When Helping Hurts Tuesdays, Jan. 9 - Feb. 13,

6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. We love our neighbors and we want to help people who are struggling in poverty. What kind of help is truly helpful? Together we will think about how to love and empower our neighbors who are living in poverty, by the power of Christ. This is a 6-week video-based study. There is no required reading. We’ve offered this several times at Bethel, and people tell me they hope everyone will take it because it is so perspective-changing. Register online at www.livingjustly.us/register/ or find a form on the Hub. I hope you can join us! Susan Squires (susan@livingjustly.us) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cleaning Help Need a little extra help with cleaning

this holiday season? Roberto and Berty, the cleaning people for Bethel, are back in town. They are available for any housekeeping you might need done. If you are interested in their services, contact Karen Leicht, Disciple

Care Coordinator, at karen@bethelgurnee.org. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Support for JJ Jones' Basketball Team Bethel member JJ Jones teaches at LEARN Charter School in North Chicago. He also coaches their boys basketball program. A couple of years ago Bethel came alongside JJ to support the kids in wanting a basketball team when they were raising funds. JJ is hoping some of us will be able to support this effort again. If you can help, go to: https://gogetfunding.com/thunderbird-basketball/ . ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday School Thank you to everyone who helped

with and attended the Children's Christmas program! So far our donations going to Love Inc. total $500!!! This week's lesson is the Christmas Story! Reminder: No Sunday

School on December 24 or 31! Classes resume on January 7, 2018! Think you might be interested in learning more about how you can serve Bethel via Sunday School next school year? Stop by the work room during the Sunday School hour on any given Sunday to chat with Diane or Kylie! We'd love to have you join our awesome group of volunteers!! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please join us this Tuesday for worship, Heritage Woods 10AM & Gurnee Meadows 11AM

BETHEL BUZZ

Bethel Website: www.bethelgurnee.org Office: 847-244-9647 Preschool: 847-244-9672 Email: office@bethelgurnee.org

Pastor Ben Squires Cell: 224-419-5519 / pastor@bethelgurnee.org

Katrina Johns - Equipping Coordinator Direct line: 224-623-0800 / katrina@bethelgurnee.org

Karen Leicht - Disciple Care Coordinator karen@bethelgurnee.org Lisa Schwarz - Office Secretary lisa@bethelgurnee.org

Donna Stutzman - Preschool Director preschool@bethelgurnee.org Chelsi Todd - Office Assistant chelsi@bethelgurnee.org

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bernie's Blessing - Deadline Monday, Dec. 18

Tomorrow is the deadline to drop off coats and blankets for Bernie Phillips to distribute on the streets of Chicago on Christmas Eve. He shares the love of Christ with them while providing them warmth.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fa-la-la-la-la!! Join our choir as we

carol at Gurnee Meadows & Heritage Woods, TODAY at 3:45 p.m. We will meet here at Bethel and then head over to Gurnee Meadows first, then to Heritage Woods and finish up by 5:30 p.m. No singing experience required just a joyful heart as we spread cheer and the love of Jesus! Questions? Ask Ann Souza at singng4him@sbcglobal.net or 847-336-0520. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Save the date for VBS! Vacation Bible School will

be JULY 16 - 20. ( Yes JULY is correct :) If you have questions please contact: Kylie Brazda (kbrazda3030@yahool.com), or Jeremy and Andrea Little (jclittle23@gmail.com).

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Preschool Board has an opening for a

new Board Member beginning January 1 for a 2 year term. The Preschool Board is responsible for the overall operation of Bethel Preschool including developing policy, recruitment and fundraising. Any Bethel member interested, please contact Kathy DeLassus at delaser43@comcast.net.

5110 GRAND AVENUE, GURNEE, IL 60031 DECEMBER 17, 2017

Special Worship Schedule Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 24 ~ 10AM in the Gym

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Sunday, December 24 ~

6PM in Gym & 11PM in Sanctuary

Christmas Day Festival Monday, December 25

10AM with Holy Communion in the Gym

New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31

10AM with Holy Communion in the Sanctuary

Little Lambs Calling all Little Lambs! If

you are under the age of 3 for this school year, come to Preschool Room 2 (nearest the gym) during the Sunday School hour! Adults - if you are interested in helping serve in this room on some weeks, please see Tera Redman. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ordering From Amazon You can support Bethel when you

order from Amazon. Go to Smile.Amazon.com to login to your Amazon account. To select Bethel as your charity go to “Your Account” in the upper right corner of the site page. Then scroll down to

“Change Your Charity”. Enter in “Bethel Lutheran Church Gurnee” in the “pick your own charitable organization” field. Then click the yellow “select” button and begin shopping. Once you set this up, every time you login to Smile.Amazon.com 0.5% of your purchase total will be donated to Bethel. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This Week’s Calendar

Monday, December 18

12:30 p.m. - Staff Meeting

5:30 p.m. - Basketball

Tuesday, December 19

10:00 a.m.—Heritage Woods Worship 11:00 a.m.—Gurnee Meadows Worship Wednesday, December 20

9:30 a.m. - Women’s Bible Study

6:30 p.m. - Advent Worship (Confirmation Students Attend)

Thursday, December 21

6:00 p.m. - Girl Scout Troop in Fellowship Hall

7:30 p.m. - Adult Vocal Choir

Friday, December 22 Pastor’s Day Off

Saturday, December 23 Pastor’s Day Off

Sunday, December 24

10:00 a.m.—Worship in Gym

6:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship in Gym

11:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship in Sanc.

Monday, December 25

10:00 a.m. - Christmas Festival with Communion in Gym

Worship Schedule Sunday 8:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.

Communion 1st, 3rd, 5th Sunday

Office Hours Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wednesday & Friday

9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Last Week’s Attendance Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 127 Sunday 10:45 a.m. - 77

Sunday School - 112

8:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Elders: Mike Bandman, Paul Krueger Bill Schwartz, Jack Warneke Acolytes: Liam Maag Lauren Swanson

Ushers: Dave Hoffmeister, OPEN John Zilligen, Noah Zilligen

Lay Readers: Diane Driver, Tom Driver Scott Mundrick, Diane Mundrick

Greeters: Somppi Family, Carla Thompson Boyle Family, Chudy Family

Contact Team: Roxanne Edge Ann Souza

Nursery: OPEN OPEN

Fellowship: Pellettiere & Nuechterlein Families

Fellowship Set up: Chuck Johnson

October Altar Guild: Sheila Bunnell, Diane Sanders

October Counters: David Ross, Cheryl Ross

Serving Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Elder: Bob Souza Asst Elder: OPEN Acolytes: Logan Rosenthal, Michaela Rosenthal Lay Readers: Andrew Barkley, Jose Rayos Ushers: Don Heidlauf, OPEN Greeters: Andrew & Lynn Barkley

Serving Christmas Eve 10:00 a.m. Elder: Mike Bandman Asst Elder: OPEN Acolyte: Hillary Fleming, OPEN Ushers: Lance Rasmussen, OPEN Lay Readers: Tony Young Greeters: Emma Bartman, OPEN

Serving Christmas Eve 6:00 p.m. Elder: Mike Bandman Asst Elder: JJ Jones Acolyte: Jake Kruse, Jude Squires Ushers: John Schultz, Lance Rasmussen Lay Readers: Lori Hoornstra, Thor Peplow, Sue Bandman, Diane Boehm Greeters: Diane Boehm, Ellen Dalrymple

Serving Christmas Eve 11:00 p.m. Elder: Bob Souza Comm. Elder: Tom Pipia Acolyte: OPEN, OPEN Usher: Don Heidlauf, OPEN Lay Readers: Joanne Heidlauf, Kelley Dorner, Tony Young, Jacob Stoltzman Greeters: OPEN, OPEN

Serving Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. Elder: Mike Bandman Comm. Elder: John Kozlik Acolytes: Sam Squires, OPEN Ushers: Lance Rasmussen, OPEN Lay Readers: Jacob Stoltzman, Pat Rasmussen Greeters: Al Diercks, OPEN

2018 Offering Envelopes are outside the gym or by the sanctuary.

Portals of Prayer for January - March are on the Hub.

Scripture Readings

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 Romans 16:25–27 Luke 1:26–38

CHRISTMAS EVE AM Micah 5:2–5a Romans 16:25–27 Luke 1:26–38

CHRISTMAS EVE PM Luke 1:5–80 Luke 2:1–20

CHRISTMAS DAY Isaiah 52:7–10 Hebrews 1:1–6 Luke 2:1–14

DEADLINE to submit articles for January Big Buzz Tuesday, December 26 at 9:00 a.m.