December 2012 - Kinsmen Lutheran Church

K L
C
Connection
DECEMBER 2012
Details on p. 4
Inside This Issue
A Note From Pastor Jeff 2
Inspiring Worship 2—4
Advent at Kinsmen 4
12100 Champion Forest Dr.
Houston, TX 77066
281‐444‐3126 (P)
281‐444‐1733 (F)
kinsmenlutheran.org
Experiencing Family 5—9
Sharing Grace 10—14
Kinsmen Budget Update 14
Birthdays 15

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A Note From Pastor Jeff...
Dear Friends,
I never tire of the “I Am Thankful” clip.
The words are these:
I am thankful for a world created in
beauty.
For a love given abundantly.
For a provision accepted daily.
Thankful for a head crowned with
thorns.
For hands scarred by nails.
For a back bruised and torn.
Thankful to be God’s hands serving the
hurting, feeding the hungry,
encouraging the hopeless.
Thankful to be a part of (Kinsmen) … His
body in acting as His hands and feet
and bending our backs in service to
Jesus Christ.
I wish you could be here in the office
today. As I am writing this:
Anne Rosseisen, an example of
several office volunteers, is helping
the quietly efficient Julie Hughes
with what seems like endless
mailings this time of year (a few
good things do still come in the
mail).
Jane Jacobi, Kathy Hansen, Wendy
Young, Doris Thompson, R’nay
Havran, and Candace Alvestad ---
about half of the banner team, are
working feverishly on the exquisite
Advent banners.
Sara Witte is battling a cold,
transforming the Kinsmen
Children’s Academy, and preparing
to get married December 1.
Pastor Mark has completed what I
am sure is another outstanding
message for Thanksgiving Eve.
Lynnae Schatz is putting the
finishing touches on preparing to
serve 500 meals on Thanksgiving
Day.
We are all planning special Advent
and Christmas Eve services and
responding to needs that present
themselves this time of year.
And the music we are all enjoying
is being provided by Linda Thomas
who is practicing lovely preludes
and postludes --- and I am
overwhelmingly thankful to serve
you on this staff.
Below are two almost standard
questions asked by church consultants
and retreat leaders:
(1) If the church you serve did not exist,
who outside of the walls of the building
would miss it
(2) What is your church trying to
accomplish
They are good, simple questions, but for
the most part, there is an uncomfortable
silence following the first one. After the
second, someone may finally mumble
something general about the Great
Commission, 1
9 Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything that I have commanded you-.
-or Great Commandments,
37 He said to him, " 'You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your
mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first
commandment. 39 And a second is like it:
'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.'
I am all for the Great Commission and
Great Commandments but this is the
follow up question consultants ask, “Tell
me more!” I can tell them more, more
readily at Kinsmen then at any
congregation I have served --- statistically
and anecdotally.
Statistically, through October, Kinsmen
has given away $142,831.82, which
does not include $35,000 invested in
2012 at Camp Lutherhill through our
capital campaign. During this same
period Kinsmen received $978,952.68 in
regular Thankofferings --- an increase
from a year ago.
Anecdotally, we are hearing more and
more stories of the impact Kinsmen is
making in our surrounding community,
like the one Pastor Mark shared with me
last week:
In Sheri's Kindergarten class there is a
student who is in particular need and
receives a backpack full of nonperishable
food every weekend. This
child's mother contacted the school
recently for additional help because it is
a stressful time. Today, the counselor
handed Sheri a glossy flier for a certain
free Community Thanksgiving Feast to
give to the child. Sheri told the child that
this is at my church and that she and
Abby would be there to welcome her.
She wrote a personal invitation to the
mom as well. Later, Sheri saw the
counselor passing out Kinsmen fliers to
other children who receive weekend
backpacks. We are Kinsmen and we
feed the hungry.
Your time, talent, and treasure make a
difference. If you have not made your
2013 Estimate of Giving in a sealed
envelope you have addressed to your
home, please do so by the end of
November to minimize the need for
follow up. Your estimate will be mailed
to you unopened at the end of the year.
Our next 2 nd mile challenge is raising
faith for an additional $100,000 in
December to invest in the two
playgrounds. We have received an
initial commitment of $10,000—$15,000
from the estate of Cullen Thompson.
The current playgrounds are in disrepair
and the wood portions need roughly
$6,000 in recurring maintenance costs.
The two new playgrounds will be age
specific, and aside from the mulch,
maintenance free. I believe this is a
“need to” instead of a “want to” expense.
Sara Witte has done a marvelous job in
turning around the Kinsmen Children’s
Academy. Per Sara’s suggestion, for
the last two months I have ridden the
bus with the kids early in the mornings
on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Harmony,
Klenk, Greenwood, and Yeager as a way
to familiarize myself with the program,
staff and children. As a result, I am even
more convinced KCA can serve as a
primary bridge between Kinsmen and
our community. See Sara’s article in this
newsletter for more information on the
playgrounds.
Christmas Eve is an especially good time
to invite someone without a church
home to worship. Who will you invite

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Finally, we need to thank outgoing Council
members Mark Hanson, Doug Wittenberg, and
Eric Wietstruck. Mark Hanson continued the long
tradition at Kinsmen of excellent Church Council
Presidents. It is been a joy and delight to serve
with them.
With Thanksgiving,
Jeffery Alvestad, Pastor
Beyond our
walls
A message from our Facebook page…
Thank you so much for offering services online. I live in rural West Virginia and
have to drive two and a half hours to the nearest Lutheran Church. I was raised
Missionary Baptist which didn't fit me as I became an adult, then I became a
Roman Catholic, then United Methodist. I have visited Pentecostal churches,
Church of God, Episcopalian, and a few independent churches, none of which
worked for me. I had almost given up on church, not my faith, but church,
when I studied about Martin Luther in European History class. I
quickly realized I aligned with the teachings of the Lutheran faith
the only problem was I couldn't attend one because of where I
live. I then realized I could do almost anything online so I
searched for a Lutheran online church and found Kinsmen. I can
now be apart of Lutheran services thanks to what you do. Thank
you so much!
New member class
Would you like to know about Kinsmen and its
ministries The next new member class will be held
January 13, 20, and 27, 2013. New members will be
received February 3, 2012. If you would like more information
contact Lynnae Schatz (lschatz@kinsmenlutheran.org).
Please join Kinsmen’s music department as it presents its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 2 at 6 PM.
This year's program will be a presentation of the Lessons and Carols service. All the musical ensembles will participate, including
Alleluia Choir, Kinsmen Ringers, Jubilee Ringers, Youth Ringers, Kinsmen Brass, Sunshine Singers, Morning Glory Choir, and the
Contemporary Ensemble.
This will be a night you don’t want to miss, so invite your family and friends for an evening of inspiring worship and music. We even
have a special treat for all the children who attend. Christmas is coming, and we can’t wait!
More Inspiration for the season
Here's something fun,
something different,
and something your
whole family will enjoy
this year for Christmas.
December 14 at 7:30
PM, the Houston
Chamber Ringers will
perform their inaugural
concert at The Forum.
This amazing
professional handbell
choir is a new addition to the northwest Houston
music scene, and it features three of Kinsmen's own
ringers: Anne Jackson, Jackie Hanson, and Stevie
Berryman. Concert tickets are $10 each, and are
available at the door or from one of the ringers.
The Houston Lutheran Chorale, under the direction of
Jason Mangels, invites you to join in the celebration of
the coming of our Lord at the annual Christmas
concerts on Saturday, December 1, at 7 PM at St. Mark
Lutheran Church (1515 Hillendahl), and Sunday,
December 2, at 4 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church,
Downtown (800 Houston Avenue). The Christmas
concert entitled “Hope has Come,” includes a variety of
traditional and contemporary Christmas music such as
O Come All Ye Faithful, A Christmas Medley, Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella,
and works by John Rutter, John Ferguson, the Canadian Brass, and much
more. Let us inspire and prepare you for the coming of our Lord!
For ticket and concert information call 713-229-2932 or visit our website
http://www.hlc-tx.org. Thank you for blessing this ministry and being a part
of this amazing tradition.

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ADVENT@ KINSMEN
ADVENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Midweek Worship - December 5, 12 and 19, 7 PM
Advent Devotions written by Kinsmen Members
Advent Activity Devotion for families
Sunday School - Sundays at 9:30 AM
SWAT Loft Decorating - November 28, 7:30 PM
Wednesday Evening Suppers - December 2, 9, & 16
beginning at 5:45 PM (gym)
Abendmusik Christmas Concert - A Service of Lessons and Carols -
December 2 at 6 PM
SWAT Sharing Grace Event - December 5, 7:30 PM
Upper Elementary Lutherhill Retreat - December 7—8
SWAT White Elephant Gift Exchange - December 12, 7:30 PM
SWAT Fellowship and Sharing Grace Event - December 14
Kinsmen/KCA Christmas Program - December 19, 7 PM
SWAT Cookie Exchange - December 19, 7:30 PM
Family Caroling - December 23, 4 PM
NAM Holiday Toy Bags – Visit the tree in the Narthex beginning
November 18. (Note: Toy bags must be returned to Kinsmen by
Wednesday December 12.)
Fair Trade Fair - December 1--9 in the library
Water to Thrive Donations– transform lives with the gift of clean water
with the Noisy Offering December 8 & 9.
LifeCenter Groceries – provide the gift of groceries for the Life Center
in 2012. See the display in the Narthex.
Devotional Books
Advent Devotional booklets have been prepared by Kinsmen
members and staff. Pick up yours at the Information Center.
CHRISTMAS
EVE
WORSHIP
December 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight worship
services with Holy Communion
4 PM Children’s Service
6 PM Contemporary Worship
8 & 10 PM Traditional
Worship
December 29/30 Worship
Saturday at 5:30 PM
Sunday at 8:15 AM, 9:30 AM & 11 AM.

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Poinsettias
Help us adorn the Sanctuary during the
Advent season by purchasing a
Poinsettia in honor or in memory of a
loved one, or just given to the Glory of
God. Cost is $9 for each plant. A listing
of donors will be included in the worship
guide on Christmas Eve Poinsettias may
be taken home after the 10 PM worship
service on Christmas Eve or may be
designated to be given to a shut-in.
What’s for dinner
Join us for family dinners Wednesdays at 5:45 PM! Enjoy a
midweek meal with your Kinsmen family. The cost for adult
dinners is $5. Children ages 4—12 years cost $3. Children 3
and under eat free. In a rush Pick it up to go!
December 5 - Lasagna
December 12 - Pork Loin
December 19 - Chicken Parmesan
December 26 - No dinner
EPIPHANY POTLUCK
On the day of Epiphany, January 6, the church
celebrates the revelation of Christ to all nations as
represented by the magi who come to worship
Jesus. We will celebrate Epiphany and Global
Mission Month at Kinsmen by feasting on foods
with an international flair following the 11 AM worship service
that day. Bring your favorite dish from anywhere else in the world
including America – to serve eight or more people. Drinks will be
furnished.
SENIOR
CALENDAR
DECEMBER—Our annual Christmas Brunch. Date and
details to be announced soon.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 —We will have a guided tour of
Rice University and lunch at Black Walnut Cafe in Rice
Village. We will take a personal tour of the new BBVA
Compass Stadium, where the Houston Dynamo soccer
team plays. The cost of this trip is $15 plus lunch. The
county bus will leave Kinsmen at 8:45 AM.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12—Shrove Tuesday will be the
Seniors 2nd Annual Pancake Supper. The flapjacks will be served
starting at 6 PM. There will be a freewill offering. This supper will
be open to all. Reservations must be made by Sunday, February
10.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20—The first day of spring, and the day of
the Seniors’ 2nd Annual Picnic. Watch for additional information.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17—We’re off to Schulenburg and the Painted
Churches, a trip that we have not done in many years.
Family Caroling
Gifts for staff
This is the time of the year that
we celebrate the birth of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It
is also a time that we
traditionally recognize the
blessings that have been
bestowed on each of us
through the giving of gifts. As
members of Kinsmen, we have particularly been blessed this
past year by the hard work and dedication of our pastors and
staff. As we celebrate this season, we will continue the
tradition of making a monetary gift donation to our pastors
and staff that have faithfully served our church throughout the
year. If you would like to join us, please mark your donation as
“Pastors and Staff” and place it in the offering plate or mail to
the church. On behalf of your Church Council, have a Merry
Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Mark Hanson
2012 Church Council President
O Come, All Ye Faithful and bring some
Joy to the World this holiday season by
“caroling through the town.” Meet in the
gym for this annual tradition on December
23 at 4 PM. Contact Lynnae Schatz
(lschatz@kinsmenlutheran.org) if you plan
to participate or have any questions.

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2012-2013 Milestone ministry Calendar
3‐Year‐Olds Beginning Sunday School Aug. 26, 2012
Pre‐kindergarten Prayer Feb. 10 & 17, 2013
Kindergarten Worship and The Church Jan. 27 & Feb. 3, 2013
Milestone Ministry – Passing on
faith…. milestone by milestone.
A faith milestone is a marker along
life's journey that says, "This is something
important and God is here,
too!" It's time to pause, to share the
joys and sorrows, to give and receive
support. Milestones are a
time of fun, learning and celebrating
as we mark the important Milestones
in one’s faith life.
1 st Grade Missions/Service Jan. 13 & 20, 2013
2nd Grade Stewardship Nov 11 & 18, 2012
3rd Grade God’s Word Sept. 16 & 23, 2012
4th Grade First Communion Oct. 12‐14 & 28, 2012
5th Grade Endings April 21, 2013 (class only)
6th Grade Beginnings Aug. 26, 2012
7th Grade Relaonships Feb. 3 & 9, 2013
8th Grade Rite of Confirmaon May 5, 2013
9th Grade Beginnings Aug. 22 & Aug. 26, 2012
10th Grade Driver’s License Sept. 23 & 30, 2012
12th Grade High School Graduaon June 9, 2013
All Ages Grief and Healing Nov. 3, 2012
All Ages Marriage Feb. 9, 2013
Advent Retreat
3rd—5th Grade, December 7—8
Journey to Lutherhill for a weekend to prepare your heart and mind for the Advent season. The bus will leave
from Kinsmen on Friday evening and return on Saturday evening. Activities include: worship, fellowship, campfire
& s’mores, making cookies, giant swing, canoeing. The cost for this retreat is $65. Registration forms are on The
Messenger or contact Sara (switte@kinsmenlutheran.org) for more information. Register NOW!
Lutherhill Summer Camp
We had
so much
fun last
year, we
want to
go again! We are taking the younger
kids to Lutherhill for a week (or part of
week, depending on their age) of
jumping on the blob, swimming in the
pool, Bible studies, worship, and being
in God's creation!
June 9—12
Alphas (in 1st grade right now) - $220
June 9—14
Youngn's (in 2nd and 3rd grade right
now) - $375
Yearling's (in 4th-6th grade right now) -
$375
For your camp registration fees, your
child receives food, lodging, and all
camp activities for the week. Deposits of
$100 are due by January 6, check made
payable to Kinsmen. Full payment is due
by February 10 to receive the early bird
discount of $20. For more information,
go to www.lutherhill.org. Registration
forms are on The Messenger. Contact
Sara (switte@kinsmenlutheran.org) with
questions.

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News from KCA
The preschool is ready to
expand, the only catch is we
need more teachers! What a
great problem to have. Do
you know someone who is
wonderfully kind and patient
with 3 year-olds and 1year-olds If so,
we need them! Please have them
contact me as soon as possible.
We had a great time during our
Thanksgiving Feast at the school. The 3
year-olds dressed up like Indians and the
4 year-olds dressed like Pilgrims, then
they had a feast together. Thank you to
our volunteers who helped cook some
delicious food for the kids.
new furniture is in the Library where the
KCA kids spend their afternoons reading
and doing homework. Thank you for
sharing grace!
Thank you to our volunteers who help
the kids with their homework each
afternoon! If you’d like to volunteer, we
still need more help!
The Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders
had a special meal last month where
they learned about table manners. They
had fancy table cloths and fancy pasta
to eat for lunch while they practiced
their good manners. They had a great
time learning and getting ready for the
holidays!
meet these great kids and teachers for
yourselves!
Here are some ways you can volunteer:
Monday through Thursday – 3:15
to 4:15 PM – help kids with
homework
Monday through Thursday – 3:15
to 4:15 PM – read with kids who are
struggling
Reading Buddies –
20 minutes on any
Tuesday,
Wednesday or
Thursday – read to
one of our
preschool classes (1
year-old, 2 year-old,
3 year-old, or 4 yearold
classes).
We received a great donation from the
Abt family of a couch and a chair. The
Things are going well at KCA, and I
hope you will come to volunteer and
children’s Advent service—December 19
Christmas is a great time to gather with friends and family, and what better family to join together this
year than our Kinsmen Family! This year Kinsmen Lutheran and Kinsmen Children’s Academy are
excited to announce our second annual child led worship! Mark your calendar to join with your
Kinsmen family on December 19 for a special worship led by children from the church and KCA.
Wednesday at 7 PM will be a time of praising, praying, a time to hear scripture together, and a time to
join together in song. Most importantly though, December 19 will be a time for our kids from the
different parts of our ministry to come together for a time of worship.
If children would like to debut their acting or reading skills, there are passages of scripture to read, prayers to read, and a short
message to act out. And of course, we will have a “cookies and punch” reception afterwards! We need help from everyone—
costumes, help with rehearsals, kids to have reading and acting parts, cookies and punch, and so much more! There’s a way for
everyone to be a part of this new Kinsmen family tradition. Please contact Sara (switte@kinsmenlutheran.org) and let
her know how you can help!
Rehearsal Dates for acting parts:
Tuesday, December 11 at 6 PM & Monday, December 17 at 6 PM

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S.W.A.T. news
High School S.W.A.T. will continue meeting during Advent. All high school students are encouraged to
attend the mid-week Advent service, and then join us in the Loft for a different activity each week.
December 5 will be a "sharing grace" activity, December 12 will be our Annual "White Elephant" gift
exchange, and December 19 will be a cookie exchange. Details about what to bring each week will be
posted on our facebook page.
On December 14, from 5 PM—12 AM High School S.W.A.T. will have an Advent event that will be focused
on sharing grace and experiencing family. We will travel to Krause Center to help the staff wrap
Christmas gifts for the residents. We will then go to a local Christmas tree farm for s'mores, a hayride, and
then back to Kinsmen for fellowship and worship. The cost is $10. Please sign up on the Messenger or
contact Kristen Schulze atkristen.schulze@cfisd.net if you would like to attend.
Open Door Mission
CONFIRMATION CAMP at Lutherhill
June 16—21
We hope Jr. High youth will strongly
consider joining us at Lutherhill this
summer. The camp experience is an
opportunity for us to grow closer in
friendship and deeper in our
relationship with God. The week we
plan to attend fills up quickly. Please let
Pastor Mark know if you are planning to
attend by December 1.
Registration Details:
The cost for Confirmation Camp is $375
which covers all food, lodging, and all
activities for the week. On-line
registration is available at
www.lutherhill.org or bring to Pastor
Mark the registration form along with
the non-refundable $100 deposit which
is applied to the cost of your program.
Let Pastor Mark know if you register online.
DISCOUNTS!!!
Early Bird Registration! When Lutherhill
receives your registration and camp fee,
paid in full, before February 10, you will
receive $20 off your camp fees!
Siblings Discount! $30 off of younger
siblings’ camp fees.
Bring a Friend Discount! If you bring a
friend who has never been to camp
before, you or your friend can take $30
off of the camp fee, or share the
discount at $15 a piece.

Jr. High Retreat
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NAM Holiday Bags
NAM holiday toy bags are here! You
can help make the holidays brighter for
neighbors in need by contributing toys
to NAM. Visit the tree in the lobby and
bring your filled bag back by December
12.
Fair Trade Fair
It's time for our annual Fair Trade Fair! We
will be selling handcraft products,
chocolate, and coffee in the library
December 1 - 9. In line with Martin
Luther’s teaching that “we should fear and
love God that we may … help [our
neighbor] to improve and protect his
property and business,” buying Fair Trade
items is a way of doing business that acknowledges the worth and basic
human rights of all people. When you buy Fair Trade items, more of the
money you spend reaches the hands of the people who crafted the
items. This is the perfect opportunity to find Christmas presents for the
ones you love while promoting economic sustainability for artisans and
producers in developing countries. Blessed shopping!
Living well 2012
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice
in the Lord always; again
I will say, rejoice. Let
your gentleness be
known to everyone. The
Lord is near. Do not
worry about anything,
but in everything by
prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God. And the peace of God
which surpasses all understanding will
guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.
When is the last time you rejoiced
More importantly, when is the last time
you took time to laugh Did you know
that a healthy child may laugh as much
as 400 times per day, but adults tend to
laugh only 15 times per day
The sound of laughter is much more
contagious than any cough, sniffle,
sneeze and even the flu. What is even
better is that the benefits of laughter are
immediate. Nothing works faster or
more dependably to bring your mind
and body back into balance than a
good laugh.
Researchers have found that laughter
truly is the best medicine. The physical
benefits include:
Laughter relaxes the whole body.
A good, hearty laugh relieves
physical tension and stress, leaving
your muscles relaxed for up to 45
minutes afterward.
Laughter boosts the immune
system. Laughter decreases stress
hormones and increases immune
cells and infection-fighting
antibodies, thus improving your
resistance to disease.
Laughter triggers the release of
endorphins, the body’s natural feelgood
chemicals. Endorphins
promote an overall sense of wellbeing
and can even temporarily
relieve pain.
Laughter protects the heart.
Laughter improves the function of
blood vessels and increases blood
flow, which can protect you against
a heart attack and other
cardiovascular problems.
Laughter has been found to adjust
blood pressure and blood sugar
and improves oxygen flow to the
brain.
When laughter is shared, it binds people
together and increases happiness.
Shared laughter is one of the most
effective tools for keeping relationships
strong in that it creates or brings back
happy memories. Laughter also helps
defuse conflict. It has also been said
that laughter is a type of prayer.
That being
said, give
yourself
permission
to do
something
out of the
ordinary this
holiday
season.
Take time to
laugh and
live well.

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Mission interpreter moment
A More Secure Future
In Quibdo, Colombia, Jency (pictured
above) has a bright future thanks to her
mother’s hard work and your generosity
to ELCA World Hunger.
It wasn’t so long ago that Jency’s
mother, Aida, and her friends Jenny and
Vianney were driven from their villages
by guerrilla raids and made
their way to the city.
Through your gifts, the three
women learned how to run a
small business – and now the
customers of their spa, Tesoro
de la Selva (Treasure of the
Forest), enjoy the natural
products the women make,
as well as the flowers they
grow.
“Women have to work and
care for our families, even
with the stigmatism of being
displaced,” says Jenny. Aida is
pleased with the organizing and
business training she and her friends
received, saying, “This is a huge success.
We were helped with personal growth,
how to run a business and made aware
of our rights as women.”
Vianney sums it up: “Our quality of life
and the lives of our families improve,”
she says. “Without this business and
income, life would be very difficult.”
The women are constantly improving
their products and services. They are also
looking forward to certifying their
products for sale in mainline
supermarkets and stores. Thanks to your
gifts to ELCA World Hunger, Jency and
children like her can look forward to a
more secure future.
Thank you for your generosity! Without
your gifts, stories like this would not be
possible. For more information on ELCA
World Hunger, visit:
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-
Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-
World-Hunger.aspx
We cannot be quiet about what we
have seen and heard! Acts 4:20
Christine Donahue
TLGCS Mission Interpreter Coordinator
cedonahue@gmail.com
One person in
eight does not
have access to
safe, clean
drinking
water. As we wait for the arrival of the Christ Child
this Advent, join Water to Thrive in prayer and in
action for those who are waiting for water.
Here are some ways you can help bring them hope:
Instead of buying Christmas presents this year,
give gifts of quality time or homemade goodies.
Use the money you save to support a water well
in a needy community.
Give the gift of clean water in honor of your loved
ones. You can donate through your church or at
watertothrive.org.
Visit the Water to Thrive blog at
watertothrive.org/blog for daily reflections and
weekly family activities that will help you keep
Jesus at the center of the season!
Pray with us: As we prepare for the Light of the
World, may we be a
light to our neighbors
in need.
OUR Water projects
Kinsmen's other water
project was also completed
in 2011 in Tigray. It is a
Spring Development
System near the village of
Senale. The project site is
called Maygurtele.
Help support our Noisy
Offering on December 8/9
benefiting Water to Thrive.
This project is a hand-dug
well, which was
completed in 2011 in the
northern-most region of
Ethiopia called Tigray.
The well site is named
Giramkdah

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THANKSGIVING FEAST & RUN FOR YOUR
TURKEY
WOW! Praise God from Whom All
Blessings Flow!
Pastor Jeff received the following email
from a Cy-Fair ISD employee on Tuesday
before the Feast:
I work at a Title I school, many of our
students are new to this country and
many students' socioeconomic status is
low. Yesterday I was randomly talking
with our school social worker about
Thanksgiving and she said the students
were so grateful for the backpacks of
food she was distributing to tide them
over during Thanksgiving break. She said
the community corporate donations are
much smaller this year than previous
years and there is only one organization
that had contacted her about a
community wide free Thanksgiving
dinner. I responded that our church was
hosting a dinner also, she pulled the flyer
that she had been handing out to
students and it was Kinsmen's flyer.
When I said that is the church I belong
to, she said the students she's been
giving the flyer to were very excited
about this opportunity. She also said in
some cases she had to explain to the
students what to expect at a traditional
Thanksgiving dinner since many of them
have never had Thanksgiving dinner
before.
… I know there are many people who
have been and continue to work in the
trenches to provide this meal for our
community and I want them to know
how much the students at my school
appreciate the generosity of the people
of Kinsmen.
Thank you Kinsmen for making the
Thanksgiving Feast a success. The food
was phenomenal. The service was
wonderful. The hospitality overflowed.
We had projected to serve 500 people
but greatly exceeded our expectations.
We served 651! Thanks be to God for
this indescribable gift!
There were 84 runners and walkers who
participated in the inaugural Run for
your Turkey. With a thankful heart, they
finished the race.
Special thanks to those who served on
the planning committee – Phyllis and
Mike Carrier, Cathy Elijah, Kevin and Julie
Hughes, Jim Hughes, Jim Nolan, Mike
and Barbara Velotas, and Rachel Velotas.
Also thank you to the following
businesses who provided donations in
support of the Thanksgiving Feast.
Please stop by these businesses to thank
them for their gracious donations and
willingness to share grace with Kinsmen.
Boy Scout Troop 440
Bubbles Car Wash
Chick-Fil-A
Christian Brothers Automotive-
Champions
Fiesta #20
Food Town
HEB
Jason's Deli
Klein Forest High School Interact
Club
Klein Funeral Home
La Madeleine
Lone Star Quick Print
Party City
Road ID
Sam's Club #4721
Spring Creek Barbeque
Terracon Consultants
Walmart

P AGE 13

P AGE 14
Kinsmen Budget Update & Glimpses of Grace
KINSMEN BUDGET UPDATE - CHURCH ONLY
Month Of October
Budget Actual Variance
Income $148,588 $116,900 ($31,688)
Expense $139,953 $131,580 $8,373
Over/(Under) $8,635 ($14,680) ($23,315)
Year to Date (October)
Total Income $1,391,991 $1,323,08
9
Total Expense $1,403,796 $1,346,58
3
($68,902)
$57,213
Net ($11,805) ($23,494) ($11,689)
GLIMPSES OF SHARING GRACE: CARE MINISTRY
October 2012
Total Flower Bouquets Rearranged 24
Total Prayer Shawls Given 3
GLIMPSES OF GRACE
October 2012
Noisy Offering (Malaria) $2,405.00
ELCA Malaria $560.00
Fall festival—Malaria $2,022.50
Good Samaritan Fund $ 125.00
General Mission Support $ 7,326.89
Designated Mission Support $761.40
Life Center for the Homeless (food) $ 700.00
Naomi Circle (Good Shepherd RTC)) $305.00
ASK Scholarships $1,866.08
Donation of 60 lbs. of food to Star of Hope —————-
October TOTAL $ 16,071.87
Y-T-D TOTAL $ 142,831.82
MALARIA UPDATE
Dear Kinsmen
family,
As my little
grandson would say…AWESOME! And
he would be right. Kinsmen is making
awesome and profound history as we
accompany our sisters and brothers in
the Central African Republic in their
struggle to overcome their long and
devastating history of lives being taken
by malaria. Still today, a child in Africa
dies every 45 seconds from malaria.
But, we are changing that!
Through the October Noisy Offering for
malaria and the (yes…awesome….) Fall
Festival, you have contributed almost
$5000 to fight malaria in CAR. And we
have prayed, and continue to pray, that
our awesome God will bring health and
healing to all.
Thank you, Kinsmen! Your dollars and
prayers are changing history. And your
continued presence is welcomed, and
encouraged. Checks and cash may be
received by the church office and they
will be sent to our Synod’s Malaria
Campaign or you may give directly to
the synod office designating your gift
towards malaria.
It is with grateful hearts that we can say
that the $5000 from Kinsmen has put
the synod over our minimum goal of
$150,000. How awesome would it be
to reach $175,000…or more As a
synod, we believe we will do just that –
with your help.
As co-chairs of the Synod’s Malaria
Campaign, we thank you for your gifts
to this effort and we ask for your
prayers for the health and healing of
our brothers and sisters in CAR.
Blessings,
Judy Biffle and Terry Richter

P AGE 15
Woody Lyons
1-Dec
Wendy Paule
10-Dec
Pierce Davis
21-Dec
Carolyn Blum
1-Dec
Jim Maggart
10-Dec
Sandra Awbrey
21-Dec
Larry Wendt
1-Dec
Wendi Zabadal
10-Dec
Ron Zabadal
22-Dec
Jackson Hahn
1-Dec
Harley Ford
10-Dec
Brenna Schwartz
22-Dec
Ellyse Hahn
1-Dec
Kim Niemuth
11-Dec
Hannah Schatz
22-Dec
Jacob Osborn
2-Dec
Thomas Shurbet
11-Dec
J.B. Harvey
23-Dec
Justin Osborn
2-Dec
Erin Engel
11-Dec
Andrew Mihalik
23-Dec
Kendall Ashmore
2-Dec
Laura Lyons
12-Dec
Kristopher Cook
24-Dec
Kyle Stewart
2-Dec
Jamie Clark
12-Dec
Susan Hall
24-Dec
Carol Erickson
3-Dec
Rick Rueda
12-Dec
Jared Woods
25-Dec
Mary Fox
3-Dec
Gregory McCue
12-Dec
Austin Sisman
26-Dec
Lee Smith
3-Dec
Jack Childress
12-Dec
Stephanie Schroeder
26-Dec
Monica Garcia
3-Dec
Andrew Hanson
13-Dec
Tammy Hamric
26-Dec
James Gradoni
3-Dec
Harland Maisel
13-Dec
Dr. Robert Durrett
27-Dec
Larry Gibson
4-Dec
Kathleen Peterson
14-Dec
James Feldman
27-Dec
Elizabeth Marks
4-Dec
Evan Kulhanek
15-Dec
Kent Richter
27-Dec
Rev. Marlo Petersen
4-Dec
Carol Bayer
15-Dec
Michael Schwartz
27-Dec
Steve Nordaker
4-Dec
Wesley Heppner
15-Dec
Evelyn Anz
27-Dec
Linda Ludeman
4-Dec
Diana Daniels
16-Dec
Robert Simpson
28-Dec
Thomas Rudy
5-Dec
Barbara Lellis
16-Dec
Nathaniel Schatz
28-Dec
Kole Metting
5-Dec
Henry Orosco
16-Dec
Ian Hardy
29-Dec
Wendy Wells
5-Dec
Nola Friedell
16-Dec
James Blackbourn
29-Dec
Edwina Horsak
6-Dec
Taylor Tills
17-Dec
Sue Schuelke
29-Dec
Matthew Garner
6-Dec
Logan Griffith
17-Dec
Jenna Cox
29-Dec
Spencer Temple
7-Dec
Kimberly Boller
18-Dec
Denise Cook
30-Dec
Carla Armfield
7-Dec
Valerie Millman
18-Dec
Cheryl Cook
30-Dec
Kathryn Rovang
7-Dec
Linda Breedveld
19-Dec
Diane Dzygun
30-Dec
Cody Stewart
7-Dec
Kelly Ford
19-Dec
Sherry Millien
31-Dec
Cheryl Helgoe
8-Dec
Gerald Awbrey
19-Dec
Kenny Kolkhorst
31-Dec
Maryanne Keeling
8-Dec
Lorraine Hatkowski
20-Dec
Dawn Cillis
31-Dec
Blake Johnston
8-Dec
Laura Sell
20-Dec
Anne Rosseisen
31-Dec
Lisa Pruitt
8-Dec
Larry Hake
20-Dec
Kirby Meyer
31-Dec
Gloria Swanson
9-Dec
Cynthia Crocker
21-Dec
Bob Hagan
31-Dec
Lisbeth Gillette
9-Dec
Taylor Gibson
21-Dec
Conner Morgan
31-Dec
*This list is compiled from church records.
If your name is missing or the information listed above is incorrect, please notify the church office.

Saturday
5:30 PM
Informal Worship
with Communion
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Sunday
8:15 AM & 11 AM
Traditional Worship
with Communion on 1st, 3rd and
5th Sunday of each month
9:30 AM
Contemporary Worship
with Communion
9:30 AM
Education Hour
Classes for all ages
(August - May)
9 - 11 AM
Fellowship Breakfast
Community Life Center
Connection is a monthly publication of Kinsmen Lutheran Church.
Deadline for submitting news is the 20th day of each month or the previous church business day if the deadline falls on the
weekend or on a church holiday. Articles are preferred electronically, but may be faxed or hand-delivered to a staff member.
Kinsmen Staff
Reach a Staff Member directly
by dialing 281-444-3127,
plus their extension
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
9 AM - 5 PM
CONTACT INFORMATION
281-444-3126 Phone
281-444-1733 FAX
kinsmen@kinsmenlutheran.org
Rev. Jeffery Alvestad, Senior Pastor
jalvestad@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 18
Rev. Mark England, Youth and Family Ministry
mengland@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 24
Bruce Elijah, Associate in Ministry
bruceelijah@mac.com — Ext. 25
Lynnae Schatz, Director of Congregational Life
lschatz@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 43
Julie Hughes, Office Manager
jhughes@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 10
Sara Witte, Director of Children’s Ministry and Outreach
switte@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 17
Robyn Johnson, Media and Communications Coordinator
rjohnson@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 21
Irene Baasen, Accounting and Financial Reports
ibaasen@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 14
Elizabeth Marks, Traditional Worship Coordinator
emarks.klc@gmail.com — Ext. 22
Kristen Schulze, Contemporary Worship Co-coordinator
kristen.schulze@cfisd.net
Timothy Browning, Contemporary Worship Co-coordinator
chosentenor@gmail.com
Stevie Berryman, Director of Adult Handbells
sberryman@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 21
Kellen Cook, Media Team Assistant
kcook@kinsmenlutheran.org
Lisa Yeager, Assistant Director, Kinsmen Children’s Academy
lyeager@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 23
Ruben Aranda, Custodian
Gonzalo Montes, Custodian
Jane Jacobi, Payroll Clerk
jjacobi@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 15
Linda Thomas, Principal Organist
lindacthomas99@hotmail.com