Hello Everyone—Advent is here, a busy time of waiting. This is an active time for the church. We have a lot going on and I hope you participate in something—worship, charitable giving, a concert, or a family-friendly evening. If you haven’t been to church in a while, come back to see your friends, the decorated building, and perhaps reconnect with God.

This is a time for waiting. We wait for Christmas and all the promises of the Christ child. We wait for God to heal the world. We wait for the Lord to return in glory. I know I get impatient. I want everything to be fixed right now. I want the world to be better right now. However, the Lord doesn’t take orders from me, the world will be reconciled to God in God’s own good time.

In the meantime, we put up our trees, buy presents, make donations, and sing praises to the baby in a manger. We get ready to see family and friends. We pray. It’s a good use for a time of anticipation. I’ll wait.

Carolyn Kennedy

Events:

Spectacular Spectacular: Tonight, December 1, is the night. Wonderful music will fill the air at the Barneveld Lutheran Church. All donations will benefit the Community Clinic in Dodgeville. See a great show; hear some splendid music; benefit a worthy cause. It will be a night to remember! Dale Kitchell will lend his beautiful voice to worship on Sunday morning.

Barneveld Area Community Band: The Community Band has their Christmas concert at the Lutheran Church, 4 PM Sunday, December 2. Several members and friends of our church are in this band. They always do a great job. Admission is free. Come check it out!

Advent Wednesday Evenings: Mark your calendars for the December 5, 12, and 19. These are the evenings will get together for supper and fun. December 5th is games night. Bring cards or your favorite board game. Bring the kids. We’ll gather at 6 and be finished by 7:30. This should be a good time for all ages. December 12 we will make Christmas cards (discover your inner artist!). December 19 we will decorate cookies. This is a time to invite friends and relax with your church family.

Christmas Pageant: The Kids’ Christmas Pageant is scheduled for December 16th during worship. Come see what our young people are up to! Thanks to our Sunday school teachers for their hard work on this.

Christmas Worship Services: There will be two Christmas services this year. The Christmas Eve candlelight service will be December 24 at 5:30. The focus will be on lessons and carols. We will also have a Christmas Day service at 10 AM, December 25. This will be shorter than our regular worship service. I know Christmas Eve is a busy time. If you are having family over for dinner on the 24th, please try to make Christmas Day. If there is a lot of present opening and gifts from Santa on Christmas morning, please try to make the evening service. Whatever your schedule, please make time for church!

Church Decorating: Thanks to the Rottinger and Rankin families for donating the tree and decorating the church. Thanks also to Wanda Owens for her years of decorating and care for the church. Everything looks great!

Food Pantry: The food pantry needs non-perishable items and funds. Make checks payable to Barneveld Congregational UCC and write the food pantry in the memo line. This way we get credited in our annual reports for charitable giving. This can be a tough time for struggling families. Thanks for your support of this essential community service.

Shut-ins: Drop a Christmas card to our members that can’t make it to church. These include:
Shirley Duesler, 3415 Nappe Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562
Bill Olson, St. Mary’s Care Center, 3401 Maple Grove Drive, Madison, WI, 53719
Lilas Miller, Ingleside Manor, 407 N. 8th Street, Mt. Horeb, WI, 53572