Creator Connection January 2024
The official newsletter of Creator Lutheran Church and Preschool.
The official newsletter of Creator Lutheran Church and Preschool.
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<strong>Creator</strong> Lutheran Church and Preschool<br />
<strong>Creator</strong> <strong>Connection</strong><br />
<strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Welcoming all to Worship, Grow, and Serve in God’s Grace.<br />
Pastor’s Corner<br />
A message from Pastor Horacio<br />
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father<br />
and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.<br />
What does this mean for us?<br />
This question is repeated in<br />
Martin Luther’s Small Catechism<br />
at every turn as it guides us to<br />
a deeper understanding of our<br />
God in word and sacrament for<br />
us. The catechism serves as the<br />
cliff notes to understand scripture<br />
and to deliver us Jesus Christ as<br />
our promise. The catechism has<br />
been and will continue to be our<br />
textbook for adult education and<br />
confirmation as it is a mine that<br />
continues to yield gems.<br />
Many of you enjoyed our<br />
Children’s Christmas Program<br />
on December 17th, in which they<br />
lead us through the symbolic<br />
meaning behind some of the<br />
common symbols of Christmas.<br />
We have so many traditions that<br />
are perpetuated without always<br />
understanding why they began or<br />
are continued. The symbols and<br />
their meaning that the kids read<br />
will be shared in this newsletter<br />
for those who had asked to see<br />
them.<br />
There are many other areas<br />
of life both in church and out<br />
in the world in which we find<br />
ourselves asking “What does<br />
this mean?”<br />
What does this mean is a<br />
question that also comes us<br />
when we consider worship<br />
and music at <strong>Creator</strong> Lutheran<br />
Church. We have had a year of<br />
exploring new ways to combine<br />
Continued on pg. 4
Table of Contents<br />
Ministry<br />
Pastor’s Corner..................................................<br />
Pastor’s Corner cont. ........................................<br />
Fellowship<br />
Thoughts on Stewardship..................................<br />
Council Highlights, Altar Guild........................<br />
New Fall Members............................................<br />
Children, Youth, and Family<br />
<strong>January</strong> Connect................................................<br />
Preschool............................................................<br />
1<br />
3<br />
4-5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
Staff<br />
Pastor:<br />
Amanda Olson de Castillo<br />
pastoramanda@creatorlutheran.net<br />
Associate Pastor: Horacio Castillo<br />
pastorhoracio@creatorlutheran.net<br />
Office Ministry: Donna Reynolds<br />
office@creatorlutheran.net<br />
Communications Coordinator:<br />
Marion Gil<br />
communications@creatorlutheran.net<br />
Bookkeeper: Marcie Reid<br />
creatorbooks@creatorlutheran.net<br />
Custodian: Leslie Noborikawa<br />
Nursery Attendants: Debbie Eikland<br />
and Cynthia Lowe<br />
News and Education.................................<br />
10-15<br />
Sunday School Coordinator:<br />
Kate Wire<br />
Birthdays and Reminders.......................<br />
Calendar............................................................<br />
16<br />
17<br />
Preschool Director:<br />
Andrea DeDominces<br />
Preschool Teachers:<br />
Andrea DeDominces, Ragan Allen &<br />
Cheri Farrer<br />
Funeral Coordinator:<br />
Janee Theleman<br />
2<br />
Ministry teams and program leaders, please think ahead about what is coming up and<br />
submit information, pictures or stories of impact to office@creatorlutheran.net by the 20th<br />
of each month. Our Office Ministry Coordinator, will collect, format, and get the newsletter<br />
out to the congregation by the first of each month. If you have any further questions,<br />
please feel free to call the office (253) 862-7700.
Continued from pg. 1<br />
voices, piano and instruments<br />
into our congregational song. We<br />
had the joy of hearing our choir<br />
sing again twice December and<br />
can anticipate another anthem<br />
on Epiphany Sunday.<br />
New<br />
songs and familiar songs have<br />
been included in our worship<br />
services. During <strong>2024</strong>, we will<br />
be answering what does this<br />
mean for worship and our faith<br />
during adult education. Once a<br />
season, you are invited to gather<br />
between services to practice<br />
some of the songs of the season<br />
so that we can be more familiar<br />
with them. We will also learn<br />
why some songs were chosen<br />
or were not chosen – what their<br />
lyrics mean for our faith.<br />
Throughout our lives together<br />
and in the year to come here at<br />
<strong>Creator</strong>, this question “What<br />
does this mean?” will be ever<br />
before us. What does it mean<br />
to worship? What does it mean<br />
to pray? What does it mean to<br />
forgive, to lament, to praise?<br />
What does it mean to include<br />
our children in worship and<br />
learning? What does it mean<br />
for us as we age? What does<br />
retirement mean? What does<br />
volunteering mean? What does<br />
it mean to live a life of faith in a<br />
world that seems to have either<br />
no meaning or contradictory<br />
meanings?<br />
The questions will never<br />
cease while we live. We as<br />
<strong>Creator</strong>, can ask these questions<br />
and many times in scripture,<br />
in Christ, in worship and in our<br />
Ministry<br />
learning together we will answer<br />
a question or two and add three<br />
of four to our lists. When we<br />
don’t have answers, we will be<br />
reminded that Christ is with us,<br />
that Christ is for us. We will learn<br />
to depend on God’s Word and<br />
grow in dependence to Jesus<br />
Christ rather than moving away<br />
from what does this mean into a<br />
false reality of I understand it all<br />
and have it all figured out.<br />
In <strong>2024</strong>, I pray that your<br />
questions lead you into deeper<br />
trust and dependence in Christ.<br />
Christ, who is our peace, be<br />
with you in the year to come!<br />
Pastor Amanda Olson de<br />
Castillo<br />
***Continued on Pg. 11 for 12<br />
symbols of Christmas<br />
3
Fellowship<br />
Thoughts on<br />
Our church has a vision<br />
for our community and our<br />
congregation. It is a bold vision.<br />
One at odds with the world around<br />
us. One that will require funding.<br />
Yet we believe in this vision—we<br />
believe in it so strongly that it<br />
passed unanimously last month<br />
at the congregational meeting.<br />
We Stewardship want like to<br />
make sure that all members are<br />
informed and understand the<br />
heart and soul of this vision.<br />
This image above is a<br />
summary of our church budget<br />
line items provided by the finance<br />
team, put into Categories. We<br />
have a category for the building,<br />
benevolence, Pastoral staff, and<br />
ministry. This should hopefully<br />
look very familiar. It’s the way<br />
we normally present the budget.<br />
But What if we present our<br />
budget a little differently? How<br />
are the dollars that you give<br />
to creator Lutheran Church,<br />
whether by QR code, the website,<br />
Zelle, or old-school check,<br />
4<br />
impacting our congregation and<br />
the community around us? To<br />
explore that, we chose 5 areas of<br />
mission & ministry, that represent<br />
<strong>Creator</strong>’s priorities and mission<br />
in our congregation and our<br />
community. The pie chart below<br />
shows how your dollar goes to<br />
work in each of these areas.<br />
Service and Outreach in<br />
Action: In 2023 around 23 %<br />
of our funds, either directly, or<br />
indirectly, went to Service and<br />
Outreach! As an example, this<br />
translates into 850 Backpacks in<br />
2023 for kids that might not have<br />
enough to eat on the weekends.<br />
It’s providing a place for Girls<br />
Scouts and Beyond Human<br />
Aid to meet, plus, we support
a Preschool at below market<br />
rates at a time when daycare is<br />
simply too expensive for many.<br />
It’s getting our youth group to<br />
Kentucky to serve and learn.<br />
It’s families serving at Peace<br />
Community center. It’s the Easter<br />
egg hunt and the Fall Festival,<br />
showing our neighborhood that<br />
we really are a welcoming place.<br />
Learning and Growing in<br />
the World: Our Pastors have<br />
close to 35 years combined<br />
experience—that experience<br />
brings us approachable yet<br />
powerful adult ed and bible<br />
study programs. A new member<br />
recently said: “I found the adult<br />
ed to be really meaningful—<br />
and I grew up with a Christian<br />
background”. It’s Bible study,<br />
in an environment where it’s ok<br />
to ask the hard questions: “Am<br />
I really forgiven?” “I honestly<br />
don’t get the trinity.” “Why do we<br />
take communion every week?”<br />
Pastoral and Community<br />
care: Our pastors have years of<br />
experience in a rural Guatemalan<br />
church. Our pastors have seen<br />
and lived in oppression and<br />
hardship that many of us can<br />
only imagine. But we believe<br />
they have also seen Christ’s<br />
presence in those moments.<br />
They bring that experience and<br />
wisdom with them as they walk<br />
alongside us. It’s a listening<br />
ear. It’s the <strong>Creator</strong> Cares team.<br />
It’s a member offering a ride to<br />
church. It’s a prayer at the altar.<br />
It’s a women’s retreat on grief.<br />
It’s a call to the pastor on their<br />
day off when you are struggling.<br />
(and yes, they want you to call<br />
them when you are struggling,<br />
even if it is on their day off!)<br />
Word and Sacrament: In a<br />
world where we are constantly<br />
judged, and are never good<br />
enough, our pastors remind us,<br />
by sharing the gospel, that we<br />
are beloved children of God,<br />
accepted forgiven by grace and<br />
loved as we are. I believe we<br />
are yearning for that reminder,<br />
Fellowship<br />
and that we are not alone in that<br />
dark place. The need for grace in<br />
community is revealed in 30 new<br />
members in 2023. 8 baptisms<br />
in 2023. Over 1400 views on<br />
the U-tube channel so far this<br />
year! We believe that is people,<br />
perhaps in the wilderness,<br />
and perhaps without hope,<br />
responding to hearing the Word,<br />
spoken by a Preacher. Spoken<br />
by our Preachers. It is here<br />
that we learn, again, that we are<br />
a forgiven, beloved, accepted<br />
people. Thanks be to God!<br />
Fellowship & Family: There<br />
are so many things that can<br />
divide us. Yet it is here that<br />
we are reminded that our bond<br />
to Christ is stronger than any<br />
secular tribal affiliation. Here<br />
our leadership has created a<br />
safe place for us to connect,<br />
to laugh, to cry, and to support<br />
one another. It’s Bunko night.<br />
The Fall festival. Foam hats.<br />
Slime games. Making mistakes<br />
together. A coffee shared.<br />
This is our Mission and<br />
ministry. This is also our<br />
spending plan. They are one<br />
and the same.<br />
Executing this vision will<br />
require a significant increase<br />
in our collective giving here at<br />
<strong>Creator</strong>.<br />
But we believe it is meaningful<br />
work,<br />
we believe it is Christ’s work,<br />
we believe it is worth it,<br />
we believe that together, we<br />
can do it.<br />
Please consider <strong>Creator</strong><br />
Lutheran in your <strong>2024</strong> giving<br />
plan.<br />
5
Fellowship<br />
Church Council Highlights<br />
The council opened in<br />
prayer, both prayers of thanks<br />
and prayers for God’s blessings<br />
on those people who are dealing<br />
with losses this past year.<br />
Pastor Horacio read from<br />
Hebrews 11-3. He noted that we<br />
are here by the grace of God<br />
and it is God alone who sustains<br />
us. Through Christ, God makes<br />
visible what is invisible.<br />
New Business<br />
There was a discussion<br />
about reviewing the contract for<br />
the fire suppression system.<br />
More research is needed and<br />
it will be forthcoming.<br />
The thermostat on the<br />
hot water tank is going to be<br />
checked to verify that it is set<br />
in accordance with standard<br />
practices.<br />
There was a discussion<br />
about the membership rolls and<br />
there will be a review of the<br />
roll to determine an accurate<br />
accounting of the membership.<br />
The Council adjourned with<br />
the Lord’s Prayer.<br />
Financial Report<br />
Total Income..............$37,869.11<br />
Total Expenses..........$37,713.33<br />
Net Income.....................$155.78<br />
Benevolence<br />
Contributions.............$37561.61<br />
Local Benevolence......$2,253.70<br />
Synod.........................$1,502.46<br />
Total Benevolence......$3,756.16<br />
Altar Guild celebrated the birth of Christ and marveled at the wonderful services we shared<br />
during the Advent and Christmas seasons, especially the Chidren’s program. We wish everyone<br />
a blessed Epiphany and may a star lead you to serve in new ways in <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Peace,<br />
Linda Reed<br />
6
Fellowship<br />
NEW MEMBERS FALL<br />
7
Children, Youth, and Family<br />
8
Preschool<br />
Preschool News<br />
<strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Dear Parents,<br />
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a vacation filled<br />
with love, family and much joy. We were blessed with all the above<br />
and with a renewed hope for the coming year.<br />
We would like to thank our families for the toys that were donated.<br />
This was a great way to show our children how we care for others<br />
who are not as fortunate as ourselves. These toys were distributed<br />
to local families in the Bonney Lake area. Also, a special thank you<br />
to our parents who were able to volunteer for our Christmas party.<br />
It was so much fun!<br />
<strong>January</strong> will include many fun topics for study. We will learn<br />
about dinosaurs and wintertime. We will celebrate diversity in our<br />
country and abroad by learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and<br />
discovering the country of Australia. Our families are invited to<br />
celebrate Australia with the children during the last 20 minutes of<br />
class on <strong>January</strong> 25th and 26th.<br />
The winter season and the colors gray and white are natural for<br />
<strong>January</strong> as is snow. We will see what the month brings! Remember<br />
to check the school closures for Sumner School District on TV or go<br />
to flashalert.net , then Sumner School District.<br />
We will study the letters R,r, S,s, U,u, and D,d. Our shape is<br />
the rectangle and the numbers are 5 for the three year olds and 8,<br />
9, and 10 for the four/five year olds. Our holiday during <strong>January</strong> is<br />
Martin Luther King’s birthday on <strong>January</strong> 15th. It will only affect our<br />
Monday-Friday class.<br />
Hopefully, everyone planning to be with us next year has already<br />
told (Andrea), Mrs. D, which class they want their child in. Please<br />
e-mail immediately to markandrea222@gmail.com if you still need<br />
to choose a class. Our classes are starting to fill up. Beginning<br />
<strong>January</strong> 10th, registration will be open to the public. Visit our<br />
website for class descriptions and cost. https://creatorlutheran.net/<br />
creator-preschool/<br />
Thank you all for your loyal support. Because of you, we do not<br />
have, nor need an advertising budget. <strong>Creator</strong> Preschool has been<br />
so blessed over the years to play a small part in the lives of so many<br />
wonderful families.<br />
Happy New Year and God Bless You All!<br />
Andrea (Mrs, D), Ragan (Mrs. Allen), and Cheri (Ms. Farrar)<br />
Important<br />
Dates<br />
• Week 1 (Jan 3-6):<br />
- Letter U,u<br />
- #5 #8<br />
• Week 2 (Jan 9-13):<br />
- Letter R,r<br />
- Arctic Animals<br />
- Hibernation/<br />
Migration<br />
- Learning about<br />
Martin Luther King,<br />
Jr.<br />
• Week 3 (Jan 16-20):<br />
- NO SCHOOL:<br />
Monday, Jan. 16<br />
- Letter S,s<br />
- Forms of water<br />
- Learning about<br />
Kenya<br />
- Pajama Day: Jan<br />
19 & 20<br />
• Week 4 (Jan 23-27):<br />
- Letter D,d<br />
- Learning about<br />
Kenya/Kenya<br />
celebration<br />
- #9<br />
9
News and Education<br />
10
News and Education<br />
12 SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS<br />
Continued from pg. 4<br />
(Tree): An evergreen tree<br />
has a very appropriate name. It<br />
is ever green – always green.<br />
It does not become dormant in<br />
the winter as other trees do. The<br />
color green represents new life<br />
and the needles of the evergreen<br />
always point up – heavenward.<br />
It symbolizes our everlasting life<br />
with Jesus Christ. We should be<br />
as the evergreen tree – always<br />
full of life, never becoming<br />
dormant in our life with Christ as<br />
our arms are lifted heavenward.<br />
“The bread of God is the One<br />
who comes down from heaven.<br />
He gives life to the world.” John<br />
6:33<br />
(Ornaments): Ornaments<br />
are used to decorate Christmas<br />
trees each and every year.<br />
People look for the perfect<br />
ones to fit on their tree. Our<br />
Christmas tree just would seem<br />
complete without our ornaments.<br />
Ornaments can symbolize<br />
the blessings in our lives. Our<br />
lives just wouldn’t be complete<br />
without God’s blessings.<br />
Everything that we have is due<br />
to God loving us so much that<br />
He wants to shower us with His<br />
blessings. Just as ornaments<br />
are all different shapes and<br />
sizes, blessings are all different<br />
as well. God picks and chooses<br />
each blessing for us so that it will<br />
be just right. The next time you<br />
decorate your tree, and as you<br />
put up each ornament, think of<br />
a blessing that God has given<br />
you. I think you’ll find that you’ll<br />
run out of ornaments before you<br />
can run out of blessings! “Every<br />
man shall give as he is able,<br />
according to the blessing of the<br />
LORD your God that He has<br />
given you.” Deuteronomy 16:17<br />
(Lights & Candles): Lights<br />
and candles are used to give<br />
light. When a room is full of<br />
darkness, it is dark. But, if you<br />
light a single match in a dark<br />
room, the room is light. There<br />
may be more darkness, but the<br />
light overpowers it. We are that<br />
light. We can be the single light<br />
in a world of darkness. We must<br />
share our light with the world so<br />
that the light increases. “You are<br />
the light of the world. A city set<br />
on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor<br />
do people light a lamp and put it<br />
under a basket, but on a stand,<br />
and it gives light to all in the<br />
house.” Matthew 5:14-15<br />
(Bell): The bell rings out to<br />
guide the lost sheep back to<br />
the fold, signifying that all are<br />
precious in the eyes of the Lord.<br />
Jesus is our shepherd and He<br />
laid down His life for us so that<br />
we may spend eternity with Him<br />
in heaven. He is calling us to<br />
follow Him through His Word.<br />
Are you going to listen? “If a man<br />
has a hundred sheep, and one<br />
of them has gone astray, does<br />
he not leaven the ninety-nine on<br />
the mountains and go in search<br />
of the one that went astray?”<br />
Matthew 18:12 “I am the good<br />
shepherd. The good shepherd<br />
lays down his life for the sheep.”<br />
John 10:11<br />
(Candy Cane): The Candy<br />
Cane symbolizes multiple<br />
things. If you hold it upright…<br />
it looks like a shepherd’s crook.<br />
The shepherds were some of the<br />
few people who were able to see<br />
the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. If<br />
you turn the candy cane upside<br />
down…it looks like a “J”. Jesus<br />
starts with the letter “J”. The<br />
colors of the candy cane are also<br />
symbolic. The red represents<br />
the blood that Jesus shed for<br />
us on the cross and the white<br />
represents the purity of Jesus.<br />
There are candy canes with three<br />
small red stripes running around<br />
it. These stripes symbolize the<br />
Trinity – God the Father, Son,<br />
and the Holy Spirit. Who knew<br />
that this delicious simple candy<br />
was so profoundly symbolic of<br />
our Lord Jesus Christ and His<br />
simple birth? “And she will bring<br />
forth a Son, and you shall call<br />
His name JESUS, for He will<br />
save His people from their sins.”<br />
Matthew 1:21<br />
(Star): The star is a heavenly<br />
sign of prophecy fulfilled ages<br />
ago, the shining hope for all<br />
mankind. The star led the wise<br />
men to find the baby Jesus.<br />
These wise men traveled many<br />
miles following a star in the sky.<br />
The star was their “guiding light”<br />
to the Savior. God was the wise<br />
men’s travel agent, in sorts,<br />
leading them to the greatest<br />
destination known to man – the<br />
Savior. We now have His Word<br />
as our “guiding light” to lead us<br />
to be with Him in heaven. Are<br />
you going to follow Him? “And<br />
behold, the star which they had<br />
seen in the East went before<br />
Continued on pg. 13<br />
11
News and Education<br />
New Hope Resource Center Meal<br />
THANK YOU to everyone<br />
who donates food for Hope<br />
Resource Center. Our next<br />
lunch will be Friday, <strong>January</strong><br />
5th, <strong>2024</strong>. New Hope<br />
Resource Center is providing<br />
40-50 sack lunches M-F for<br />
our homeless neighbors. New<br />
Hope has asked that we help<br />
by donating food appropriate for<br />
the sack lunches. Please see<br />
12<br />
the list of food needed on the<br />
attached link.<br />
All food should be dropped<br />
off at the church no later than<br />
Friday morning at 10:00 AM.<br />
<strong>Creator</strong> members will pick up<br />
the food from church and deliver<br />
it to New Hope in Puyallup.<br />
Volunteers at New Hope will<br />
prepare and distribute the sack<br />
lunches. Please sign up below.<br />
You will get a reminder email.<br />
Volunteer sign up link:<br />
https://www.signupgenius.<br />
com/go/20f044fa8ac2ea5f85-<br />
newhope<br />
**** On the sign-up sheet<br />
click the “sign up button” next<br />
to what you want to bring, then<br />
go to the very bottom of the<br />
page and click “Submit and<br />
Sign up” and there you will<br />
enter your information. New<br />
Hope Resource Center is in<br />
downtown Puyallup and serves<br />
the unhoused in Pierce County.<br />
The mission of New Hope is to<br />
assist homeless adults in their<br />
efforts to find safety, health, and<br />
stability.
Continued from pg. 11<br />
them, till it came and stood over<br />
where the young Child was.<br />
When they saw the star, they<br />
rejoiced with exceedingly great<br />
joy.” Matthew 2:9b-10<br />
(Angel): Imagine…you are a<br />
lowly shepherd, watching over<br />
your sheep. This night seems<br />
no different than any other. Then<br />
all of a sudden an angel of the<br />
Lord is in the sky above you…<br />
telling you of the Savior’s birth.<br />
You, a shepherd? Why did God<br />
send an angel to tell shepherds?<br />
Because the message that God<br />
had about the birth of Jesus<br />
was for all people! Not just for<br />
the right, not just for the Jew…<br />
EVERYONE! God chose His<br />
#1 messenger to tell the lowest<br />
of people (in the world’s eyes)<br />
of His Son’s birth! God looks at<br />
the heart – not what the world<br />
looks at – thank goodness!<br />
“And, lo, the angel of the Lord<br />
came upon them, and the glory<br />
of the Lord shone ‘round about<br />
them: and they were so afraid.<br />
And the angel said unto them,<br />
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you<br />
good tidings of great joy, which<br />
shall be to all people. For unto<br />
you is born this day in the city of<br />
David, a Savior, which is Christ<br />
the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11<br />
(Holly): We see holly as<br />
decorations during the Christmas<br />
season. But do we really<br />
understand what holly stands for?<br />
The leaves represent the crown<br />
of thorns that were placed upon<br />
Jesus’ head as He was being<br />
crucified. The berries symbolize<br />
the blood that He shed for us. He<br />
endured criticism, excruciating<br />
pain, and embarrassment…<br />
all for you and I. The next time<br />
you see a decoration with holly<br />
on it, remember what was done<br />
for you so that He could spend<br />
eternity with you. I know that<br />
I will. “And twisting together a<br />
crown of thorns, they put it on<br />
His head and put a reed in His<br />
right hand. And kneeling before<br />
Him, they mocked Him, saying,<br />
“Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew<br />
27:29<br />
(Wreath): The wreath has<br />
its evergreen branches bent in<br />
a circle so that the ends touch,<br />
having no beginning or end, just<br />
as there is no beginning or end<br />
of Jesus’ eternal love for us. Just<br />
as the wreath looks the same<br />
throughout and seems to not<br />
change, so He will always be<br />
the same. “Jesus Christ is the<br />
same yesterday and today and<br />
forever.” Hebrews 13:8<br />
(Presents): These days, the<br />
world has forgotten the reason for<br />
Christmas. Most people seem to<br />
think that getting presents is the<br />
greatest thing about Christmas.<br />
Other people seem to think that<br />
presents have nothing to do with<br />
Christmas. Well, they are both<br />
wrong. The wise men came to<br />
visit Jesus as a young child and<br />
gave Him presents. They gave<br />
His gold, frankincense, and<br />
myrrh. They offered Him gold,<br />
as a king, paying Him tribute;<br />
frankincense, as God, for they<br />
honored God with the smoke of<br />
incense; and myrrh, as a man<br />
that should die, for myrrh was<br />
used in embalming dead bodies.<br />
These men…these wise men…<br />
saw this child and knew that<br />
He is a king, is God, and that<br />
He would die for the sins of the<br />
News and Education<br />
world. How can anyone, with the<br />
knowledge that we have now, not<br />
believe? “The Wise Men went to<br />
the house. There they saw the<br />
child with His mother Mary. They<br />
bowed down and worshiped<br />
Him. Then they opened their<br />
treasures. They gave Him gold,<br />
incense, and myrrh.” Matthew<br />
2:11<br />
(Ribbons/Bows): Many<br />
people spend hours wrapping all<br />
of their presents during Christmas<br />
time. They use ribbons, garland,<br />
and bows to make sure that<br />
their presents are as beautiful<br />
as possible. What they don’t<br />
realize is that the items that they<br />
use to complete the outside of<br />
the gift have more meaning than<br />
the actually gift inside. The bow<br />
ties our present with a beautiful<br />
ribbon, just as Jesus ties us as<br />
Christians together in His love.<br />
We may not be in the same<br />
family, but we are all in the family<br />
of God. Jesus is the ribbon that<br />
binds us together. “And above all<br />
these put on love, which binds<br />
everything together in perfect<br />
harmony.” Colossians 3:14<br />
(Cookies): Making cookies<br />
is a favorite pastime for most<br />
families during the Christmas<br />
season. Cookie cutters are used<br />
to turn ordinary dough into edible<br />
masterpieces. God doesn’t use<br />
cookie cutters when He creates<br />
each one of us. He makes every<br />
one of us so special and unique<br />
that He would have to break the<br />
mold after just one use. He is the<br />
potter and we are His clay. He<br />
molds us into His masterpieces.<br />
“Behold, like the clay in the<br />
potter’s hand, so are you in<br />
my hand, O house of Israel.”<br />
Jeremiah 18:6<br />
13
News and Education<br />
Thursday<br />
Morning<br />
Bible Study<br />
Thursday Morning Bible<br />
Study meets every Thursday,<br />
at 10-11:30 am in Room 4 at<br />
<strong>Creator</strong>.<br />
All are welcome to come<br />
learn and enjoy the camaraderie<br />
and fellowship with your <strong>Creator</strong><br />
family!<br />
The <strong>Creator</strong> Men’s Club<br />
dinner meeting will be<br />
Monday, <strong>January</strong> 8th at 6<br />
p.m. in the multipurpose<br />
room at church.<br />
A submarine sandwich<br />
buffet supper has been<br />
planned. All churchmen are<br />
invited to attend.<br />
Grieving with Grace is a support group led by Pastor<br />
Amanda where adults learn about the grieving process and<br />
how to care for themselves as they work through the grief of a<br />
loved one’s death.<br />
The next meeting is on Sunday, <strong>January</strong> 21 at 12:45am<br />
after our 11am service. Grieving with Grace is currently<br />
undergoing a schedule overhaul, so stay tuned for more details.<br />
Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
During “All things Covid”<br />
the Wednesday night<br />
Men’s group has been<br />
using Zoom. The meetings<br />
start at 7:00 PM and get<br />
over by 9:00PM. If you<br />
are interested in joining<br />
the meeting please contact<br />
Scott Perkins with your<br />
email address and he will<br />
send you a link for Zoom.<br />
Scott.perkins@hotmail.<br />
com or 253-230-3416<br />
14
News and Education<br />
Twelfth Night<br />
Celebration<br />
A Night of Musical Flurries! Saturday<br />
<strong>January</strong> 13, <strong>2024</strong>, 7:00-9:00 pm<br />
Join us for an evening of good<br />
company and music by Shorelane, an<br />
acoustic duo.<br />
Bring a Appetizer, Dessert, or a drink<br />
to share<br />
(21+ only )<br />
S A T U R D A Y , J A N U A R Y 1 3 T H , 7 P M<br />
15
Birthdays and Reminders<br />
Remote Worship<br />
Worship will continue to be live-streamed on Facebook Live and<br />
Zoom. To join via Zoom, follow the link below:<br />
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86736605706?pwd=Ukc4RStRMlF<br />
yTm0xeXlaNFBWUDJhdz09<br />
Meeting ID: 867 3660 5706 Password: 822676<br />
One tap mobile:<br />
+ 12532158782,,89375602512#,,,,0#,,435230# US (Tacoma)<br />
Call in option: Zoom offers the option to call in to listen to the<br />
service. Call into worship while it is open - usually a minimum of<br />
five minutes before 9:30am until 11:00am - +1 253 215 8782 and<br />
enter the meeting number: 89375602512 when prompted. You<br />
will be able to hear the worship service.<br />
CREATOR LUTHERAN NEW GIVING APP<br />
<strong>Creator</strong> Lutheran is changing our mobile giving app! Vanco,<br />
our eGiving provider, has launched an updated mobile app called<br />
Vanco Mobile to replace GivePlus Mobile. You can download the<br />
Vanco Mobile app for free from the App Store or Google Play.<br />
Download Vanco Mobile by September 30. Vanco will<br />
remove GivePlus Mobile after this date.<br />
If you have questions or need assistance with our new mobile<br />
app, please contact the church office at (253) 862-7700.<br />
Pastoral Emergency Fund<br />
<strong>Creator</strong> has a fund available to be used at the discretion of Pastor<br />
Amanda to support congregation members and the community<br />
as needed. If you or a member another member of the <strong>Creator</strong><br />
Community has a particular financial need at this time, please<br />
reach out to Pastor Amanda for support. We are here for one<br />
another at this time. This fund is also open for additional<br />
donations from the congregation.<br />
Recycle Your<br />
Ink Cartridges<br />
Don’t throw away those printer cartridges or used cell phones.<br />
The Youth will recycle them for you. It’s good for the<br />
environment and the youth program receives a small concession.<br />
Just deposit old cartridges in the drawer in the narthex.<br />
16<br />
<strong>January</strong><br />
Birthdays<br />
1 - Jessica Bartlett<br />
1 - Sharon<br />
Stockwell<br />
1 - Bailey Bickford<br />
2 - Michelle Ketter<br />
2 - Phil Rogen<br />
2 - Carol Larson<br />
5 - Lori Baxter<br />
5 - Bill Nehser<br />
6 - Sharon<br />
Latterell<br />
8 - MaryLou<br />
Finch<br />
9 - Carol Doll<br />
9 - Christopher<br />
Farrer<br />
9 - Dakota Farrer<br />
9 - Jack Farrer<br />
9 - AJ Russell<br />
10 - Christine<br />
Stroomer<br />
12 - Paul Rebner<br />
12 - Lois Carlson<br />
13 - Kathy<br />
McKean<br />
13 - Bridger<br />
Robinson<br />
13 - Robbi<br />
Johnston<br />
13 - Horacio<br />
Castillo<br />
14 Shelby Rodwell<br />
14 - Bryan Davis<br />
15 - Robb<br />
Winchell<br />
16 - Maya Russell<br />
17 - Debbie Allen<br />
18 - Nathan<br />
Halaas<br />
18 - Adam<br />
Murgittroyd<br />
19 - Omar<br />
Cornejo<br />
20 - Sandra<br />
Langhorne<br />
22 - Riley<br />
Cottingham<br />
Hinkley<br />
23 - Richard<br />
Hurley<br />
25 - Darren Stober<br />
25 - Sean Morrow<br />
25 - Natalie<br />
Larson<br />
26 - Mark<br />
Thompson<br />
28 - Amanda<br />
Davis<br />
29 - Vancie<br />
Daniels<br />
29 - Ron<br />
Noborikawa<br />
29 - Rosalyn<br />
Parsons<br />
30 - Gena Lovell<br />
31 - Bill Moody
JANUARY<br />
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday<br />
1 Office Closed 2 3 4 5<br />
9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
7pm Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
6:30pm Youth<br />
Meal<br />
7:00pm Confirmation<br />
7:45pm High School<br />
Bible Study<br />
9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
10pm Thursday<br />
Morning Bible Study<br />
7pm CYF Team<br />
Meeting<br />
New Hope Lunch<br />
6<br />
7 8:30am Worship<br />
Service<br />
9:45am Adult<br />
Education<br />
9:45am Sunday School<br />
9:45am Confirmation<br />
11am Worship Service<br />
8<br />
6pm <strong>Creator</strong> Men’s<br />
Club<br />
9 9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
6:30pm Finance Team<br />
Meeting<br />
10 7pm Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
6:30pm Youth Meal<br />
7:00pm Confirmation<br />
7:45pm High School<br />
Bible Study<br />
11<br />
9am Morning<br />
Devotion 10pm<br />
Thursday Morning Bible<br />
Study<br />
1pm Stewardship Meeting<br />
5:30pm Fellowship<br />
Ministry Meeting<br />
12<br />
13<br />
7pm 12th Night<br />
Celebration<br />
14<br />
8:30am Worship<br />
Service<br />
9:45am Adult Education<br />
9:45am Sunday School<br />
9:45am Confirmation<br />
11am Worship Service<br />
15<br />
Office Closed<br />
16 9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
6pm Church Council<br />
Meeting<br />
17 7pm CIS Meeting<br />
7pm Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
6:30pm Youth Meal<br />
7:00pm Confirmation<br />
7:45pm High School<br />
Bible Study<br />
18 9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
10pm Thursday<br />
Morning Bible Study<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
8:30am Worship<br />
Service<br />
9:45am Adult Education<br />
9:45am Sunday School<br />
9:45am Confirmation<br />
11am Worship Service<br />
12:45pm Grieving with<br />
Grace<br />
28<br />
8:30am Worship<br />
Service<br />
9:45am Congregational<br />
Meeting<br />
9:45am Sunday School<br />
9:45am Confirmation<br />
11am Worship Service<br />
22<br />
29<br />
6:30pm CYF Team<br />
Meeting<br />
23 9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
6:30pm Women’s Bible<br />
Study<br />
30<br />
9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
24 7pm Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
6:45pm 4-5th Grade<br />
<strong>January</strong> Connect<br />
31 7pm Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
6:30pm Youth Meal<br />
7:00pm Confirmation<br />
7:45pm High School<br />
Bible Study<br />
25 9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
10pm Thursday<br />
Morning Bible Study<br />
28 9am Morning<br />
Devotion<br />
10pm Thursday<br />
Morning Bible Study<br />
26<br />
29<br />
27<br />
30<br />
17
<strong>Creator</strong> Lutheran<br />
Church and Preschool<br />
Welcoming All to Worship, Grow, and Serve in God’s Grace<br />
creatorlutheran.net (253) 862-7700 office@creatorlutheran.net<br />
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00AM - 3:30PM<br />
16702 South Tapps Drive East, Bonney Lake, WA 98391