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Ring the Bells, Shout the News and

Let the Whole World know,

Tell the people everywhere what the prophets said is so.

Jesus Christ has come to earth to save us from our sins!

To teach and preach and love and live and die

and rise again.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church 115 West 12th Avenue, Milan IL 61264

Phone ~ 309-787-4295 Fax ~ 309-787-4312 Email ~ stmatthewmilan@gmail.com

Web ~ www.stmatthewmilan.org

The Rev. Kurt Larson Mr. Gregory Mueller, DCE stmattpastorl@gmail.com dcehog@derbyworks.net 563-505-2342 (cell) 309-236-8826 (cell)

Mr. Joel Chapman, RN, Parish Nurse joelchapman1955@yahoo.com

309-948-4652 (cell)

First Sunday after Christmas December 27, 2020

Go Tell It on the Mountain Over the Hills and Everywhere

Go Tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is Born

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ST. MATTHEW NEWS

A NOTE TO OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS: Greetings in Christ! Thank you for visiting with us at our “Drive-In Service” today. We encourage you to contin-ue to come back not only now, but in the weeks to come! If there's anything we can do for you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our church web-site is at www.stmatthewmilan.org and our phone number at the church is (309) 787-4295, or you may contact Pastor Larson directly at (563) 505-2342. Thanks for joining us for worship!

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD To those who are unable to listen to services online, that we now offer the option to listen via a new toll free telephone number. St. Matthew’s toll free number is (844) 700-9449. Give us a listen! The worship service will be recorded and available via this phone by late Sunday afternoon.

PASTOR IS AVAILABLE to bring you communion in your homes or in small

groups at the church. Please call (563-505-2342) if you’d like to arrange a visit or wish to come to the church to receive.

UPDATED SERVICES INFORMATION Due to state mandates for Covid-19 the Lay Assistants decided to suspend worship in the sanctuary for through December 31. The services will be held in the parking lot like we did this summer. We will be streaming it from our Facebook page. Or the recorded service will be available later on Sunday from our website or toll free number 844-700-9449.

ATTENTION CONFIRMATION STUDENTS No confirmation Dec. 30. We will resume January 6, 2021. Any questions, contact Pastor Larson.

REMINDER—DECEMBER 30, 2020—OFFICE CLOSES AT NOON As we approach the end of 2020, you may consider extra donations to St. Matthew for tax purposes. All monies for 2020 must be in the office by noon on December 30, 2020. We will be able to get the last deposit for 2020 in the bank by noon on December 31, 2020. After that date it will be counted for 2020. Any questions, call the church office or Vicki Lude. The office will be open December 28-30 from 9-12:00. Office is CLOSED on December 31.

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President Scott Terry

309-292-4484 scotteterry@gmail.com

1st Vice President Joel Chapman

309-787-1863 joelchapman1955@yahoo.com

2nd Vice President Tom Mueller

309-795-1233 dtmueller@derbyworks.net

Treasurer Solomon Stroup

309-791-1870 solomonstroup@gmail.com

Financial Secretary Vicki Lude

309-738-3953 vjlude@gmail

Recording Secretary Karen Britton

309-838-1059 stmattkarenb@gmail.com

Property Committee

Vacant Doug Teggatz Andy Gale

No Chairman 309-788-2873 309-786-0382

douglasteggatz@gmail.com bgale76@yahoo.com

Lay Assistants

Jim Barrows 309-787-2420 jimbarrows@mchsi.com

Bruce Hunt 309-799-1773 hunt94@mchsi.com

Al Nordstrom—Chairman 309-203-1046 an49630@mchsi.com

Adam Schroeder 309-781-6829 schroederfarms@hotmail.com

Dave Schroeder 309-234-5227 granmumz@hotmail.com

Doug Teggatz 309-788-2873 douglasteggatz@gmail.com

Dean Young 309-798-2599 youngones@mchsi.com

Dennis Ziegler—Co-Chairman 309-206-4373 deziegler@mchsi.com

Nick Bull 309-798-8862 Bull_nicholas@yahoo.com

Jeff Martens 309-797-0850 jmartens@bnpn.com

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PRAISE BE TO GOD OUR FATHER Let all praise go to our Father who provides in all circumstances. With overflowing joy and thankfulness I want to thanks St. Matthew for binding together AGAIN even in the chaos of 2020 to pack 178 Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes. Not only did St. Matthew pack 178 boxes but also added the JOURNEY to each box. The Journey is a 12-lesson course, which includes Bible stories and Scripture memorization, while they learn how to follow Christ in their daily lives as they share Him with friends and family. Thank you again for all of your dedication, hard work and support to further our Father’s Kingdom. When dropping off the shoe boxes each box was prayed for and before I left I was informed this year Samaritan purse will be sending some of the shoe boxes they receive to areas that have not been reached with the gospel. So let’s be vigilant and keep praying for the recipients that receive these shoe boxes for this might be the first time that they hear of the Lord.

Praise be to God and thanks again for all of your support.

Erin Schroeder, Chairman of Operation Christmas Child.

LIFE QUOTES “The slaughter of the innocents continues in our time … done not out of an-ger, but because the arrival of these little ones is deemed inconvenient or too expensive or sometimes simply because they are not the ‘right’ sex. We, like Rachel, weep over our lost children. But mourning their loss does not mean that we do not fight to end this assault on the sanctity of life. The holy birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, which has transformed the world for the good in so many ways, gives us hope that abortion, too, can be ended.” Steven Mosher, Population Research Institute – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • www.lutheransforlife.org

LIFE THOUGHTS St. John testifies of a Savior whose atoning sacrifice saves from all our sins and shortcomings (1 John 2:2). His shed blood (Revelation 1:5) has rendered that of abortion and physician assisted suicide as unnecessary as it is ineffective and immoral. These measures have no power to deliver, and even their power to condemn fails—if we confess our sins, even sins against the sanctity of life, Jesus faithfully forgives and cleanses (1 John 1:9).

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ST. MATTHEW AT PRAYER

New/Updated requests this week

Those who are Mourning Family & Friends of Darla Lehmkuhl, friend of the Teggatz’s Continuing requests Kendric Bright, infant son of April Bright (Leukemia) Melissa Carter, daughter-in-law of Marcia Carter (recovering) Samantha Dolan (health issues) Bill Leonard (Cancer) Norm Mandle (recovering) Barb Miller Stan Mueller Deanna Paulsen, sister-in law Sandy Stevens (mass on pancreas) Pastor Paul Pett, (recovering from surgery) Shan Pettit, nephew of Al & Kerry Nordstrom, (recovering from surgery) Robert Robinson, son of Tammy Robinson (Bells Palsy due to Covid) Robert “Robo” Robinson, husband of Tammy Robinson (undergoing tests) Danny Robinson son of Tammy Robinson (Covid) Jason S., friend of Tammy Robinson ( recovering from stroke) Brian Saunders, Iowa District E President ( Covid-19) Dawn Schumaker (health issues) Dolores Tutt (recovering) Pastor Wright (recovering ) Karen Wright, wife of Pastor Wright (recovering ) Noah Zmuda, grandson of Dave & Anita Schroeder (Covid-19)

PLEASE KEEP YOUR FELLOW ST. MATTHEW MEMBERS in prayer. Pray for each other; reach out to one another by phone, email, text, or social media. Particularly keep in prayer those who are hospitalized or shut-in and can’t

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ATTENDANCE

Sunday December 20 10:30 Service with Communion

Estimated 62 cars outside 102 Communed

THIS WEEK THE LORD WILLING Office Hours 9:00am—12:00pm

Saturday, December 26

Sunday, December 27 First Sunday after Christmas

10:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m.

Parking Lot—Worship Youth—ZOOM

Monday, December 28 Karen on Vacation

Tuesday, December 29 Karen on Vacation

Wednesday, December 30

9:00 a.m.

Karen on Vacation Office closes at Noon Bulletins Assembled

Thursday, December 31 OFFICE CLOSED

Friday, January 1

OFFICE CLOSED

Saturday, January 2

Sunday, January 3 Second Sunday after Christmas

10:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m.

Parking Lot—Worship Youth—ZOOM

PASTORS BIBILE STUDY No Class Tuesday Dec. 29. We will resume Jan. 5, 2021

YEAR 2021 ENVELOPES The 2021 offering envelopes are ready for pick-up. If you have not received yours, contact Vicki Lude at 309-592-3840 .

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LWML NEWS... It looks like our LWML won't be meeting for Bible study or our regular monthly meeting at church through the end of 2020, but you can still join in a live online LWML Bible Study on Tuesday nights on the LWML Face Book page. Check it out! It has been quite awhile since our drive thru meeting this summer. Is there a heavy overflowing mite box on your window sill or bedside stand?! Bring in your mites and put them in the big mite box on the LWML table in the South hallway. Also remember that Fall Lutheran Women’s Quarterly’s are here! If you are worshiping inside, pick up your Quarterly magazine in the narthex. If you are worshiping outside, please give Deb Toal a call at 309-235-1402 or email at stamperdeb@mchsi.com and we will arrange to get your Quarterly to you!

DINING TOUR COUPON BOOKS ARE HERE St. Matthew Youth Ministry is selling Dining Tour Coupon books again this year. In the books are over 200, two-for-one coupons that can be used at local restaurants. The cost of the books are $35.00 and the youth group gets to keep $10.00. The books are good until November 2021.

ATTENTION YOUTH ( 6th grade through 12th grade)

Now that school is in session we will have only 1 zoom meeting on Sundays at 8pm. If this day does not work for you please let Greg know by contacting him by text at 309-236-8826 or e-mail dcehog@derbyworks.net .

CHRISTIAN CARE NEEDS LIST Our friends at Christian Care are in need of coffee, creamer, sugar, ranch / BBQ sauce, pasta, mayo, salt, pepper, butter, milk, garlic powder, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, hot sauce, napkins, plastic silverware, bleach, oven cleaner, Windex, paper towels, 36 gal trash bags, reusable latex gloves (kitchen style), and oven cleaner. They are also in need of hats, gloves, coats, sweatshirts, sweat pants, shoes, underwear, socks, hoodies. If you are able to donate, please take items to Christian Care at 2209—3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL during daytime hours. If you cannot take them to Christian Care, please bring them to the church and they will be delivered to the mission.