January 5, 2012

I hope this new year finds you refreshed and ready to go. If you go for it with the spirit that our lovely Claire (see photo) exudes,  you will be just fine!

 

Here is what’s up at Diamond Lake for your kids (and you):

Youth (& friends) Musical tryouts are tonight (1/4/12) after dinner. Not to get too worked up about the tryout piece – the powers that be will work with your child to find a good place for him or her.

Sunday School resumes on Sunday Jan 8. Grades 1-5 will be in their J-term session.

Spirit Choir (Grades 3-5) practice starts on Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall with Mrs. Mestad.

The Annual Meeting of the congregation will be on January 22, 2012 during the education hour in the Lakeview room.

Jan 27-29 is the Annual Ice Fishing weekend at Luther Park – a great retreat for fathers, sons, and grandfathers.

Looking Ahead

April 13-15: Annual Women’s Retreat – a fantastic weekend of fun, laughter, sharing, and reflection. A nice mommy getaway.

 

June 11-15: Vacation Bible School M-F 9-12 noon.

See you soon!

Rita Marr Gehrke

 

December 1, 2011

I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are ready to embrace Advent – the Season of preparation of the coming of Christ at Christmas. I do hope in this hectic time that you and your families are able to slow down and find some peace in this beautiful Season. Here is what’s going on for your child at Diamond Lake this month:

  • This Sunday we welcome Heather Mestad to our Faith Family as our new Children’s Choir director. Mrs. Mestad will be working with the Spirit and Cherub Choirs. Please join the kids at choir time this Sunday to meet Mrs. Mestad.

    • Heads up: in January we will be moving the Spirit Choir’s practice time to Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. instead of  Sunday mornings.

    • The Spirit Choir will NOT be singing in worship this Sunday, December 4.

  • Welcome Home Mission Project Sunday – this Sunday (December 4)! Have the kids go to choir as usual (the Little Gems, too) and after their choir time please accompany them to their classrooms and follow the instructions there.

    • For Grades 1-5, I will post the classrooms to report to for their projects. Please remember to bring the gift. I am attaching the chart if you missed the email last weekend.

  • Feed My Starving Children Night – December 5 – there is still room. Contact Carol Mahler for details at tncmahler@q.com.

  • Wednesday, December 7, Caroling with the Youth Group after dinner at Mount Olivet Home.

  • Wednesday, December 14, is Family Advent Night: 6:30-8 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Crafts, Wishes, Music, Yummies, Cheer. Please sign up at The Welcome Center.

  • Sunday, December 18: the Annual Children’s Christmas Program and Smorgasbord. This is fast approaching – please be sure your children are present at church and in choir to be certain they have a part in the program. Mrs. Mestad will be working with me on this program – there may be more practice dates – surely more updates on this to come.

  • WANTED: Artists and Musicians! Please have all budding artists draw or color a picture of what Christmas means to them and submit it to me (can leave it in my mailbox in the office) by Monday, December 12. Musicians – please sign up to share your talent with us for the prelude to the Christmas program. The signup is atThe Welcome Center.

  • Save the date! We will be doing some caroling for Bruce Ajax on Wednesday, December 21 (prelim date) at 2 p.m. More details to follow.

  • COFHED: Don’t forget about bringing in the contributions for the Haiti families. This is a year-long effort. Check out the board for the updated results.

Greetings! During the month of NOVEMBER we will focus on our gratitude. Wouldn't we all be better off if we made it the center of each and every day? Well, it's November already and the colors are still amazing! Celia keeps hoping for snow each morning (craziness). Here is what might interest you and your family this month at Diamond Lake:

  • The Chili Cook-off, campfire, smore's, and sing-along at 5:45 on Friday Nov 4th! Bring your warm sweater, camp chairs, and your smiles! All are welcome!

  • Daylight Saving Time Ends on Sunday, November 6. You get an extra hour of sleep on Saturday night!

  • Celebration Sunday: November 13 Our kids will sing at BOTH the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services this day. There will be fun happenings between the services along with yummy cinnamon rolls!

  • We have started collecting for this year's mission: COFHED. Please have your child bring an offering to his or her classroom to put in the red bucket. We are having a bit of a competition with the different ages to see who can collect the most to go toward the purchase of goats for families in Haiti. So be sure your offering gets in the correct bucket.

  • November 20: The Children's Bell Choir plays at the 8:30 a.m. service. We have doubled the number of ringers in our bell choir! Come enjoy the energy and blessing that these children provide.

  • We are looking for musicians and artists for this year's Christmas Program. If your child would like to play an instrument for the prelude, please have him or her sign up at The Welcome Center. If you have a young artist (as we all do) please have him or her submit a Christmas drawing to me (via my mailbox in the office). We will be printing some of the art on this year's Christmas Program bulletin and the others will be on display for all to see.

  • Thanksgiving Weekend - just a reminder - no Sunday School on Nov. 27.

  • Looking ahead to December:

  • December 5: Feed my Staving Children - sign up at The Welcome Center.

  • December 7: Caroling after dinner at the Mt. Olivet Home

  • December 14: Family Advent Night - sign up at The welcome Center.

  • December 18: Children's Christmas Program

   

October 9th the Spirit Choir (grades 3-5) sings at the 11 am service. This is Ben Wagner's last week with us as he has taken a full time position with another church.

October 16th is Mission Sunday.
All Sunday School families meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 for a educational hour dedicated to this year's Mission: COFHED. Come as a family to gain some hands on insight into this great cause.

October 17th we will be going to Feed My Starving Children from 6pm - 7:30pm. This is ideal for 3rd - 5th graders. Younger children are welcome with their parents. Please sign up at The Welcome Center. Thank you to Carol Mahler for organizing.

October 23rd (Sunday) - MEA weekend: No formal Sunday School but there will be activities for kids. Please check the info board at the bottom of the stairs that day for more details.

October 26th (Wednesday) we'll have the Family Slime Time Event following dinner in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for games, crafts, treats, and a general gooey good time; 6:30-8pm. Please sign up (your family) at The Welcome Center.

November 4th (Friday) Come kick off the Youth Lock-in with a Chili Cook-off and Campfire Sing-Along! Yes - there will be s'mores! The fun starts at 5:45 p.m. BYOLC (bring your own lawn chair) Sign up for the Chili Cook-off at The Welcome Center!

Thanks to those families who have supported the children's bell choir. Practice is on Mondays from 5:30-6:15pm. All children are welcome to give it a try! Just show up and Chuck will lead the way.