December 18, 2008
North Star Net News
Transforming lives through Jesus Christ
Greetings!

It's a winter wonder land!  As one who was not quite in the mood for Christmas, the snow has certainly impacted my perspective.  My wife, as a sales person, says that we need a good snow sometime just before Christmas because it changes the mood of the average shopper.  Maybe it is the excitement, especially for the kids who are counting on snow days; maybe it is the image from our favorite holiday movies; or maybe it is the simple fact that we are getting closer day by day to celebrating Christ's birth.  Whatever the reason I hope your outlook is changing as well!
 
This weekend we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent marked by love.  I am excited because it is the Sunday just before Christmas Eve and it marks the closing of our time of preparation.  We will be talking about a part of the birth story that often gets missed.  We will entertain the question of what it means for Jesus to have two fathers - God and Joseph; divine and human.  Mix that with the understanding of love as demonstrated by both, and I feel that we will all come away Sunday transformed by God.  Worship is at 9am and 10:30am; please come and join us.
 
I also want to extend an invitation to Christmas Eve services.  4pm will be a children's interactive telling of the story.  6pm and 8pm will be Candle Light services with carols and all!  I hope you make plans to join us on Christmas Eve.  You may also know that we have yard signs available as well as invitations announcing our worship times.  If you have not taken a yard sign or invitations please grab some on Sunday and help us get the word out about Christmas Eve!
 
Finally, a quick reminder.  If you attended worship on Sunday you may have noticed that we had difficulty with both the lights and our media!  The children were great!  Even though the soundtrack cut stopped on them, they kept right on going and even stayed on key!  Simply awesome!  But we do need to be mindful of the need to improve lights and media.  I am pleased to let you know that our grant proposal has been completed, signed and mailed to the Conference office.  I am highly encouraged that we will receive the $25,000 we requested.  The invitation is for us to do our very best to match the grant amount.  If you would like to make a contribution on Christmas Eve, please make sure and designated your gift for "lights and sound."  I know that all of you are prayerfully considering your gift and I want to thank you for doing so!
 
As if you did not know, it is only one week till Christmas!  I know there are still plans to be made, gifts to be bought, parties to attend, and maybe even decorations to still be hung.  May I encourage you to take a moment each day to simply relax, meditate and center yourself in the presence of God.  He is the reason we celebrate Christmas and we should celebrate it with Him!
 
Jim
 
Prayer Requests
Bill Heishman, Jeff Heisman's relative

Lauren Chapin's family, Wendy King's friend

Kori Quinn, Regan Lawler's friend

Codi Schmid, Amanda George-Trammell's grandmother

Lauren Vlamis' family, Dan Vlamis' sister-in-law

Caroline Dick, Ric Nyman's friend
Christmas C.A.T.
All youth in grades 6-12 are invited to the Christmas C.A.T. on Friday, December 19 at 6:30pm at the DeCamp home.  Look forward to goodies, white elephant gift exchange, and other crazy Christmas stuff!
New Sermon Series
Jim begins a new sermon series on Dec. 28.  If you have a personal story to share about disappointment, abandonment, anger, or debt, please contact Jim as soon as possible.
Junior Youth Fellowship (3rd-5th graders)
December JYF will be next door to the church at Fun Run on December 28, from 6-8pm.  The cost is $5 per child.  This is a reduced group rate.  The kids can bring as many friends as they would like.  We will skip snacks, but the snack bar will be open.  Fun Run actually closes at 6pm, so we will have the entire building to ourselves.  In light of this, siblings that would like to come are welcome - the cost is still $5 each.  If you bring a sibling, at least one parent MUST stay with them.  We would like to have several parents volunteer to help Greg and Keely chaperone the JYF kids.  We anticipate lots of friends at this event.  The more the merrier, but we will definitely need help.  The kids are excited and so are we. Please RSVP by email to Keely and let her know if your kids plan to attend and give her a headcount for your family.  Please also let her know if you can help chaperone.  If you have any questions, contact Keely Golden, (913) 240-6270 or threeyoungsons@yahoo.com.
Radical Hospitality
We'd love for you to share your gift for Radical Hospitality on Christmas Eve.  Consider attending one of our worship services and helping the Greeter Team at another service.  Sign up in the Great Hall, or contact Ric Nyman, 781-7888.
Are you getting ready to do your Christmas baking or candy making?  Why not make some extra goodies for the Hospitality Table on Christmas Eve.   Sign up in the Great Hall, or contact Margie Harris, 792-1734.
Christmas Day @ Ashton Court
Are you looking for an awesome outreach opportunity on Christmas Day?  North Star folks will be meeting from 2:00 - 3:00 pm at Ashton Court Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to decorate with some ornaments our children have made, possibly sing Christmas carols and read Christmas stories with the residents. 
Bring your favorite Christmas book with you.  Sign up is in the great hall.  Check it out this Sunday!  Questions?  Contact Lura McClenney, 454-2929.
Contribution Envelopes
Contribution envelopes for 2009 are on the table in the Sanctuary by the back door.  If you do not have envelopes and would like to have them, please contact Mary Miller or Natalie Wachholtz.

Christmas Eve Services
If you are participating in or planning to be at all three worship services, we invite you to join us for a potluck meal between the 4pm and 6pm services.  As with any potluck, bring enough for your family and we'll all enjoy the variety.  Please RSVP to Tiffany Droegemueller, so we can plan accordingly.
Blessings
 
Gift Bags
Stop by the office this Sunday to purchase a gift bag full of items benefiting North Star's various mission projects and ministries.  You can build your own bag to include a North Star cookbook, travel coffee mug, friendship soup, and/or Fair Trade coffee.  Questions, contact Rissa Glick.