with Pr. Matt. If you have a new baby in your family, or will be planning a baptism in the next few months, you are invited to attend.

Attention Parents! Parents Night Out! Please join other St. Matthew’s parents for an (grown-ups only) evening of fun and fellowship at Del Monte in Wauwatosa (connected to the Chancery at 7615 W. State St) on Thursday, December 1! We have some space reserved from 5-8, and childcare will be available at the church for $5/child (includes childcare and pizza dinner). Please e-mail Dave Wurzburger at dave.wurzburger@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

The Nativity- Christmas Pageant: Can you help?St. Matthew’s will be presenting “The Nativity,” our Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 11th for the 8:30, 11:00, and 4:00 services. As the cast is being assembled and rehearsals beginning, we are looking for anyone who would like to volunteer their time and talents to help make this story come to life. We need help in the areas of costumes, make-up, props, snacks, crowd control and backstage people. ALSO, if you would want to be on stage with no line and no stress as a member of the “crowd,” we would love to have us join in. If you would like to help in the special presentation, please contact John Paradowski. Thank you.

City Tins are Here!The 2017 City Tins have arrived! If you ordered through the Welcome Center or the office, you can pick up your order at the table in the Commons this Sunday. If you ordered from someone going on the mission trip, you will receive your tins from the person who took your order. If you did not pre-order a City Tin but would like one, we do have a few extra Milwaukee Restaurant and Milwaukee Bar tins available at the table in the Commons.Please contact Emily Wanezek or Gretchen Haugse, if you have any questions. Thanks for supporting St. Matthew’s mission trips!

A “Prayer Walk” group is forming. They will meet on Monday mornings from 7:00-7:30 to walk together and lift up prayer concerns to God. Monday, November 21st they will meet at the Hart Park track, near the Senior Center. Join them on Monday or contact Anne DeWitt for details: 414-840-8222

Mt. Meru Coffee - Mmmmm.....Bruce Johnson, our Mt. Meru Cof-fee Ambassador, offers delicious Mt. Meru Coffee for sale each 2nd & 4th Sunday. This product is purchased at a fair price from the local farmers who live in the area of Tanzania where we have a partnership relationship. Stop by and see! K-cups for single cup coffee brewing (like Keurigs) are also available. And remember that your purchasing dollars do even more good in 2016, as there are four matching gifts pledges in effect, making each $10 purchase worth an additional $4 to scholarships for Tanzania children St. Matthew’s is sponsoring. Mmmm, it tastes good, and feels good, too!

A note about your valuable items: A reminder to our mem-

Sunday, November 20th is Toy Swap and Crafting Give Away Day! Stop in Fellowship Hall on the 20th to check out the Toy Swap. Then, grab a bag of FREE crafting supplies; donated by the Sustainable Crafters.

Have you filled a red bag lately? Food and grocery donations have been down lately, most likely due to people’s busy schedules. If you check the commons display, grab a red bag, and fill it with suggested grocery items for our partner food pantries. Bring it back to church next Sunday. Thank you for your generous donations that are very much needed by many families in Milwaukee.

Youth7th & 8th Grade Confirmation meets weekly - Contact Pastor Chris if you have questions or concerns.

Wednesday, Nov. 23 - Thanksgiving Break

Middle School Ping Pong Tournament, November 20th On Sunday, November 20th Fellowship Hall will be transformed into a ping-pong hall with ten tables set for continuous play. Middle School students are welcome to show off their skills or learn new ones at this event. We will start with lunch (taco bar!) at 12:15 in the youth room and then begin the tournament. The event ends at 2:30. Please bring $5 to cover lunch and non-perishable food items for the food pantry.

We recommend that you don’t leave valuable items in your coat pockets or on the coatracks. There have been circumstances when the wrong coat may have been taken, or where coat pockets are emptied during church services. As you do in other places, keep your valuables with you, or don’t bring them. We also recommend that you lock your car in the parking lot, and if there are valuables in it, keep them out of sight.

A Milwaukee Museum you may not have heard of: The Saints will be visiting it!The SAINTS are going on a field trip on Wednesday, November 30 to downtown Milwaukee to visit the Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear. The Chudnow Museum tells the story of change to Milwaukee through exhibits, each depicting a different popular site in the city from the time period. We will travel by a coach bus and will be dropped off and picked up at the front door. The only walking will be inside and you may choose what you wish to see. There is an elevator to the upper floor.Lunch will be served in Fellowship Hall at 11:30 a.m. We will board the bus at 12:30 allowing enough time to get to the museum by 1:00 p.m. If you prefer, you may come after lunch...but must be here by 12:15.The cost per person for lunch, the bus and the museum will be $15.00. Please sign up at the information area near the library by November 23. I hope you will join us to “experience Milwaukee between the world wars.” If you would like to learn more before we go their web address is: wwwchudnowmuseum.orgContact Jane Sandstrom, Saints Coordinator, if you would like further information. Or call the church office, 414-774-0441.

Flower Book Sign-Ups Needed - Your Sign-Ups are needed for the altar flower/library book/DVD sign-up notebook! Want to honor a loved one or show someone you care? Designate altar flowers for them, or a library book. Sign up in the Binder at the Information Center. For a donation of $30.00, you may designate altar flowers, or for $15.00 a library book or a DVD for an occasion of your choosing, and

Undie Sunday is December 4th to benefit Guest House Milwaukee and the Benedict Center’s Sisters ProgramStart bringing in new undies now!Once again we are collecting underwear and socks for the men’s homeless shelter run by Guest House, and collecting women’s underwear for the Benedict Center’s Sisters Project. Guest House offers alcohol and drug abuse education, employment, and other counseling programs to homeless men, all to help them become productive citizens. Benedict Center’s Sisters Project provides mental health, alcohol and drug education, employment, food, parenting and anger management programs to women trapped in prostitution on Milwaukee’s near north side. Both of these programs are in critical need for life’s basic clothing – new underwear. Men’s briefs, size S, M, L, 2X, 3X

Men’s disposable razorsMen’s socks, size 6 – 12Cough dropsWomen’s panties size 4 to 24Women’s bras size 34A to 42CWomen’s socksWomen’s pajamas, all sizes including XL, 2X

The Undie Sunday drive begins on November 20 and ends on December 4th.We ask for your help! Let’s put our faith into action and overflow the collection bins – which will be visible to all! Any questions may be directed to Tom Geib 414.321.3391 (for Guest House) or Darla Hium, 414.476.3635 (for Sisters Project). Bring donations to the collection area outside the church office.

St. Matthew’s Lutheran 2016 Special Funds ReportResults as of 10/16/2016

Dollars needed to complete mortgage $348,017Hunger baskets, year-to-date, for Hunger $9,9122016 Benevolence through September 30 $285,898 including Kingdom Account Distributions

Social Ministry

Chocolate and Coffee for Sale: LWR Fair Trade Chocolate available at St. Matthew’s: “Divine Chocolate” - Chocolate made with Fair Trade certified Cocoa beans grown by a farmer owned cooperative in Ghana, is available for purchase the 2nd & 4th Sundays of each month at the Mt. Meru Coffee/LWR Chocolate Project table, in several delicious flavors. Not only do these farmers receive Fair Trade premiums for their cocoa beans, they are part-owners of the Divine Chocolate brand processing co. Bars come in two sizes. This opportunity is brought to us by Rosie Haas, our LWR Divine Chocolate ambassador. Large Bars are $3.50 each and small bars are $1.50 each. Mt. Meru Coffee - Mmmmm...Also, Bruce Johnson, our Mt. Meru Coffee Ambassador offers delicious Mt. Meru coffee for sale each 2nd & 4th Sunday. This product which is purchased at a fair price from the local farmers who live in the area of Tanzania where we have a partnership relationship. Stop by and see! K-cups for single cup coffee brewing (like Keurigs) are also available. And remember that your purchasing dollars do even more good in 2016, as there are four matching gifts pledges in effect, making each $10 purchase worth an additional $4 to scholarships for Tanzania children St. Matthew’s is sponsoring.

The Neighborhood Store becomes Christmas StoreThe Neighborhood Store and Coffee Shop has been on hiatus since Reformation moved to its smaller, leased facility at 3806 W. Lisbon Avenue. Neighbors ask, “When will store open?” The answer is in mid-November the store will open as a delightful “Christmas Store” featuring gently used/new toys as well as very specific items for the home. This place will be helpful and hospitable to our neighbors and members, many who are single parents with children.Can you help? We are looking for:

Crock pots Portable mixers, blendersElectric fry pans Pots & Pans, or setsElectric or manual can openers Re-gifted new items Silverware setsKitchen towels & hot mitts Pillows for sleeping (new)Gloves (waterproof, children’s and adult)Small microwaves Dish sets for 4+Nail polish kits, cologne Rolling baker’s racks for displaysToys - no stuffed animals or war toysSports basketball and footballs

The Christmas Store on Lisbon Ave. will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons 1 to 4 p.m. beginning in November. Volunteers will stock the store on Mondays. Please call Thaurra Stallings or Marge Johnson at the church at 414-444-0440 if you have questions or can give the store a hand. If you have any of these items to donate, they can be brought to St. Matthew’s Reformation collection area at the southwest entrance of the parking lot.

Youth Mission Trip next SummerNext Monthly Mission Trip Meeting is December 4th The next monthly meeting of the 2017 Youth Mission Trip to New York will be Sunday, December 4th at 12:15 in Fellowship Hall. All youth planning on going on the trip should plan to attend. Please bring $5 for lunch.

Children’s MinistryDisciples of Christ (DOC) is for children in 4th & 5th grades. We gather for fellowship time, which consists of having lunch (pizza), playing games (ex. Capture the Flag), and a short devotion with songs. Friends in 4th & 5th grades are welcome to join us. Cost is $4. Please call the church office to RSVP, 414-774-0441, but come even if you can’t RSVP.Sunday, November 20th, 12:15-2:00 p.m.

December Gathering for KFC and DOCThis is a combined event for KFC and DOC. We gather from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to have pizza, play relay games and have devotion time. Friends are welcome to attend. We appreciate a call to the office to let us know you are coming so we order enough pizza. Cost is $4.Friday, December 2nd, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

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We recommend that you don’t leave valuable items in your coat pockets or on the coatracks. There have been circumstances when the wrong coat may have been taken, or where coat pockets are emptied during church services. As you do in other places, keep your valuables with you, or don’t bring them. We also recommend that you lock your car in the parking lot, and if there are valuables in it, keep them out of sight.

Regularly Occurring EventsWednesday Morning Bible Study continues each week at 10 a.m.Bible Study with Pastor Matt will continue our journey through the Old Testament in the book of the prophet Amos. Anyone is welcome to join in our study as we walk verse by verse through the bible. In this time of political discussions and values at the forefront of our minds, Amos and the prophets are a great place to focus our own study of scripture. Join us as well for coffee, community, and yummy snacks!

Healing Service Schedule: All are welcome at monthly healing services Healing services are offered monthly at St. Matthew’s at a variety of times to give all the opportunity to come forward for healing prayer for themselves or others. You can share your concern with the pastor/leader at the altar, and then he/she along with the healing ministries will lay on hands and give a special prayer for your concern. Your concern can be general if you don’t wish to share specifically. Sunday, November 20 After the 11:00 service

Sunday, December 18 During the 11:00 serviceSunday, January 8, 2017; 9:45, during Educ. Hour

Caregivers Group meets 2nd and 4th Monday afternoons - Sharing joys and challenges The caregivers group will meet on the following dates at 1 p.m. in the Upper Room. The group is facilitated by Sharon Thiel, and you are welcome to attend. Next Dates: November 14 and 28

Simply Giving: St. Matthew’s Stewardship Committee partners with Thrivent Financial for electronic transfer of contributions from parishioners’ checking or savings accounts directly to St. Matthew’s bank account. For more information or to request enrollment documents, contact Jen in the church office, 414-774-0441 or jenkramer414@gmail.com.

Pop Top Collection: After a hiatus from collecting soda pop can pull tabs, we will resume the collection at this time. These pop tabs are given to the Ronald McDonald House toward the good work they do in housing out-of-town families of patients at Children’s Hospital. The collection spot will be at the entrance of the Education wing, near the other recycling and Reformation pick-up area.

Interfaith Earth Network Series Premier: Renewal in the Wilderness - a Faith and Ecology Conversation,Tuesday, September 20th at 7 p.m. at the Urban Ecology Center, Riverside Park, 1500 East Park Place, Milwaukee.... Connecting with God in the Natural World (inspired by the book of the same title by John Lionberger). For complete information on the monthly gathering, go to this website: www.InterfaithEarthNetwork.org. Please come prepared to spend half an hour outside, no matter the season.

Creative Spirit - Tuesday, December 20, 6:00-8:00 pmDo you need time to finish a project? Would you like to get to know more women at church in a relaxed and comfortable environment? Would you like to devote some time to creating something just for fun? Join us on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:00-8:00 for an evening of crafting and creating! Bring your own project; scrapbook, laptop with photos to download/organize, fiber arts etc... anything you just aren’t finding time for at home. We provide the space for you to work while you “craft” relationships with other women at St. Matthew’s. Come when you can! Bring a friend! All are welcome!

St. Matt’s First Fridays Book Club meets on December 2:The St. Matthew’s book group usually meets on the first Friday of each month. The booklist is available at church or on our website.The next meeting is Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. at St. Matthew’s.December 2: Just Mercy: A Story of

Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (336 pages)

Jan. 6, 2017: The Jesus Cow: A Novel by Michael Perry (283 pages)

Feb. 3, 2017: Nothing Gold Can Stay: Stories: by Ron Rash (256 pages)

The St. Matthew’s Meal Outreach Ministry

Just One More: Volunteers assemble packaged meals to be picked up by area churches and programs each weekday morning at 9:00 a.m. Food packing takes place at their new location: 6442 River Parkway, Wauwatosa. The JOMM office phone is 414-292-5112; speak with Ray Lueck. OR go online to the JOMM website: jomministry.org and click on “volunteer” - you can sign up right there!Guest House: Many thanks to Molly Crego and Damon Leto for an awesome at serving dinner at the Guest House on November 13. Three or four volunteers are welcome each month to prepare and serve dinner for 85 men at the Guest House, a homeless shelter. Meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. to carpool and finish by 7:00 p.m. Seeking volunteers for December 11. Please contact Carl Johnson (johnsoncr@cdmsmith.com) or 414-771-1023.Repairers of the Breach: We supply 100 bag lunches for the homeless twice a month. We pack the lunches at church on the 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. Volunteers are needed to provide beverages, fruit, chips and sweets and/or pack the lunches. Contact Tom Geib (414-321-3391).Serenity Inn: Volunteers prepare and serve 6-8 residents the second Sunday of each month. Volunteers carpool meeting at church at 5:15 returning at 7:15. Currently looking for volunteers for December 11. If you can help, please contact the coordinator, Cherie Swenson, at 262-309-3690 or by email cpjswenson@icloud.comCross Lutheran Lunch Program We serve 300-400 people on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Cross Lutheran Church, 1821 N. 16th Street. We carpool from St. Matthew’s at 10:45 a.m. and serve beginning at about 11:30 and returning to St. Matt’s at about 1:00. Next Meal: Wednesday, November 23, 2016. Pick up a card in worship on the Sunday prior to the meal to donate food.

Flower/Book Sign-Ups NeededYour Sign-Ups are needed for the altar flower/library book/CD sign-up notebook! Want to honor a loved one or show someone you care? Designate altar flowers for them, or a library book. Sign up in the Binder at the Information Center. For a donation of $30.00, you may designate altar flowers, or for $15.00 a library book or a compact disc for an occasion of your choosing, and this occasion will be listed in the Sunday bulletin. The Library Committee will select the book and a bookplate will be placed in the front of the book. The church office staff orders the flowers from A New Leaf Floral each week. It is best if you pay for your donations on the designated Sunday or before. Place a check in the offering plate and mark its purpose of payment, or drop off your payment in the office during the week. Thanks.

A note about your valuable items: A reminder to our members and guests that each week as you come to church, any valuable items should be kept with you and not left in coat pockets or in an unlocked space.

Pick up an Advent Calendar and participate in Turn Around AdventHow many of you grew up with Advent Calendars? Those countdowns toward Christmas with 24 different doors to open, and a surprise or chocolate to find? It’s a great memory for many of us growing up! This Advent, the Social Ministry team invites you to pick up a FREE ELCA World Hunger Advent Calendar, and begin a new family tradition: Turn Around Advent. As you open a door each day, start a running collection of items to be donated. Personal care items for our partners at Cross and the Guest House; Canned goods for the Food ministries, pocket change for global hunger. Each day, place a new item in your box, and as we come toward Christmas, drop them off in the receptacles at St. Matthew’s—increase your daily spirit of giving and help those in need!

Could you help with this?A member needs someone trustworthy to “house sit” or watch a home for several months early next year. The house is located in Wauwatosa, about five blocks from church. A service will be providing snow removal when the snow is over two inches. If you, or someone you know, would be interested, please call 414-587-6612.

We have Gorgeous Stained Glass Windows at St. Matthew’s: And now we have a beautiful new book featuring photographs taken by Pastor Chris Manke and descriptions written about them by St. Matthew’s first senior pastor, The Rev. William Niebling. They are available in the church office for only $20. Special thanks to Linda Chadwick, who took the photos and descriptions and created the keepsake book.

Lutheran A Cappella Choir Concert at St. Matthew’s on Sunday, December 4The Lutheran A Cappella Choir of Milwaukee, under the direction of David Mohr, will be presenting their annual Christmas concert on Friday, December 2nd at 7:30pm at Grace Lutheran Church, W196 N9525 Cross View Way, Menomonee Falls, and again on Sunday, December 4th at 3:00pm at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 1615 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa.Celebrating their 80th Anniversary Season, the choir will perform works of the Advent and Christmas seasons. The featured work on the concert will be the majestic “Christmas Cantata” by K. Lee Scott, a work in 6 movements accompanied by organ, brass and percussion. Other works will include engaging arrangements of well-known Christmas carols such as “Pat-a-pan,” “Sussex Carol,” “Once in Royal David’s City,” and “I Saw Three Ships,” as well as a number of others. The concert will conclude with the audience joining the choir in a beautiful setting of “Silent Night.”Tickets are $15.00 for Adults and $12.00 for Seniors and Students, and may be purchased online from the choir’s website www.lutheranacappella.org, from any choir member, or at the door. Come and experience the joy, the wonder and the splendor of the Advent and Christmas seasons in this concert sure to lift the spirits of all who attend!

St. Matthew’s Weekly Sign-Up PanelNovember 20, 2016

If you are interested in any of the following activities/events, please check the appropriate box and place this sheet in the offering plate, or turn it in to the church office. This is your opportunity to be involved in some of St. Matthew’s ministries.

I can take leftover toys to Reformation Lutheran Church this week. (Needs to be during the day; calling to set up time ahead works best)

I/We plan to attend the Baptism Class on Monday, November 21 at 6:30 p.m.

I would like to help with the CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, to be held on Sunday, December 11th. Please circle area of interest: Costumes, Make-up, Props, Snacks, Crowd control, Backstage, CROWD MEMBER. For more information contact John Paradowski.

I will bring a pie for the Thanksgiving Eve Pie Social on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

We would like to help decorate the church for Advent and Christmas on Friday, December 2 beginning at 7 p.m. Number attending ____

My 1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th grader(s) would like to attend the KFC/DOC Combined December gathering on Friday, December 2 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Number ______

Name___________________________________ Phone Number___________________

Email Address _________________________________________________________

For more information on any of these opportunities, please call or email the church office, 414-774-0441 or office@stmattslutheran.org.

Please add my email address to the list of people receiving the Friday “Bulletin Update,” a preview of the announcements in the upcoming Sunday’s bulletin.

I would like more information about serving at Serenity Inn occasionally. It is scheduled each second Sunday evening. (Serenity volunteers serve only dates you choose)

I’d like to help with the “Just One More” meal ministry on Friday mornings. The food distributing takes place at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee.

I have a question about ___________________

Please add my email address to the list of people receiving the Friday “Bulletin Update,” a preview of the announcements in the upcoming Sunday’s bulletin.

Ministers ThePeopleofSt.Matthew’sEv.LutheranChurchLeadPastor TheRev.ChristopherJ.P.MankeAssociatePastor TheRev.MatthewSchlake-KruseAssociatePastor TheRev.AnnWilliamsMusicMinister/Organist/NewGeneration&AdultHandbellChoirs JohnR.ParadowskiDirectorofOlderAdultMinistries JaneSandstromDirectorofYouthMinistries&Children’sEducationCoordinator GretchenHaugseVolunteerMinistries/SmallGroups/AdultEducation SueSwingChildren’sMinistryCoordinator DonnaGardnerMankePastors’Assistant/SundaySchoolSupport EmilyWanezekTechnologyCoordinator BrianSmithLibraryCoordinator(Volunteer) LindaWunderlichSeniorChoirDirector DavidMohrYouthHandbellChoirs JeffreyReevesNewCreationChoir JeffreyReevesandJohnParadowski;HeideHughes,accompanistPraiseKids!Directors(Jr.K-2grades) JeffReevesandAmyDankwardtFinancialAdministrator JenniferKramerOfficeAssistant JillDueCommunicationsSecretary SonjaMohrJanitor [Open]Janitor RobertGardnerPastorEmeritus TheRev.GaryErickson

Vision Statement: Guided byGod’s Spirit andGrace, we are a community ofdisciplesgrowinginfaith,hopeandloveinourLordandSaviorJesusChrist.(What we want to become)

Mission Statement: Called to fulfill the Great Commission, St. Matthew’swelcomesalltofaithinJesusChrist,nurturesourfaithjourney,equipsustoserveothers,andsendsusintotheworldtomakeadifferenceinJesus’name.(What we are going to do)

Values: Wewant to be people who grow in our Spiritual fruitfulness, which isshown through the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,Goodness,Faithfulness,Gentleness,Self-control.(Who we want to be)