Christmas Cookie Sale December 18

Christmas Cookie Sale

December 18, Fellowship Hall, 9am-noon

Come before or after the children's Christmas program!

The cost is $5 per pound. Tremendous variety!

If you would like to help out with the baking, feel free to donate 2-4 dozen cookies for the sale. A sign-up sheet will be in the Welcome Center.

Help send five youth and two adults to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans in 2012!

Salem to Host Northeast Conference Meeting Dec. 13

On Tuesday, December 13, Salem staff will host the Northeast Conference of rostered people. Our guests will arrive around 9:30am and be here, in worship and conversation, until noon. Would some folks like to bring some munchies to serve? Cheese, fruit, muffins, and juice are examples. We will also serve coffee. Please sign up in the Welcome Center so we will know what we'll have to serve.

Poinsettia Orders for Christmas 2011

It's time to order Christmas poinsettias to decorate Salem's sanctuary during the holiday season.

Altar Guild members will be taking orders in the narthex following each worship service on December 3-4 and December 10-11. The poinsettias are $19 each and checks should be made payable to Glidden Florist.

If you want to place an order but cannot make it to church, please contact Jeanne Johnston at 815-761-6823. Please do not place orders through the church office. Orders are due to Glidden Florist by Monday, December 12.

Be a Salem Angel Gift-Giver!

The "Angel Good Deed Tree" has been a tradition at Salem for several decades. The recipients will be the special residents of Avancer in Genoa -- and they are truly grateful for the help we can provide the individuals with disabilities in its care. Look for The Angel Tree in the narthex and be sure to take a resident's name and list of items they need from the tree. Their wrapped present (with the house name and person's name affixed to the outside) can be brought back to Salem by December 11 to be delivered in time for Christmas.

Christmas Cantata Presentation December 10-11

Tapestry of Light

A Celtic Christmas Celebration by Joseph M. Martin

Saturday, December 10 - 5pm

Sunday, December 11 - 10:30am

Tapestry of Light Christmas Cantata joins traditional carols from the British Isles with scripture reading and candle lighting. Presented by Salem adult voices with a cameo of children, the cantata is accompanied by flute, violin, cello, percussion, and piano.

Tapestry of Light is a singing memorial gifted to the Glory of God by the 2011 Easter Breakfast Crew and Linda Rogers.

Where Have You Seen God Working at Salem?

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Isaiah 52:7

Follow in the footsteps of others of faith and communicate where God has been seen working in our midst. Follow the footsteps on the floor to our three "mountains" (in the Red Sofa Lounge, in the Library downstairs, and the Desk at the bottom of the staircase) and use one of the post-it notes to tell where you have seen God at work here at Salem. You can also post to Salem's webpage at http://salemsycamore.org.

You can give your name or remain anonymous. Share your "good news" with others. The "mountains" will be here through the end of December. What footprints have been left by God on the life of Salem and the lives of her members?

Ever See An Angel?

Ever felt the presence of an Angel? What does the Bible say about Angels? Maybe we could treat ourselves by sitting down together to learn more about Angels, agents of God's grace, as they are sometimes described. If you are interested, please call Judy Bergeson (815-895-9171) or leave a message in the office. We would gather for four Tuesday mornings during Advent on December 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 9am in the Chapel Lounge.

Fair Trade Fair

Fair Trade Fair

November 19-20, 26-27, 30

December 3-4

Look for us in the Red Sofa Lounge Area near the Global Mission Display Case before and after each worship service. There are many one-of-a-kind items from all over the globe. The items make wonderful gifts and also return a livable wage to those who created them. Remember the coffee, hot cocoa, tea, and chocolate are always excellent gift choices as well!

Advent Retreat at LOMC December 2-3

Do the twist!

Third through sixth graders are invited to a Peppermint Twist Advent Retreat at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center in Oregon, IL, December 2-3.

LOMC Advent retreats are held each year for 3rd-6th graders near the beginning of the Advent season. Participants stay in heated cabins with bunkbeds. There will be Bible study, hiking, group activities, and lots of winter fun. Registration cost of $65 includes overnight accommodations and all meals. Chaperones will be needed! Registration forms will be handed out in Sunday School. Find out more at www.lomc.org/events/advent-retreat or contact Karin Graddy at karin@salemsycamore.org or 815-762-0758.

Midweek Advent Journey Begins November 30

Ever since its first publication in 1843, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has been a holiday classic. The legendary story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, from "Bah, humbug!" to "God bless us, everyone!", is as much a part of Christmas as mistletoe and Santa Claus. Dickens originally wrote A Christmas Carol to revive the joyful traditions of Christmas and the celebration of the yuletide, since Cromwell's Puritan revolution in England had prohibited any rites or practices deemed "pagan." A Christmas Carol nearly singlehandedly rejuvenated those traditions in Victorian England.

Yet the story of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge is also a meaningful story for people of faith. And a wonderful story to study as part of the Advent Journey to the manger outside Bethlehem.

Some of the themes found within the story that make it an interesting study for Advent and Christmas include hope, redemption, transformation, the work for the Spirit, and the Christian life. You are invited to join the midweek Advent journey to Bethlehem. Our study begins at 7pm Wednesday, November 30, during the celebration of evening prayer in the sanctuary.

Advent Wreath Lighting

Families and individuals who would enjoy lighting Salem's Advent wreath and leading the Advent prayer are invited to sign up for a service at the Welcome Center table.

The prayer to read and instructions will be sent the week ahead. A minimum of two people are needed for each service. The four weekends of Advent are November 26-27, December 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18. Thank you for your participation!

Thanksgiving Eve Worship Wednesday, November 23

Salem Thanksgiving Eve Worship

7pm - Wednesday, November 23

Come, you thankful people, come!

Non-perishable foods and paper goods will be collected to share with the needy in our area. Come for an hour of festive praise and Holy Communion; enjoy a piece of pie after worship!

8pm - Pie and coffee in Fellowship Hall

Sign up at the Welcome Center Table to bring a pie to share or help host this fellowship event following Thanksgiving Eve worship. Thank you!