Don’t jump ahead into Christmas; enter into Advent.
This month of waiting, hoping, and wondering in the dark prepares us to truly enjoy the light of life that Christmas brings.
We have many happenings here at First Lutheran in the month of December to guide and prepare us for the joy to come.
Daily – Center yourself in the Chapel Prayer Space
Prepare for the coming of the Christ child this Advent by stopping, slowing down, and entering into the Chapel and taking time for prayer,
or using the labyrinth for a prayer walk. The Chapel will be available each day the church is open through Advent.

Want to Know more about walking the Labyrinth? – Take a Guided Tour!
Sunday, December 2, during the 10:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Learning time, First Lutheran’s Director of Spiritual Transformation Marcie Watson will give you a guided tour of how you can use our labyrinth for a deeper connection with God this Advent.

Wednesdays in Advent: December 5, 12 & 19

Lunch in the Loft
Each Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. in the Balcony, we will hold our Annual Lunch in the Loft concert series. These concerts feature area organists and instrumentalists playing seasonal music. Our musician line-up is:
December 5 - Robin Wagner, Organist St. Andrew Lutheran
December 12 - Marilyn Mark, American Guild of Organists
December 19 - Brett & Marita Wolgast, First Lutheran Church
Bring your favorite take-out or brown bag lunch and enjoy beautiful
Advent/Christmas music.
Advent Dinners
We will serve soup, salad and pizza prior to each Wednesday Evening Service. Serving will be 5 – 6:15 p.m. A free-will offering will be collected to offset the cost.

Wednesday Evening Worship 6:30 p.m.
“In Silence We Wait” – A Service of Prayer for the World
These 30 minute contemplative services will include portions of Holden Evening Prayer, scripture, and prayers for our community and world. Confirmation students will worship with their families and meet in small groups following.

Other Advent Activities & Events

High School Sunday Nights – Dec. 2, 9, 16, 6 p.m.
Our youth will take the first two weeks looking at the impact and message of Christmas movies as we prepare for Christmas; and have a Christmas party on the 16th!

Blue Christmas Service — Sun., Dec. 2, 2 p.m.
Blue Christmas is a service of healing and wholeness for everyone and anyone who feels the tension of both joy and trouble this time of year. We will gather in a special service with quiet reflection, prayer and the biblical practice of anointing with oil.

Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale – Sat., Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
This wonderful community choir who rehearses here at FLC will also present their Holiday Handel concert featuring Handel’s Messiah with the Mt. Mercy University Choir. Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door and can be ordered at crchorale.org/holiday-concert

Children’s Choir Christmas Musical - Sun., Dec. 9, 9 a.m. Worship
Come and enjoy the sights and sounds of our Chapel and Cherub children’s Choirs as they present “Silent Night-the Birth of a Carol” which tells the story of the creation of this beloved Christmas carol 200 years ago in 1818.

New Horizons Band – Sun. Dec. 9, 3 p.m.
Join this lively band of senior citizens from our community for their free Christmas Concert!

Outreach All-Church Potluck – Sun., Dec. 9, 5-7 p.m.
Come hear some of the amazing things happening around our world today because of you at this outreach-focused potluck, and help us shape the direction of our efforts of our Hunger, Housing, Hope and Global Outreach (H3GO) Teams in 2019.
Keenagers Lunch – Thurs., Dec. 13 at 12 noon.
All members and friends 60 and older are invited to our luncheon with
“The Ding-A-Ling’s” handbell choir from Garnett Place. We’ll eat pork loin, seasoned potatoes, green beans, Jell-O™ salad, and chocolate cake. Cost is just $5, but you must RSVP in advance.

Middle School Christmas Lock-In – Fri. Dec. 14, 7-11 p.m.
Grab your friends and get registered for the Annual Christmas Lock-in by going to our website and filling out the form! Deadline is Sunday, December 9! After this date you are not guaranteed a spot at the lock-in, so register TODAY! firstlutherancr.org/conf-lock-in

The Angel’s Message – Sun., Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m.
An Advent Program for the Congregation and its Children
Throughout the story of Jesus’ birth, God sends angels to deliver amazing news. Come to hear the messages of the angels, and the responses of those to whom they were sent. Join us for this special worship, and refreshments immediately following.

Special Music – Sun., Dec. 16, 9 a.m. Worship
The Adult Choir and Handbell ensembles will present special music for Christmas.

Lessons & Carols Worship – Sat. & Sun., Dec. 22-23
services will feature Lessons & Carols. We will sing the familiar, classic hymns interspersed with scripture readings that lay out the story of creation, fall, and redemption through the coming of Christ.
Blue Christmas Service Sunday, December 2, 2:00 p.m.
This is a special service for anyone who feels the tension of both joy and trouble this time of year, especially if you have recently lost a loved one. We will gather to experience Emmanuel – God with us! Our hearts may not be full of joy for whatever reason, be it the loss of a loved one or a struggle with illness, however we can be filled with God’s presence and peace.
Our 3 p.m. Family Worship Service is planned for children and their families. There isn’t a regular sermon; instead the kids can go to the front and sit with the Pastor as he walks through The Christmas message. Our younger Children’s Choirs will sing.
 
Our 5 p.m. Celebration Service will be lead by our Celebration Praise Team band with a mix of traditional hymns, contemporary praise songs and new arrangements of old favorites.
 
Our 7 & 9 p.m. Candlelight Worship Services will be the Traditional Christmas Eve worship.
At 7 p.m. our Middle School Handbell & Choir, and High School Handbell Choir will provide special music.
The 9 p.m. service will feature the Adult Choir and Handbells Ensembles. Both of the late services will also feature special music and accompaniment by a brass ensemble.
 
All services will include communion and, as always, are open to the public. Please join our church family as we celebrate the birth of Christ!