Weekly Announcements

O.W.L.S. (OLDER WISER LUTHERANS AT SALEM) CHRISTMAS PARTY – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025 – 1:00 PM

All OWLS are invited to a holiday party at Janet Sell’s home on Thursday, December 11 at 1:00 pm. Please bring an appetizer and/or dessert to share and a white elephant gift to exchange.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2025 – 10:40 AM – FIRESIDE ROOM
“WHAT IS ADVENT?”

Everyone is invited to participate in this Sunday’s Adult Forum. The topic will be “What Is Advent?”, led by Pastor Aaron. Grab a beverage and treat at Coffee Hour and come learn more about the season before Christmas.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 – 9:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE

Everyone is invited to the Sunday, December 21 worship service where we will be celebrating the Nativity Story with a congregational sing-along!

LONGEST NIGHT/BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025
7:00 PM

While Advent is a season of hope and Christmas is a season of joy, not everyone feels hopeful or like celebrating. A Longest Night/Blue Christmas service may provide a time and place of solace during the often frenetic days surrounding the celebration of Christmas. We come together seeking healing and room to share grief, sadness, loneliness, or confusion when these emotions often feel out of place during the holidays. On this darkest day of the year, we come with all our feelings seeking the return of light and hope. All are welcome!

BEER, BURGERS, AND CAROLS – MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
6:00 PM – GALLAGHERS

Everyone is invited to Gallagher’s (888 Ohio St.) on Monday, December 22, 2025 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm for a great evening of Beer, Burgers and Hymns! Bring your family out for a fun evening with Pastor Aaron, Salem members and St. Stephen’s folks in a well-loved community outing!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 – 4:30 PM

This year’s Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be on Wednesday, December 24 at 4:30 pm. Please plan to attend this wonderful music-filled service with friends and family members in an evening of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! All are welcome!

FAITH FORMATION – WEDNESDAYS – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Faith Formation takes place on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm at St. Stephen’s. The SECOND Wednesday of the month will be the Faith Formation Activity Night and will be held at Salem. Please use the link below to learn more about this great program for families, kids and individuals and to sign up! All are welcome!

FAITH FORMATION – SIGN UP!

MEN’S RENEWAL GROUP – FRIDAYS IN DECEMBER – 8:00 AM – (GALLAGHER’S)

Pastor Aaron and other men from Salem have joined members and Pastors of St. Stephen’s for breakfast at Gallagher’s (888 Ohio Street, West St. Paul) every other Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This group focuses on conversation and Bible discussions. All men are welcome – parishioners or non-parishioners. December dates: 12, 26

FROM SHIRLEY PETERSON:

NEIGHBORS INC. NOVEMBER FOOD DRIVE – A huge thank you to everyone that contributed to the November Food Drive. It was very successful thanks to your generosity. Sixty pounds of food and $1,886.00 was given in monetary donations. That is fantastic!

ADOPT-A-FAMILY GIVING TREE – The season of love to give and to share…to that we say “THANK YOU” for all that did care. A huge thank you to our members who purchased, wrapped and returned gifts for the Neighbors Adopt-A-Family program. All of the gifts requested were purchased, what a blessing to those receiving them! A Merry Christmas to all!

2025 FALL/WINTER SALEM NEWSLETTER

Please use the link below to read the 2025 Fall/Winter edition of the Salem newsletter. Thank you for helping us reduce costs by using a digital format and for helping reduce the ecological impact that paper, toner, toner cartridges and other printing components has on the planet. We appreciate your help!

2025 FALL/WINTER SALEM NEWSLETTER

NEW OFFICE HOURS

Our Church Secretary, Michelle Rodriguez, has begun her MSW internship and will be in the office on a new schedule through May of 2026. The new office hours are posted below:

Tuesday*/Thursday/Friday: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Office is closed on Mondays* and Wednesdays
First Monday: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
First Tuesday: Office Closed

CHANCEL FLOWER ORDERS FOR 2025

Please use the link below to sign-up for chancel flowers. You can choose to have flowers provided by our florist for $40.00 or choose to provide your own arrangement. You MUST sign up for either option. Please write “chancel flowers” on the memo line of your check and make it out to Salem or include a note if you send in cash. If you provide your own arrangement, it must be brought to the sanctuary no later than 9:15 am for your chosen Sunday so that they can be placed on the stand prior to the start of the service. The diameter of the flower stand is 11 inches. Arrangements from a wedding or funeral are permissible provided they are still fresh and no banners or inserts other than greenery or flowers are included. Flowers are not displayed during Lent. We CAN accommodate for more than one flower order per Sunday, if the date you would like is already taken, please contact the church office to make a request for an additional arrangement. Thank you!

CHANCEL FLOWERS – SIGN UP HERE

LIFE AT SALEM

Don’t forgot to visit the “LIFE AT SALEM” page on the website to see pictures of recent events!

Please use the link below for information about upcoming programming offered by Lyngblomsten such as free concerts, presentations and classes!

LYNGBLOMSTEN E-BULLETIN INCLUDING FREE EVENTS!

One-bedroom assisted living apartments are available at The Heritage at Lyngblomsten on the Como Park campus. For 30 years, this market-rate community has served seniors ages 55+ in a caring environment.

Our congregation is a member of Lyngblomsten, a Christian nonprofit organization providing healthcare, housing, and community-based services for older adults since 1906.