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Redeemer Lutheran Church - Fircrest, WAHappeningsRedeemer is a community of believers together making Christ known, sharing in faith, life and service.December 2016Pastor’s MessageServicesAdvent—BlueI, for one, appreciate that the seasonal color of Advent was changed toblue. I’m biased toward that color. (Thank you to all who recently painted my office in blues.)Worship: 8:00amStoryKeepers & Bible Study: 9:15amIt is, as I mentioned to the kids during the Children’s Message, a color of“hope.” We hope and dream as we gaze into blue skies or waters. Thosewho study the effect of color suggest that blue is the most contradictoryof colors. It inspires trust, peace, and thoughtful authority. On the otherhand, it is also a color for sadness, oppression, and loneliness.Well then, blue is good for these weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, andNew Year. On December 21st, Winter Solstice and the longest night ofthe year, a few churches hold a “Blue Christmas Service.” It is also thefeast day for “Doubting Thomas,” bringing together Thomas’s struggle tobelieve in Jesus’ resurrection, the long cold winter night, and our strugglewith darkness and griefs. We are allowed to grieve losses even duringthe Advent season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Holding all of this together is more truthful and real.Let us feel free to feel this Advent. Let grievers grieve; share their storiesand yours. Mention our losses by name, like Bert, Jim, Marilyn, and therest. Share funny memories and sad hearts. Be patient with those whoWorship: 10:30amIn This Issue Pastor’s Message Sarah Vatne Property Happenings SW WA WELCA SpringRetreat December Calendar(continued on page 4)Advent & Christmas Worship Service SchedulesAdvent ServiceSunday Worship ServiceSunday EducationAdvent ServiceSunday Worship ServiceSunday EducationAdvent ConcertSunday Worship Service & BrunchAdvent ServiceChristmas Eve Worship ServiceChristmas Eve Worship ServiceSunday Worship ServiceWednesday, 11/30/16, 7:00pmSunday, 12/04/16, 8:00am, 10:30amSunday, 12/04/16, 9:15amWednesday, 12/07/16, 7:00pmSunday, 12/11/16, 8:00am, 10:30amSunday, 12/11/16, 9:15amTuesday, 12/13/16, 7:00pmSunday, 12/18/16, 1000amWednesday, ,2/21/16, 7:00pmSaturday, 12/24/16, 7:00pmSaturday, 12/24/16, 11:00pmSunday, 12/25/16, 10:00am

Sarah Vatne—Young Adult in Global MinistryServing in Southern Africa. From: Pacific, WAPlaces she calls home: Messiah Lutheran in Auburn, WA; Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in Lakeside, MT.Pastor Greg has known Sarah “since she was 4 years old” at Messiah Lutheran inAuburn. We are proud to support her with our benevolences.See our new Young Adult in Global Ministry missionary sponsorship on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.Hygiene Items DriveFood Bank primarily provides food for the needy. Hygiene items, which cannot be purchased withfood stamps, help clients stay healthy and care for themselves in ways that assist them on theirjourney to self-reliance. Redeemer will again collect items to fill gallon-sized Ziploc bags to be distributed to clients in January at NW Fish Food Bank. Please bring new and unopened packages ofthe following items to boxes in the Fellowship Hall by Thursday, December 8th. Hotel/sample sizes OK.1. Bar Soap4. Floss7. Pocket/purse size tissue packs2. Toothbrushes5. Chapstick8. Deodorant3. Toothpaste6. Shampoo (must fit in gallon Ziploc)9. Disposable razorsRedeemer volunteers served at Northwest FISH Food Bank November 16th and 19th, 2016.313 families (approx. 940 individuals) were served. Volunteers included Judy Carson, NancyCook, Ed Formoso, John Healey, Tracy Keil, Mali Mayor, Pat Soderberg, and Gary Ulseth. Ournext turn to serve is December 28th and 31st. Contact Tracy Keil at 564-7963 or Pat Soderbergat 566-3809 if interested.Knotty LadiesThe Knotty Ladies gathered November 14th to make 10 tie quilts for families at risk served bythe Step by Step Program and the Family Renewal Shelter. Be watching for our next work party and join us for a delightful afternoon of food, fellowship and “knotty” fun. No previous experience required!Empowering Life, a m inistry at the W ashington Correction Center for W om en atPurdy, sponsors a Bible Study using WELCA’s Gather Magazine. The women were joined on November 20th by Redeemer women who have undertaken pen pal letter exchanges with severalof them.The drive for items for the Living Stones Congregation’s Freedom Back pack P rogram collected items such as socks, toiletries, towels, and tarps. Pastor Greg and other membersbrought them to the prison on November 26th, when they visited and worshiped with the congregation. Backpacks are provided to men as they are released from the Washington CorrectionsCenter in Shelton.

Women’s Bible StudyWomen’s Monday Night Bible Study w ill m eet at 7 pm on M onday, Decem ber 12th inthe church conference room. Our study is an Advent Devotional. Sonia C. Solomonson, an award-winning writer, freelance editor and certified life coach, shares a devotional around the theme ofAdvent waiting: what wants to be born in you? All women are welcome. Dee has invited thegroup for a soup lunch at her home on December 19th. Please call Dee Ulseth (253) 564-0576 formore information.WANTED: P eople w ith history of R edeem er from the “olden days.” We found lots ofpictures and memorabilia of our church history that needs to be sorted, labeled and put intosome sort of scrap book(s). We have a core group of people interested in assisting but willprobably take a few sessions. If you can join us, it would be so appreciated. Let’s start thisafter the holidays. We’ll sit around the table, look at pictures, laugh, reminisce, and ofcourse EAT! No date has been settled on yet but it will be mid-January. Please let DeeUlseth know if this appeals to you. Her phone number is (253) 564-0576.Property HappeningsThere was a work party on November 19th and a sizeable work force completed many items onthe ToDo List. Pastor Greg’s office was painted and window coverings were ordered. Wecleared out and organized the office closet where we then shifted many of the items lounging inBrad’s office. We also hung a door leading into Brad’s office, put in a desk, and started the process moving the electrical switch over to the door. We also repaired the front door to the officearea and started the process installing the Children at Play signs in the alleyway. And finally weorganized the paints downstairs. Thank you to all those who helped on this glorious day as weworked, laughed, and ate together.The Steeple Project heads the biggest issue next on our agenda. Two construction companieshave shown interest in performing the work and giving us a bid. I hope we have something onpaper soon to put forward in this matter. Another extensive project we have before us is therenovation and remodel of the basement area. I’m starting the process to organize a committeethat will discuss various options for the work to be done. If you would like to be a part of thiscommittee, please let Karl Albrecht know. His number is (949) 233-7305.And finally we are planning on having the carpet cleaned in the Fellowship Hall. If anyone hasany ideas about other things that need to be done, please feel free to email your concerns toknkalbrecht@comcast.net.

Contact UsGive us a call for moreinformation about ourworship services andprograms.Redeemer LutheranChurch1001 Princeton St.Fircrest, WA 98466(253) 564-5053Visit us on the web atwww.redeemerlc.orgLike us on FacebookPastor’s Message(Continued from page 1)are not grieving. Enjoy their joy; and see glimmers of hope for us all!Post-election hasn’t quite settled with all of us equally. The negative and oftenexaggerated rhetoric still echoes. As President-Elect Donald Trump selects histransition team and cabinet, some are hopeful, some are uncertain, and othersare alarmed. Let us respect those differences, as well as the individual opinionsand actions that follow conviction. We can all pray for laws and actions that willbenefit the welfare of the city and nation wherein we live (Jeremiah 29:7), thatwill protect the vulnerable, such as the orphaned, widowed, homeless, and immigrants (Deuteronomy 10:16-19; Leviticus 19:33), that will help us act on our responsibilities for, curiosity about, and dependence on Creation (Genesis 3:18-20).And now look to Jesus, and reflect deeply on this line from a deeply “blue” carol:“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of allthe years are met in thee tonight.” Allow the “blue” of Advent to soak into youthis year, let your hopes and fears meet Jesus, who came to save us, motivate us,and then bring us home!Pastor Greg KaurinA Note of Thanks"Thank you, all, for your well-wishes and prayers for me, Meta, and our two families. I first metMeta in person in Seattle, September of 2015. She and her adult daughter, Mélodie, immigrated9 years ago from Madagascar. Meta is currently a nursing (LPN) student in Sumner College,Portland. She will be doing her internship in the Tacoma area this February, and will graduate inMay, 2017. In her hometown of southern Madagascar, Meta is also the co-founder of a highschool for girls, Nofy i Androy (New-fee ih'an-DREW-ee). We will have a very small and privatemarriage in mid-December, and then a Marriage-Blessing Celebration in late May or early June of2017. All will be invited!"

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Diana Nelson for the gift of new com fortable chairs forthe Fellowship Hall. They are so nicely padded that we’ve noticed those of us with bad backsand stiff tushes don’t have to bring their own cushions! Thanks, Diana, that was so thoughtful and the timing was perfect—just before the holidays.Thanks for Your Promise of GenerosityOn our commitment Sunday, November 20th, 34 of us brought our estimate of giving for 2017to the altar. Those estimates, amounting to a bit over 104,000, will go to support the life ofthis congregation next year. If you did not yet have the opportunity to do that, please get an“Estimate of Giving for 2017” card from an usher on Sunday at worship and place it with youroffering. The more folks who complete their estimates of giving, the fewer we’ll have to contact in the coming weeks! Thank you for your generosity as we together walk with Jesus.Randy Olson, Stewardship ChairSAVE THE DATE: May 19-21, 2017 for SW WAWELCA Spring RetreatThe theme this year is Gifts of the Spirit. Guest speaker will be Pastor Melanie Wallschlaeger,the ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission in the SW Synod. Early registration of 180.00 closesJanuary 1st. After that, full weekend including meals will be 195.00. As further incentive, thefirst 22 to register will have a private room with half bathroom! Last year, we had several ladies from Redeemer in attendance and were able to carpool. If interested, please see coloredposter and registration forms on bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Any questions, see or callDee Ulseth at (253) 564-0576Midweek Advent Worship continues this W ednesday night, Decem ber 7th at7:00pm in the sanctuary. We will be using Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer(December 7th and 21st). Featuring a new Advent song written by Marty Haugen: "Chooseto Hope.Mark your calendars for the Advent Chorale, directed by Brad Hagen and hosted by FircrestPresbyterian at 1250 Emerson Street, Fircrest on Tuesday, December 13th at 7:00pm.