Saturday December 24   4:00 pm – Holy Communion
                                           7:30 pm – Candlelight Holy Communion
Sunday December 25th Christmas Day worship will be at St. Barnabus Anglican Church
10 am (There is no worship service at Christ Lutheran Church Sunday December 25th)

On November 23 Bishop Michael Pryse made the journey to Peterborough to talk to our Church Council. He was given a copy of a letter that was sent to the Commission by the Church Council which indicated our strong concern for maintaining a Lutheran presence in Peterborough.
Bishop Michael’s first response was to say, “I am glad that the people of Christ feel so strongly about maintaining the Lutheran presence in Peterborough. It would be a shame if that was lost.” Further to that, Bishop Michael shared that we are in the best position to deal with the final recommendation (which will be released in soon).
We cannot be told by the Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson what we must do. The Anglican parishes will ultimately be directed by their Archbishop. The Anglican church structure supposes that each parish is an extension of their Diocese/Synod and all parishes must work under their purview while we in the Lutheran Church work independently from the Synod and may seek help and counsel from our Bishop when needed.
Bishop Michael’s visit was helpful in many respects as he shared with us his experience working with Lutheran and Anglican parishes which have come together in places like Midland, Orillia, Guelph and Mississauga. He talked to us about how any new arrangement where two parishes come together should be for a trial period in the beginning. During that discussion explanations were shared about how assets like church buildings can be protected so that if such an arrangement does not work a congregation can return to its former self. This was all really good information to collect as one does not know what the future may hold. 
The bottom line is that we at Christ Lutheran Church will determine our own future. The council has heard your concerns. We have heard you say during circle discussions that you do not want to lose your identity. We have heard you say that you do not want to move from your building. We have heard you say that you love to worship with Lutheran liturgy and from our hymn books. We have heard you say you do not want to lose current outreach opportunities. We have heard you say you want to remain Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Throughout this whole process, Johanna and I have kept the Bishop informed about the commission’s work and the conversations we have been having together as a congregation. The Bishop commented, “I think you already know what you (the people of Christ) are going to do.”
The Bishop suggested that our next step be to wait for the final recommendation. Then council should look at it and make a recommendation to accept the recommendation of the Peterborough Anglican Lutheran Commission or to remove ourselves from the process. Then the next step would be to hold a congregational meeting to seek your support of the council recommendation.
As I close I want to share one more thing he said to me alone as he was leaving. “You have a good strong group of leaders in that room. You and the congregation should be proud of them.”
It was a blessing to have Bishop Michael join us for the evening and to hear his many affirmations and support for the ministry we do in Peterborough.


Blessings,

Pastor Scott 
​

Johanna was appointed by the Eastern Synod Council to attend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada National Assembly in Winnipeg in 2017. Many of you nominated her before the Eastern Synod Assembly in June. The Eastern Synod now pays for all delegates from the East to attend the National Assembly so there is not cost to us. Thank you Johanna for volunteering to contribute to the life of the wider church family! 

Prayer Concerns: Katie & Sean, Connie Wedow, Edith Bailey,  Rick Gilbert, Charlie Spencer, Ilse Augustine, Milt Berger, Else Hagness, Irene Mehling, Delores Houle, Carol Urbach, Gordon Edward, George Maschke, Bert Schlauch, Pam, Dan, Tracey, Peter Marshall, Kevin, John.

In celebration of the season, the Young at Heart Group of seniors at St. Luke’s cordially invites Christ Lutheran’s seniors to join us for Christmas Dinner and carols, Thursday, December 8th, at noon. The turkey dinner is catered and costs $17.00 each. Please let us know how many would like to come (payment received) by Monday, December 5th. We enjoyed getting to know you over the summer and welcome a chance to celebrate with you at this dinner. Sincerely, Jack Adams Convenor​

​The year 2017 offering envelopes will soon be available at church.  If you do not receive a box and would like one please talk to either Janice LeClair or Pastor Scott.

Among your Christmas gifts you might wish to consider an offering for the Global Hunger and Development Appeal of our church.  If so, please include a special gift with your regular offering.  Make out cheques to Christ Lutheran Church – so we can record them and then send the gifts on.

Men’s Breakfast Saturday December 10th 8:30 am.  Christmas Tree – On Saturday December 10th after Men’s Breakfast 8:30 am at 10 am, we will be setting up our Christmas Tree and decorating it.  Anyone wishing to help please come by the church.  We thank once again for Ralph Bastian for cutting and bringing our church to the church.  Thanks!

Please have all your charitable donations in by Sunday December 25th.  The books will be closed then.  Thank you.

We hope to contribute in the following ways and invite your participation by December 11. White gifts of non-perishable food items (canned fruits & vegetables, canned soups, lentils, beans, peanut butter, Jell-o, hot chocolate, tea, juice boxes, cranberry sauce, macaroni & cheese and stuffing mix) are being received at church.  Gifts of toys, clothing, personal hygiene such as toothbrush/paste, soap, shampoo, gift cards are to be in by December 10 for the Salvation Army. 

The P.A. Day Kid's Klub had the theme of Polar Express.  We watched the movie, read the book, had a train collector show some of his trains, make some crafts, and have hot chocolate and brownies. 

Next PA Day Kid’s Klub February 3rd.
​On P.A. DAy Kid's Klub children bring their own snacks and lunches.

Christmas time can be especially difficult following the loss of a loved one. You may wish to attend one of the following non denominational services in memory of your special person.
 
        Grace United Church
581 Howden Street  (705)742-5846
7 December 2016 -  7:00 pm
 
        Highland Park Funeral Centre
2510 Bensfort Road  (705) 745-6984
5 December 2016  -  7:00 pm
 
        Hospice Memorial Tea
Hospice Peterborough
439 Rubidge Street
14 December 2016 - 4:00 - 5:00 pm
 
        Comstock Funeral Home
365 Rubidge Street (705) 745-4683
11 December 2016 - 2:00 pm
 
         Bridgenorth United Church
 832 Charles Street, Bridgenorth
 18 December 2016 - 7:00 pm
 
Please feel free to speak with Pastor Scott or one of the members of the Health and Wellness team Johanna, Vicki, Audrey or Iris for more information in respect to any of these services.

Church Bazaar & Tea Room was a great success. We want to thank all the volunteers, donations of baked goods and craft items. Thank you to our Craft Group team who are amazing people putting over 2,500 hours of work to achieve a beautiful Christmas feeling at our Bazaar. We wish to thank the men volunteers for putting our sign and extra work, Barry Parsons, Al Butson and Spike Gilbert. We had a great turn-out and had a lot of fun shopping for Christmas.  We made approximately $2,700.00 + Faith Life will donate $500.  Thank you to everyone who helped.  It is always a pleasure to raise funds for our church.  

Sunday December 11 at 2:30 pm the Buckhorn Singers will be singing another benefit concert at Christ Lutheran. Free will donations will support scholarships for children to attend four schools of sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land.  Spread the word to family and friends.

Four weeks of singing & studying old & new Advent hymns... who wrote them what inspired them when they were written why they have become favourites. Please join us on Wednesday mornings 11am-noon St. Luke’s Anglican Church. 

​Sunday December 11th after worship our Congregational Christmas dinner.   

​Please bring family and friends.  All welcomed!

Sunday December 18th, after worship. Please sign the list on the vestibule so Cal can get how many will be attending.   Please bring along your good spirits and rides will be organized after worship that day.

A new Coffee time poster will be posted in the new year and would love to see signatures on it.  It is easy to put on a coffee time, coffee and tea are provided, loaves and cookies are in the freezer.  You just might have to check the milk and cream to bring fresh if needed.
Coffee time is about fellowship and chatting.  Please come and be a host/hostess in the new year.

We thank Eleanor Holyome for being our Financial Secretary over the years and we wish her all the best and our thanks for doing a great job.
We welcome Janice LeClair as our new Financial Secretary.  We all know that Janice will do a wonderful job.  Thanks Janice for volunteering for this position!

Our Annual meeting will take place on Sunday February 5th  after worship.  A light
Lunch will be served.  The Annual Report will be published on Sunday January 29 so all will the chance to read and come to the meeting with informed minds and questions.

The Lutheran churches of Peterborough, Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, and Scarborough will be gathering to celebrate in unity the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. The first event will be a joint-worship service January 22 2018 10:30am in Whitby. Bishop Michael Pryse will be joining us. Those interested in joining a planning committee from the five churches please talk to Pastor Scott.

HUGS  - To someone who is lonely.
LOVE - To someone who has nothing to give in return.
PATIENCE - To someone who is struggling with life.
FREEDOM - To someone who needs to find their own destiny.
GUIDANCE - To someone drifting in the sea of anxiety.
UNDERSTANDING - To someone who is confused.
TOLERANCE - To someone who doesn't see things as you do.
KINDNESS - To someone in pain.
FORGIVENESS - To someone we feel has harmed us.
SOFTNESS - To someone who has not yet removed their hard shell.

                                             Reader                       Ushers                   Assistant     
December 4                        Al Butson              Connie & Robin             Al Butson
December 11                       Cal Taillefer            The Butson’s             Cal Taillefer
December 18                      Al Butson                The Butson’s                Al Butson
December 24 4:00 pm     Iris Gravel                 The Coombs’              Iris Gravel
December 24 7:30 pm     Marlys Kerkman         The Parsons’             Marlys Kerkman                
December 25                     Worship at St. Barnabus Anglican Church 10 am
January 1 2017                    Al Butson                  The Butson’s               Al Butson
January 8 2017                   Iris Gravel                  The Coombs’              Iris Gravel
 
Counters: December - Al Butson & Ilse Donnelly(1st 2 weeks) Connie Baker (Dec. 18)
January – Al Butson & Iris Gravel
 
Altar Care:   December & January  -  Robin Butson

January 10 Council meeting - 630
January 12 Greater Toronto East Area of Eastern Synod Reformation Committee meeting Whitby - 7:00pm
June 11 Greater Toronto East Area Worship and Picnic at Peterborough Zoo