THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEW BEGINNINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH. The end of the calendar year will be Dec. 31. Please have your financial contributions given by that day so that the financial records for 2018 can be completed. Also, please submit all forms and bills for reimbursement by December 31. And, feel free to use the envelopes in the pew racks for your offerings. If you give cash, and would like a record for taxes, please fill out the contact information on the envelope. The Wednesday Advent worship offering has been designated for the Mahomet Helping Hands and the North American Lutheran Seminary.

THE ADVENT WEDNESDAY EVENING WORSHIP SERVICES will continue on Wednesday, Dec. 5th, at 7:00 p.m. The theme this year is: God With Us. Week 1: Our Potter; Week 2: Our Shepherd; Week 3: Our Living Branch; Week 4: Our Guide.

DECORATE FOR ADVENT/CHRISTMAS We will decorate the church for Advent/Christmas today after worship. Plan on staying to help decorate for the Advent/Christmas season!

THE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM will be during the worship service on Sunday, December 9. The annual chicken and noodle dinner will follow worship that day. Plan to come! The committee is asking for help with some food items: They are asking for items for a salad bar (Lettuce and dressings will be supplied by the Church), and for desserts. Come and bring your appetites! Contact Nichole Jessup to volunteer to help.

THE EMPTY TOMB CHRISTMAS GIVE AWAY is coming Dec. 7-8, 2018, and there is much that needs to be done in preparation for it. Cindy Gates is overseeing the event and she is looking for volunteers to help her. Empty Tomb already has hundreds of gift items; volunteers are needed to put together theme baskets for children to give to their parents, and to clean and organize toys. In general, volunteers can help on Tuesdays and Saturdays anytime between 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sundays between 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., as well as Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day) between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. If you are able to help, please call empty tomb and leave a message for Cindy at 217-356-7913 (not a public number). Thanks!

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR This year a new Advent activity is being hosted, it’s called a Reverse Advent Calendar. The calendar consists of gathering food items for those in need. A list of the items is on the flier included with the bulletin. Please bring the items to the church as you gather them, a place will be provided in the overflow/Sunday School room. If you would like to contribute money, please make the check to New Beginnings, and put Reverse Advent Calendar in the memo line, or place it in an envelope marked for the Reverse Advent Calendar activity. If you know of a family who might benefit from the food items, please check with the family to see if they would be open to receiving food, and then let Pastor Oman know. For questions contact: Elaine Skold, 217-979-1020, gemini52250@msn.com, or Pastor Oman. Thank you for helping those in need!
LIVE NATIVITY Today the Lutheran Church of Mahomet will be hosting their live nativity from 4 – 7 p.m. Chris Filler will by playing Christmas carols with the group of musicians. Plan to stop by.

THE HELPING HANDS ORNAMENTS For those of you who picked up an ornament for the children of Helping Hands, please return the gift by NEXT SUNDAY, December 9. Please leave the gifts unwrapped, and tape the ornament to the gift so that those who distribute the gifts know what gift goes to whom.

THE GLENWOOD ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY is looking for volunteers to do activities with the residents-crafts, games, conversation, etc. See Pastor Oman for details.

ATTENDANCE for Sunday, Nov. 25 was 71.