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Gifts of time and talentChristmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year. If youattend the children’s Christmas service at 4:00 PMon Christmas Eve, you still may want to return forthe very special candlelight service at 10:00 PM. Atime to set aside the stress of holiday preparations.A time to take a deep breath and savor thepeace brought by Jesus’ birth.As you enter, the sanctuary will be dimly lit. Tallwhite tapers will line the center aisle. The candlelight creates an atmosphere reminiscent of theshepherds under the stars of Bethlehem. The preservicemusic will be soft, gentle. Quietly take aseat and wait in anticipation of our Savior’s coming.Page 3The service will feature all your favorite Christmashymns (well, we’ll save a few for Christmas morning).Pastor Bartelt will be reading Bible passagesfocusing on the good news of Christ’s birth. Thechoir will enhance worship with special anthems.A distinctive liturgy is being prepared to focus ourhearts and minds on the Babe of Bethlehem.Leave the service in peace and anticipation. . .Christ is coming! Soon!If you only go to churchon Christmas Eve,you’ll be missing the realbirth-day celebration.

Page 4Rejoice all you believers & let your lights appearAfter a peace-filled Christmas Eve, it’s time to gather in great joy for Christmas Dayworship! With great rejoicing — for the King has come — we will begin worshippromptly at 10:00 AM Christmas morning, Sunday, December 25. This will not belike the night before. . .all the lights will be on because the Savior of the world hascome. The music will burst our hearts with jubilation and raise our voices in highestpraise.Christmas Day is one of the most holy days of the entire church year. Our worshipwill bring “Glory to God in the highest! And peace to his people on earth!”This year, plan to be part of the celebration on Christmas Day. It’s Jesus birth day. . .and he is coming again. . .soon! Rejoice all you believers!Call meeting resultsAfter a brief devotion, Circuit Pastor JohnBeck led Mt. Calvary’s second call meetingon Monday, December 5. Pastor Beckpresented six names to the assembledmembers. Each candidate was briefly reviewed.Pastor Beck led the members ina prayer for the Holy Spirit’s guidance justbefore the ballots were cast.Our gracious Lord has led our congregationto unanimously Call Pastor BrianDoebler of Richland Heights, Texas. Hecurrently serves Immanuel LutheranChurch, which has 209 members and 163communicants (compared to our churchwhich has 296 souls and 224 communicants).Immanuel operates an elementaryschool and preschool with nineteenstudents with four teachers. Both PastorDoebler and his wife speak Spanish fluently.They have four children under theage of six.Our President, Tony Van Boekel, has presentedthe Call to Pastor Doebler viaphone and in a package of official documentsthat was shipped to Texas. PastorDoebler will take a few weeks to considerthe opportunities before him in RichlandHeights and in Redding. Watch the bulletinsfor updates. Please pray regularly forPastor Doebler in this Christmas season.This time of year is normally very busy forpastors and now we have added to PastorDoebler’s “schedule” by asking him to reevaluatehis current Call while consideringthe opportunities and challenges inRedding.Sometimes the details are intriguing. PastorDoebler vicared at Mt. Calvary in Flagstaff.Last year, he declined a Call to Mt.Calvary, Menasha, WI, and now he’s beenCalled to Mt. Calvary, Redding. (Did youknow that our church was named after Mt.Calvary in Menasha? Some of our chartermembers came from that church in Wisconsin.)

Synod headquartersThe present synodical headquarters buildingis in need of very expensive repairs.Synod officials have been working on aremedy. Here is a brief review of thesituation.Earlier this year, the synod reached anagreement with a developer to sell thecurrent administration building on MayfairRoad in Milwaukee, WI, for $2.82 million.The sale was to be finalized in Januaryof 2012, but the developer had untilNov. 4 to perform “due diligence” in makingarrangements for rezoning and financing.When the offer was accepted, theSynodical Council authorized the purchaseof a newer building in Pewaukee, WI (notfar from the current headquarters), for$2.85 million. The building was a perfectfit for our office needs, and we receivedan exceptional price on the property.That purchase was finalized last summerHere we come a carolingDo Christmas carols hum through yourveins? Does a smile jump to face when youeven think “Joy to the world”?Then you won’t want to miss Mt. Calvary’sChristmas caroling event on Sunday, December18 beginning at 5:00 PM. Meet atchurch to carpool together to a couple ofshut-in members as well as Hilltop EstatesRetirement Center. Children are welcomeOfferingsOur Financial Secretary has set out a boxof offering envelopes for 2012 for each“giving unit” of our congregation — onebox per married couple; one box per confirmedyouth. The boxes are displayed inthe narthex near the refreshment table —you can’t miss them! Please pick up yoursbefore the end of 2011.The new envelopes should be used beginningSunday, January 1. Because ofchanges in the congregation every year,and tentative plans were made to move tothe new building in December.At the beginning of November, the purchaserwithdrew from the agreement topurchase the Mayfair Road building afterconcluding his planned project for the sitewas not financially feasible. This resulted inthe synod now owning two buildings. A taskforce was appointed by the Synodical Councilto explore all options available to remedythis situation. WELS does have reservesthat allow us to hold the two properties fora time without using any mission offeringsto pay for this. The task force will considerall options carefully in an effort to arrive ata recommended course of action that willbest serve the needs of the synod in thelong term. The full Synodical Council willmake any final decision.Source: WELS Togetherto led their voices and enthusiasm to thisfun sharing of the gospel, but must be accompaniedby a parent. The evening willconclude about 7:30 PM.Please sign up on the sheet on the entrybulletin board so we know how many toplan for. Your participate will absolutely bea blessing to the seniors visited! Share thegood news with a song and a smile!you may have a different envelope numberso be sure to use the new ones in2012 as the computer is set up for thenew numbering system.Any offerings received in 2012, will beposted to your 2012 statement for taxpurposes. If you want a donation to becredited towards 2011, it must be receivedat Mt. Calvary no later than December31, 2011.The music will burstour hearts with jubilation and raisePage 5

Page 6Y’all can find a new addressand phone number for thePechmans posted on thebulletin board in thechurch entry.Partners in the gospelPaul wrote to the Philippians: “I thank myGod every time I remember you…becauseof your partnership in the gospel” – Philippians1:3, 5.Thank you for all the love…hugs…tears…cards…gifts…and memories that youshared with our family in our last days atMt. Calvary. Our family has been blessedto be part of you and have you expandour family…this is a special gift that Godgives to a pastor and his family as theyserve in different places.I want to thank you for being partnerswith me in the gospel, and I continue topray that our Lord will provide you witha new shepherd when the time is right.We look forward to seeing you again…whether here on earth or in heaven!Pastor & AngieWhat’s so important about liturgy?The liturgy is important because it hasrepetition. It has been said that the liturgyis boring. It is like water flowing over awaterfall and boring into a rock. Eventuallythe water has its way with the seeminglyimpenetrable rock. Repetition ingrains theWord of God deep into our minds andhearts. Thus, the Word of God is there intimes of crisis, persecution, sudden tragedy,and old age to comfort us with what isfamiliar and sure. Times of tragedy andtrial do not require novelty. Reciting theLord’s Prayer or the Apostles’ and NiceneCreeds in the liturgy sometimes seems tiresome.Yet when the pastor gathers withthe troubled, sick, and dying, their confidentrecitation of liturgical prayers bringscomfort and often tears. Estrangedspouses pray together, “Forgive us ourtrespasses as we forgive those who trespassagainst us.” A dying Christian whosebody is ravaged with cancer receives theLord’s Supper and confesses with his pastorand family, “I acknowledge one baptismfor the remission of sins, and I look forthe resurrection of the dead and the life ofthe world to come.”The historic liturgy has both repetition andvariation. Within the unchanging structurethere is plenty of room for a variety ofhymns, Introits, Psalms, Graduals, prayers,sermons, and other components. As in allareas of human life, creativity needsboundaries. Routine in life frees the creativeprocess of the mind. Most people requirethe discipline of a morning routine.and the Pechman familyAnd thank you, Pastor Pechman, for the Bible-basedresolutions on page 10. They’re from your NewYear’s Eve service last year.Getting dressed, showering, and shaving inthe morning are best done with routine,which allows one to wake up and to preparecreatively for the coming day. You donot have to think about what comes next,where to find your toothbrush, or whereto get a cup of coffee. The morning repetitionand routine free the entire family forcreative thought and conversation regardingthe day’s activities.Painters are confined by the borders ofthe canvas. One cannot paint very well ifone is plopping paint all over the room.One need not look very far to find examplesof incredible creativity expressedwithin the framework of traditional liturgicalworship. Sergei Rachmaninov’s Opus31 setting for the liturgy of St. John Chrysostomand J. S. Bach’s cantatas in Leipzigdemonstrate the wide latitude availablefor creativity within the bounds of liturgicalforms. There is great room for freedomin musical, ritual, and ceremonial expressionwithin the confines of the classicliturgical structure. The same liturgy isused in both a small country church andgrand cathedral. The same liturgy is usedduring solemn penitential seasons andjoyous festivals. By its very nature, thetraditional liturgy possesses a characterthat is very flexible and adaptable to differentplaces and seasons of the churchyear. Source: http://pastorstrey.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/liturgy-repetition-flexibility/#more-3799 and Perspectiveson Christian Worship: 5 Views: Ligon Duncan,Dan Kimball, Michael Lawrence & Mark Dever, TimothyQuill, Dan Wilt. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2009, pp 37-38.

Page 10New Year’s resolutionsI will…like Paul,forget those things which are behind andpress forward. Philippians 3:12-14I will...like Abraham,trust implicitly in my God. Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19I will...like Enoch,walk in daily fellowship with my heavenlyFather. Genesis 5:24I will...like Daniel,commune with God at all times. Daniel 6:10I will...like Job,be patient under all circumstances. Job 1, 2I will...like Caleb and Joshua,refuse to be discouraged because of superiornumbers. Numbers 14:6-9I will...like Gideon,advance even though my friends be few.Judges 7I will...like Aaron and Hur,uphold the hands of my spiritual leaders.Exodus 17:10-12Earn while you searchIf you’re reading this newsletter online,you probably also search for “stuff” on theInternet. Did you know you can earnfunds for Mt. Calvary or WELS while yousearch? Instead of using Google or Bing,use GoodSearch.It’s easy to use. Go towww.goodsearch.com and select Mt. Calvarychurch or school. Every time yousubmit a search query, a donation is made,about one penny at a time. GoodSearchreceives its funding through advertising onthe site, but rather than bank large profits,the founders decided to give back. TheGoodSearch organization has also recentlyadded GoodShop, which donates a percentageof your purchase from severalonline retailers to your charity.I will...like the prophets,consecrate myself to God's work. Leviticus20:7I will...like Andrew,strive to lead my brother to a closer walkwith Christ. John 1:40-42I will...like Stephen,show a forgiving spirit toward all who seekto harm me. Acts 7:60I will...like the Bereans,daily study the Word of God. Acts 17:10-11I will...like the heavenly host,proclaim the message of peace on earthand good will to men on whom God’s favorrests. Luke 2:13-14I will...like my Lord himself,overcome all earthly allurements by refusingto succumb to their enticements. Matthew4:1-10Realizing that I cannot hope to achievethese objectives by my own strength, I willrely upon Christ, for “I can do everythingthrough him who gives me strength.” Philippians4:13The site is powered by the Yahoo searchengine, and has recently been upgraded. Adownloadable toolbar is also available tomake GoodSearch your default search engine.You’re searching the Internet anyway, whynot benefit Mt. Calvary while you’researching? (WELS recently received$8,500 through GoodSearch from memberswho selected WELS as the beneficiaryof their searching.) Pennies do add up!

A few good men foundPage 11The Nominating Committee has searched,prayed and found a few good men willing toaccept elected leadership roles for the nexttwo years. Elections will be part of the annualcongregational meeting on Sunday,January 29, at 9:15 AM. We thank thisyear’s Nominating Committee members(Tony Van Boekel, John Lagoy and WayneHadsel) for their labors for the Lord at Mt.Calvary.One person will be elected for each to thefollowing offices, except for the Elders. Positionsthat will be filled are:Vice President — Dave SimpsonRecording Secretary — Matt Rhodes, KenFieldsFinancial Secretary — Randall BurrisElder (2) — Gene Jenkins, John LagoyBoard of Outreach Chairman — MarkWallaceSchool Board Chairman — Todd LarsonMember at Large — Rick Hall, KevinNadin, Jack DickisonThese are key positions within the leadershipof our congregation. Filling these positionsis not something to be taken lightly.It is something to be done with prayer—earnest, humble prayer — seeking to dowhat’s best for the gospel. The Lordknows Mt. Calvary’s future. He knowswho has the talents and gifts we need inthe next two years and beyond. Let’s allask him to select the best men possible forthese vital positions.Tidbits The annual WELS NorCal Men’s Retreatwill be held at the Koinonia ConferenceGrounds in Watsonville, CA on March 9-11. Rev. Mark Sprengler, former missionaryto Hong Kong will be the featuredspeaker. He will be discussinghow to make the Great Commission ofJesus personal. More details in January’snewsletter. Faith/Anderson won a first place trophyfor their float in the Redding LightedChristmas Parade this year! The floatwas judged the best of 5 other churchfloats. Many of Mt. Calvary’s schoolstudents helped decorate the float. The next Junior Youth (grades 3-8) activitywill be Sunday, January 21, 2012.What will it be? Brenda Wilson’s gotplans. . .but she won’t reveal them tillafter Christmas. 43% of American congregations reportthat donations increased in 2010, accordingto the annual State of the Platesurvey. Giving was lower at 39% of congregationssurveyed; 18% saw nochange. Source: stateoftheplate.info Need a pat on the back? Need a pinch togrow an inch? Laurie Larson is creating alist of members birthdays and anniversariesso that members can offer greetingson those special dates. If you want toparticipate, please provide your specialdates on a sign up calendar in the entry.Bible.user friendly.free tech support

Ministry minutesHere is the report of your participation in our ministry at Mt. Calvary.Page 12Worship Attendance:Average:Power Hour Attendance:Average:PHJr Attendance:Average:Gifts of Love:Average:Nov 2011601150 (68/93)19649369$21,103.66$5,275.92Oct 2011602151 (64/86)242615614$19,652.20$4,913.05Nov 2010631158299755514$19,149.00$4,787.25Thanksgiving Eve worshipattendance:2011 — 1002010 — 132Next newsletter deadline isJanuary 4.Submit articles or info toNaomi Henkel.Serving the Lord and Mt. CalvaryEarlyUshers:Ken Field, Bruce Holmquist, Rob Waterman,Trygg Borchers (Jan)Elders:Busby, Hadsel (Jan)Greeters:Debbie Sprague, Brenda Wilson (Jan)Coffee:Brigette Lagoy (Jan)Communion Set Up:Vicki Busby (Jan)PHJr. Teachers:Volunteers needed (Jan)Late(Jan) Bob Parker, Gene Jenkins, Todd Larson,Anthony Fitzgerald(Jan) Parker/Jenkins(Jan) Shelby Rhodes, Kim SimpsonCleaners:Volunteers needed — for each Saturday inDecember and JanuaryCommunion Clean Up:(Jan) Kelly Borchers, Sherri Jenkins,Ashley RhodesNursery:(12.18) Kim Simpson(12.25) volunteer needed(1.1) Brenda Wilson(1.8) volunteer needed