Yes, the weather was frightful in Palmyra Township today. We began with rain, which turned to sleet by the time our Sunday School Christmas Program began. The wind picked up by the end of the service and visibility was poor. Nonetheless, the Christmas Program, Operation Baby King, was held on schedule. 
The cast was there and family members came to see the production. Everything came together at the last moment, a great relief to the director, Jill B. We had Holy Communion after the program, and then went downstairs for some fellowship and excellent rolls and coffee cake provided by Nancy S. 
My daughter Jessica came from Bloomington with her son Benjamin to fill the roles of Mary and Jesus. Jessie just had surgery on Friday, but is doing well.
I will put some pictures from the program on an album which you can view by clicking on the link on the right-hand side of the blog.
Before worship, we had the Swedlanda Family Sunday School. Some were a little late in coming due to the weather, but we had a great discussion about family traditions around the holidays and how we go about sharing our faith in a natural way. Because Gail D. and I will both be gone for the first Sunday of January, it was decided to delay the monthly Family Sunday School until the 2nd Sunday of the month, January 11. Next Sunday will be the 4th and final Sunday of Advent. Then on December 24, Christmas Eve, we will have a special Family Christmas Eve Service at 4:30 p.m. All are invited to come and we would love to have your participation. If you would like to offer something in the way of a song, instrumental or reading, please let Pastor Stewart or our choir director, Deb R., know. It could be an individual or group; all are welcome. There are also some brief parts to read if you would be willing. Then we will have a service of Holy Communion at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day. I will be gone for two Sundays after that and we are still looking for some individuals to lead worship or give a message on those days, so let me know if you are willing or contact the council president, Eileen R.
Keep safe during the inclement weather. I hope to see you at one of our Christmas services. God bless you during the coming weeks.
Pastor Stewart
Here are some announcements from today’s bulletin:
Help decorate the church for Christmas! Poinsettias, other flowering plants or arrangements are always welcome in the church at Christmas time. If you would like to dedicate flowers, be sure to notify Pastor Stewart or Nancy beforehand, so the announcement can be included.
Advent/Christmas Schedules
Sunday, December 21: Choir at 8:25 a.m., Adult Study at 9:30 a.m., Holy Communion at 10:15 a.m.
Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Family Service at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 25: Christmas Day Service of Holy Communion at 9:00 a.m.
The offerings for the Christmas Eve and Day services will be equally divided between the Renville County Food Shelf and “Reach out for Warmth,” an energy assistance program in Renville County.
Sunday, December 28: Worship at 9:00 a.m. No other scheduled activities.
The Swedlanda Men In Mission will meet on Wednesday, December 17 at 8:30 p.m. to pack up bags for the Christmas Eve service. Please join us.
The Renville County chapter of Habitat for Humanity is once again selling tickets for their new car raffle. First prize is a 2009 Chevy Malibu or $20,000 cash, 2nd prize is a 42” LG LCD HDTV, 3rd prize is a Dell Inspirion Laptop computer, and 4th prize is an IPod Touch. Tickets are $50 each and no more than 1000 tickets will be sold (probably more like 800-850). The drawing will be April 4 at the Frontier Bar in Fairfax between the 2 semifinal Final Four college basketball games. If interested, please contact Don Clasemann at St. John’s Catholic Church or Pastor Keith Pearson at First Lutheran Church in Hector, or check at Maynard’s Foods or Yesteryear’s Coffee Shop in Fairfax.
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