By Elder Gary Kunz

The Thanksgiving holiday will have passed by the time this article is published. It is a time of year when we all gather as family and spend time together. We enjoy good food and tell stories and just take a little time to relax after a busy year. It seems like this is a time to take a deep breath and relax, then a new rush begins with the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Is there something to be thankful for this year? We may ask this question. Often, we remember the fun and exciting activities, or maybe not-so-fun stressful events. These things stick out to us. Maybe we aren’t thankful for those “not-so-great” things that have happened this past year.

In Psalms 100:4-5, the Bible says: “Go through His open gates with great thanksgiving; enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and His faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.”

In this passage it instructs us to have an attitude of thanksgiving, go to the Lord with praise, and give thanks to Him! Then there is a promise, the Lord is always good, loving, and kind and His goodness will go on and on!

As I reflect on this past year, I have chosen to be thankful for those reliable, predictable, and unexciting things in my life! These are the things that I don’t think about often. For example, I have a job that I have had for a long time, it is predictable! If I show up it will always be there and keep me busy. At times life is unexciting, this past year has been just status quo, not real exciting. My life is predictable, I have the same routine each day. I have a home, a job, a reliable vehicle, food, family and plenty of things to keep me busy. My health remains good and my mind is still clear. I’m able to work and get around well. These items seem boring and unexciting. Praise the Lord for them!!!

As a church body, Church of Christ Cleveland has had a year of change. At times it seems that things are predictable and unexciting. We meet each Sunday and do many of the same activities. But as we are moving forward, we are anticipating change! This coming year will bring us a new Pastor, new challenges, new beginnings. Let us be thankful for allowing the church to have new beginnings. The Cleveland Church of Christ can be thankful for the reliable, predictable and unexciting things! Those things are the foundation that keeps us strong! We build upon those characteristics. As we anticipate change and a new future, it is those things that we will build upon. If we have those building blocks laid solid it will carry us forward as we transition for the future. I, for one, am very thankful for the reliable, predictable, and unexciting.

Go through His gates with thanksgiving. Enter His courts with praise. And bless His Holy name!

CCHHUURRCCHH OOFF CCHHRRIISSTT

MMEEEETTIINNGG IINN CCLLEEVVEELLAANNDD ,, MMNN

CCHHUURRCCHH OOFF CCHHRRIISSTT

900 State Highway 99, PO Box 307 Cleveland, MN 56017

CHURCH WEBSITE: www.clevelandchurch.net

FACEBOOK: Church of Christ, Cleveland, MN, USA

OFFICE PHONE: 507-931-5924

OFFICE EMAIL: clchurch@live.com

SECRETARY EMAIL: clchurchlisa@live.com

PRAYER CHAIN: clchurchprayer@live.com

OUR HEAD: Jesus Christ

INTERIM PASTOR: Randy Hardy CHURCH SECRETARY: Lisa Koppelman

SUNDAY SCHEDULE 9:00 am – Bible Classes

10:00 am – Fellowship Time

10:30 am – Worship Service

Link to prior monthly newsletters for the Cleveland Church http://www.clevelandchurch.net/newsletters-2/

December 2018

Vol.36 No.12

Page 2 of 3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

All events are at the church building unless otherwise noted.

Indicates an article is elsewhere in this newsletter.

• Dec 2,9,16,23 – Adult Sunday Class at 9:00-10:00am “The Christmas Experience”

• Dec 2,9,15 – Children’s Great ADVENTure Mini VBS

• Dec 2 – Manger Scene Painting Party at 5:00pm

• Dec 9 – Monthly Building Offering

• Dec 11 – Dorcas Fellowship at 1:30pm

• Dec 11 – Church Board meeting at 7:30pm

• Dec 16 – Children’s Great ADVENTure Program

• Dec 16 – Viking Football Party

• Dec 20 – January Newsletter articles due

• Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Service at 5:00pm

• Dec 25 – Christmas Day

• Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve

LOOKING AHEAD... • Jan 1 – New Year’s Day

• Jan 6-11 – Annual Reports due to Lisa K

• Jan 8 – Dorcas Fellowship at 1:30pm

• Jan 8 – Church Board meeting at 7:30pm

• Jan 13 – Prayer Time

• Jan 13 – Monthly Building Offering

• Jan 20 – Congregational Annual Meeting

• Jan 24 – February Newsletter articles due

BBIIRRTTHHDDAAYYSS:: December 12- Sandy Krenik, Cindy Schmidt; 15- Annette Swedberg; 18- Dale Rogers; 19- Billy Rogers; 22- Henry Reid; 23- Annalisha Schmidt, Michelle Will, Mike Wobbrock; 28- Lance Fahning

Weather-related postponements and

closings for the Cleveland Church of

Christ will be announced on KTOE radio

at 1420 AM /102.7 FM. They will also be

posted online at www.katoinfo.com (see “CLOSINGS”

tab). In addition to these routes, we plan to email

weather-related notifications and other church

notifications when needed. We are requesting as many church attendee' email addresses as possible.

Sunday December 16

“The GREAT ADVENTure!” is the Christmas

presentation to be given by our children during our

Sunday Worship Service on December 16 which

starts at 10:30am. Come & invite friends & family to

this special Christmas service.

“The GREAT ADVENTure” for the children is

meeting on Sundays Nov 25, Dec 2 & 9 from 2:00-

3:30pm, Saturday, Dec 15 from 9:30-11:00am for

their MINI-Christmas VBS giving them a fresh

understanding of Jesus’ birth. Each session will have

Vacation Bible school-style activities including

singing, learning stations, a craft and snacks.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Join us for our annual Christmas Eve service

at 5:00pm on Monday, December 24, 2018.

CCOONNDDOOLLEENNCCEESS Our sympathy to Brenda Davis and Patti Zulech whose father and father-in-law Ernest Zuelch died on November 9, 2018.

CCOONNGGRRAATTUULLAATTIIOONNSS We congratulate Sebastian Orellana who was baptized by his future father-in-law Jeff Nordrum on November 25 at the beginning of our Sunday worship service. Sebastian, God bless you in your walk with Him.

Page 3 of 3

2018 OCC

This 19th year of the Cleveland church family participating in OCC yielded 168 boxes packed at our Packing Party this year + 44 brought in beforehand = 212 shoe boxes!

Our official OCC Drop-Off Location for area churches & community members yielded 151 boxes. Our 212 + 151 = 363 shoe boxes delivered to Mankato!

Thank You to all who shopped, donated, folded boxes, packed, counted & ALL the rest for 2018 OCC! And "Thank you, Jesus" and please work in the life of each child that receives a shoe box.

THANK YOU to our 2018 lawn mowing volunteers who took time each week to keep our church grounds looking in tip top shape!! Steve Den Herder, Dave Essman,

Frank Heldberg, Marshall Heldberg, Ken Krenik, Russ and Judy Lloyd, Jeff and Vanessa Jaster,

LADIES BIBLE STUDY

Our fall ladies Bible study used the lessons from “Twelve More Women of the Bible.” We thank Sandy Krenik for arranging for our Ladies’ studies and Jo Rupe for leading our weekly meetings. We enjoyed our final session on November 14th with a meal, a picture and a lesson about Anna, a devote woman we read about in Luke 2.

ANNUAL MEETING

Our congregation’s annual church meeting and election of church officers will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2019 following the worship service. A light lunch will be provided. All members and friends of the congregation are welcome to attend.

ANNUAL REPORT

2018

CHURCH OF CHRIST

900 State Hwy 99 PO Box 307

Cleveland, MN 56017