Weekly Announcements

O.W.L.S. (OLDER WISER LUTHERANS AT SALEM)
HOLIDAY PARTY – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024 – 1:00 PM

All OWLS are invited to a holiday party at Janet Sell’s home on Tuesday, December 10 at 1:00 pm. Please bring an appetizer and/or dessert to share and a white elephant gift to exchange.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM & CHRISTMAS TEA
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024 – 9:30 AM

The Sunday, December 15 worship service will feature a Christmas Program with the telling of the Nativity Story! This year’s program is relatively low-key and prior rehearsal will not be needed. Roles can be assigned the day of the program. Please speak with Pastor Aaron if you have a strong interest in participating in the program and he’ll make sure there are roles for everyone! Carol Olson will be handing out slips of paper with small lines to be read during the program. If you accept a slip of paper from her, you will be cued as to when to read the line. Please note: You will read the line from where you are seated, you will not need to get up. After the worship service, everyone is invited to the Fellowship Hall for the annual Christmas Tea! Head downstairs to gather in fellowship and friends and warm up with hot beverages and treats!

SUNDAY SERVANTS – WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER?

The Sunday Worship Service is a wonderful time of worship, fellowship, prayer, spiritual reflection and learning. We would love for everyone to be involved and participate! Soon, the 2025 schedule for Lay Readers, Ushers, and Communion Servers will be sent out. For 2025, we will also be implementing a set place at the front of the sanctuary with a microphone, stand and chair. We recognize that the stairs are an obstacle for many members within our congregation and also for anyone visiting using a wheelchair, walker, etc.

If you would like to be added to the list of Lay Readers, Ushers and/or Communion Servers for 2025, please reach out to Michelle no later than Friday, December 20. You can email secretary@salemluth.org or call the church office at 651-457-6661. When you volunteer for any of these roles, you will be sent the schedule for the entire year and also be sent e-mail reminders about your upcoming Sunday to serve. Thank you!

FAITH FORMATION ACTIVITY NIGHT AT SALEM – WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024

Everyone is invited to attend the Faith Formation Activity Night at Salem on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will gather for a light dinner and then head out to spread Christmas cheer in the neighborhood by sharing well loved carols. Warm up your vocal chords and join in on the fun!

LONGEST NIGHT/BLUE CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024 – 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 worship 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.

BEER, BURGERS & CAROLS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2024 – 6:00 PM – GALLAGHER’S

Everyone is invited to the “Beer, Burgers and Carols” event on Monday, December 23 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Gallagher’s in West St. Paul (888 Ohio St.). Bring your family and friends and enjoy an evening of great food and drink, fellowship and carol singing! We hope to see you there!

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 – 4:30 PM

The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held on Tuesday, December 24 at 4:30 pm. You’re invited to attend this wonderful music-filled service with friends and family members in an evening of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

2024 ADVENT DEVOTIONALS

The 2024 Advent devotionals are available in the back of the sanctuary. This devotional explores, shares, and celebrates that joyous good news by continuing a centuries-old Christian tradition of setting aside time to prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and to anticipate his return. The Advent season of preparation then unfolds in the joy of the twelve days of Christmas and the day of Epiphany.

FREE CHRISTMAS CARDS

Shirley Peterson has set up a Christmas card display in the Narthex alcove near the elevator. Please help yourself to free Christmas cards!

FISCAL YEAR END – DONATIONS NEEDED BY DECEMBER 31, 2024

Salem’s fiscal year end for 2024 is Tuesday, December 31. Any offerings received after this date will not be included in your 2024 giving statement. Please be sure to turn in any offerings you’d like included in your 2024 giving statement by December 31. Thank you for your continued support!

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
DECEMBER 10, 2024 – 10:00 AM – FIRESIDE ROOM

Everyone is invited to join Pastor Aaron for lively and engaging conversations about the scriptures during our Tuesday Bible Study sessions. The group meets every Tuesday at 10:00 am in the Fireside Room.

WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER SERVICES – 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM

Are you looking for an open and inviting space to spend time in prayer? Salem hosts weekly 30 minute Word & Service Prayer Worship Services Wednesday mornings in the Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome to come. There is time for quiet, contemplative prayer and worship.

Please use the link below to read the 2024 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!

2024 FALL/WINTER SALEM NEWSLETTER

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR MARVIN WILLIAMS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024 – 11:0 AM (VISITATION AT 10:00 AM)

The funeral service for Marvin Williams will be held at Salem this Thursday, December 12 at 11:00 am with visitation at 10:00 am. The service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Please use the link below.

MARVIN WILLIAMS – FUNERAL SERVICE

CHANCEL FLOWER ORDERS FOR 2024

Salem will be working with Hills Floral to give members the opportunity to order chancel flowers. We are also offering the option for members to provide their own flower arrangement. You must sign-up online for either option. Please use the link below and follow the instructions. Please contact the office if you need assistance or have any questions. The cost to have the flowers provided by Hills Floral is $40.00. 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. Thank you!

CHANCEL FLOWER SIGN-UP CALENDAR 2024

LIFE AT SALEM

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

Monday: 9-11:15

Tuesday: 9-2:30

Wednesday: 9-2:30

Thursday: 9-2:30
Friday: 9-12:15

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

LYNGBLOMSTEN NOVEMBER E-BULLETIN
LYNGBLOMSTEN UPCOMING EVENTS

Build a community of support if you’re a caregiver of a loved one living with dementia. Lisa Brown with Lyngblomsten Community Services is giving two presentations—one in November and one in December—on the challenges of providing care for a family member or friend living with memory loss and the resources and support that are available. All are welcome to attend.
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.