Living Faith Weekly News (Week of November 30, 2025)

Living Faith lights the first candle of the Advent Wreath.

On a snowy Sunday morning, Living Faith gathered to light the first candle of the Advent wreath and we began our time of expectant waiting and watching for Jesus! Thank you to Pastor Paige who led us in worship and Travis Balt who accompanied us on the piano. Thank you to Judd and Kari Kopperud who lit the first Advent candle, Conor Rathke who read scripture for us, Kjersten Rathke who assisted with Holy Communion, Tim Kass who ushered and ran the sound board, Angela Catton who live streamed our service and John and Peg McAllister who provided the bread for Holy Communion and prepared the elements. Thank you to those who helped after our worship service: Brian and Kay Michaelson, Tim and Gail Kass, and Jim and Sandy Heeren.

December 7th , the Second Sunday of Advent

YOU are invited to walk through Advent with Living Faith at their 11:00 AM worship service on Sunday. Worship takes place in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE. Tim Kass will greet you with a bulletin. Pastor Paige McGrath will lead us in worship. We will be accompanied by Gail Kass on the piano. Nathan Summerside will read scripture. If you would like to assist with serving Holy Communion, please let Kay know.

Living Faith gathers for Bible Study prior to worship from 9:30 - 10:30 in Room 105. YOU are invited to join as we take a look at the Psalm for the day and discuss it from many angles! At 10:30, there will be time for.......

10:00 - 11:00 - Fellowship Time - Hot Cocoa Bar and Santacakes!

On Sunday, YOU are invited to the PUCC Fellowship Hall from 10:00 - 11:00 to enjoy a time of fellowship with hot cocoa and Santacakes courtesy of Steve and Amy Beveridge and family!

Wednesday, December 3rd - 2:30 - "Fluffing" of the Greens: Meet in the Fellowship Hall to help decorate the PUCC for the Advent and Christmas season. Bring a pair of gloves.

Wednesday, December 3rd - 6:00 - Advent Meal: Come to the Fellowship Hall for our first Advent meal of walking tacos!

Wednesday, December 3rd - 7:00 - Mid-Week Advent Service: This service will take place in the sanctuary of the PUCC and will feature Holden Evening prayer led by Kjersten Rathke and Rachel Cunningham. Pastor Paige and the Confirmation students will be leading the readings and a short message.

Saturday, December 6th - Tour of Steeples in Sioux City: Meet in the PUCC parking lot at 9:30 AM to pool rides. A freewill donation will be taken for this event at any of the churches we tour. We will also take a lunch break and return to Le Mars around 3:30.

Sunday, December 7th - Advent Worship: 11:00 AM in the PUCC sanctuary.

Wednesday, December 10th - 6:00 - Advent Meal: Living Faith will host a meal of Breakfast for Dinner in the Fellowship Hall.

Wednesday, December 10th - 7:00 - Mid-Week Advent Worship: Our Advent journey continues with a service featuring the Holden Evening Prayer service.

Sunday, December 14th - Advent Worship: 11:00 AM - Worship will feature our annual no stress, no prep Christmas program. This year's program is entitled Christmas Light Show! Please see the article later in this newsletter for items needed for this program!

Sunday, December 14th - 3:00 - Christmas Caroling: Gather at the PUCC, dressed for the weather, as we go out into the community to spread love and cheer! At 5:00, we will return to the PUCC for a soup supper!

Wednesday, December 17th - 6:00 - Advent Meal: We will have a pizza feed prior to our Advent mid-week worship!

Wednesday, December 17th - 7:00 - Mid-Week Advent Worship: Pastor Paige, Confirmation Students, Kjersten Rathke and Rachel Cunningham will lead us in worship.

Wednesday, December 17th - 7:30 - The Christmas Choir, under the leadership of Travis and Pixie Balt, will rehearse their Christmas anthem in the sanctuary.

Sunday, December 21st - 10:30 - The Christmas Choir will rehearse in the Sanctuary prior to worship.

Sunday, December 21st - 11:00 - Advent Worship with the Living Faith Christmas Choir.

Wednesday, December 24th - 3:00 - Christmas Eve Candlelight service

What's On the Sign Up Table?

If you would like to donate a poinsettia in honor or memory of a loved one, please see the sign up sheet on the PUCC table in the narthex. The cost is $10 per plant. After the PUCC candlelight service at 5:30 on Christmas Eve, you may take your poinsettia home.

See the sign up sheet on the Living Faith table in the narthex to volunteer to bring an item or two to our Breakfast for Dinner Advent meal on December 10th!

After our Christmas caroling outing on December 14, we will return to the PUCC's Fellowship Hall at 5:00 for a soup supper. Sign up to bring soup or other items for this meal! If you cannot make it to carol, you are welcome to join for soup!

It's not too late to pick up any of the two Advent calendars that are out on the sign up table!

Sunday, December 7th is the last day to donate to The Table and the Le Mars Backpack Program to assist with their needs over the holiday season. This basket is on the sign up table for your convenience. Make checks payable to Living Faith. Donations will be totaled and split evenly between these two charities that work for feed those who are food insecure in our community.

The third edition of our Living Faith Christmas ornament is out on the sign up table for you! Thank you to Peg McAllister for opening up her crafting room to make these for Living Faith! One per family, please!

Why....YES! There's more!

Would you and/or your family like to help light the Advent wreath during this Advent season? John and Peg McAllister are helping on December 7th, but if you'd like to assist on another Sunday, just let Pastor Paige or Kay know!

Living Faith's Christmas program will take place on Sunday, December 14th. Items are needed as props for this program. Would you be able to lend us any of the following: 2 sets of extension cords, 3 flashlights plus one big flashlight, and 2 flat green bed sheets.

Let Kay know if you can supply any of these items.

There is still time to be a part of the Living Faith Christmas Choir! Let Kay know if you would like to sing with the group!

Noah's Ark preschool board is sponsoring a Drop and Shop event in the PUCC Fellowship Hall on Saturday, December 6th from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Parents can drop their children off at the church and have free time to do their Christmas shopping. If you would like to volunteer to help supervise this event, contact Alyssa Bendickson at alyssa.ahrensbendickson@gmail.com. This would be a great opportunity for students who need service hours.

The Deacons of the PUCC have a Giving Tree in the narthex with needs of individuals from the Pride Group Homes. If you would like to participate in this service project, take a tag from the tree, purchase the items, and return them to the PUCC office.

The Church Council will meet on Sunday, December 14th following the morning worship service.

The Celebration of Life for Kristy Pecks will take place on Saturday, December 6th from 3 - 5 PM at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home. Pastor Paige will preside over a private family committal service prior to the visitation. Living Faith extends their deepest sympathies to James and Megan DeMeuse and their family and the entire Pecks family.

Thank you to Karen Schroeder and Sharon Utesch for assisting the Church Council in putting up the Living Faith Christmas decorations last week!

THANK YOU! to everyone who is donating to our first Advent meal on Wednesday: Kari Kopperud, Kim Lang, Kay Michaelson, Karen Kass, Angela Catton, Sharon Utesch, Gail Kass, Sue Stream, Dawn Richards, June Ferguson, Rachel Cunningham, Peg McAllister, Karen Schroeder, and Sandy Heeren - it takes a village to create a walking taco!

Here's who's celebrating in December!

Birthdays:

Kjersten Rathke - December 1

Carol Hallberg - December 3

Rick Stream - December 10

Phil Kass - December 12

Eli Mack - December 13

Sandy Heeren - December 22

Peg McAllister - December 29

Katie McAllister - December 30

Baptismal Birthdays:

Dave Curry

Debbie Gibson - December 16

Kinley Van Otterloo - December 23

Calendar in Review

12/3 - 2:30 - Fluffing

12/3 - 6:00 - Advent Meal

12/3 - 7:00 - Advent Worship

12/6 - 9:30 - Tour of Steeples

12/6 - 3 - 5 - Celebration of Life for Kristy Pecks

12/7 - 11:00 - Worship

12/10 - 6:00 - Advent Meal

12/10 - 7:00 - Advent Worship

12/14 - 11:00 - Worship with Christmas program

12/14 - 3:00 - Christmas Caroling

12/14 - 5:00 - Soup Supper

12/17 - 6:00 - Advent Meal

12/17 - 7:00 - Advent Worship

12/17 - 7:30 - Christmas Choir rehearsal

12/21 - 10:30 - Christmas Choir rehearsal

12/21 - Worship with Christmas Choir

12/24 - 3:00 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

This week we pray for:

Kay Allen

Rick Stream

Travis Balt and the MOC-FV faculty, students and families

Pastor Trish Underberg

The Remsen St. Mary's girls' basketball team, coaches and families

The family of Kristy Pecks

Kathryn Albert

Marie Clinton

Jake and Ashley Ruhrer and family

Rod Hallberg

The Cherry Family

Marilynn

Ali

Pastor Paige Living Faith

The Living Faith brother or sister you are praying for