OFFICIAL ACTS
Baptisms	1	Millie Joy Baumann (12/19/21)
Confirmations	1	Dylan Lohman (12/19/21)
Weddings	0
Funerals	0

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Good Shepherd Preschool

Over 125 attended our Annual Christmas Service. Sharing the story of Jesus' Birth at this Service is a highlight of Christmas for me. Experiencing the story through the eyes of our kids is a true gift.

Thanks to all who attended! It takes a village to make this night happen. Our appreciation and thanks to Mrs. Bailey and Henry Bailey, Keith Ramthun, Russell Baumann, Kathi Strahl, Faith Mayville, Terri Zeller, and Bryan Grimm. We appreciate your help and support.

Blessings to all our kids and their families for a Christmas filled with the Joy of the Angels on that First Holy Night.

Blessings for a New Year filled with His Peace,
  ~ Ellen Grimm

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Love Family News

Happy New Year! We will continue to provide meals for our shut ins this year along with meeting occasional family needs. This month is a meal from a local restaurant for the shut ins - if you would like to help with the cost just add it to your envelope and mark it "love family"! Thank you!

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Sunday School News

It's hard to believe another year has gone by. It's been great! So happy we have been able to do so many activities again this past year.

VBS, Sunday School Christmas Program, Christmas Parade and our first Trunk or Treat, etc…

Looking forward to an even better 2022!

Our Sunday School Team has done many fun things to enhance the children's learning experience. Our teachers are truly talented and amazing. They incorporate crafts, videos, visuals, so the kids grasp the lesson in a big way. I am blessed and grateful to be working with so many wonderful ladies. We could really use extra help with the preschool and kindergarten group. Please consider joing us and experience the joy of working with the kids. No degree needed.

Mark your calendars:

• 1/02/22 - No Sunday School ~ Happy New Year!
  
• 1/09/22 - "Rally Day"!!!!!
  
• 1/16/22 - Back to Sunday School Hope Your year is blessed!
  

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Men's Bible Study

The Men's Bible Study will begin on Monday, January 3, 2022, at 8:30am. The study of 1st & 2nd Samuel. Samuel was an elderly prophet and leader of the nation of Israel. 1 Samuel is not just for would-be-leaders but for Christians in every station of life: Kingship, Sovereignty, and Obedience. The theme of 2nd Samuel portrays what any nation longs for in the leadership: Covenant, Grace, and Heart. Join us!

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Sub Sale

Sub Sandwich Sale Begins 1/9/22! $3 each or 6 for $15

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150th Anniversary News

The next meeting of the Anniversary Committee will be Monday, January 10th, at 6:30 pm. Plans are coming together for our celebration and guess what, it's 2022, our anniversary year. The committee has been hard at work formalizing plans for the year beginning on May 8th, when Pastor Russ Johnson will be joining us with one worship service at 10:00 am, followed tentatively with a brunch and then a dedication of our Hall of History that will be located downstairs across from the church offices. Activities are being planned for the second Sunday of each month, with just one service of celebration, May through October concluding with an Octoberfest celebration on October 9th, with Pastor Paul Gashler conducting the service that day. There is lots of work to be done and if you would like to help out in any way, please come to our December meeting. We would be glad to have you.

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1st Sunday Freewill Offering for 150th

We will continue collecting a Freewill Offering on the 1st Sunday of each month! All of the donations will be used for the 2022 150th Anniversary Celebration!

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Directory Committee

Can you help? We are looking for 3 more people to join our 150th anniversary "directory" committee. We are doing it on our own…!!

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Coming Soon ~ Women's Retreat, March 11th & 12th

We will gather socially on Friday, March 11th, and get to know Brenda, our speaker. Saturday, March 12th, we will study and grow together. Please save the date and share with your family & friends
What is Run Hard Rest Well? A Rest That Works

"Run Hard. Rest Well." is the battle cry of women on the front lines of COVID comeback and recovery. Run Hard. Rest Well. makes rest simple and strategic because God made it sacred, and through it He fuels His work in us and through us. Vibrancy transpires in hearts, homes, and churches when God's people run with passion and rest on purpose - routinely refueled, refreshed, and replenished. Too many have grown accustomed to "running on empty," forfeiting their best self and shortchanging those they lead, love, and serve. A Rest That Works introduces no-cost, high-yield restorative rhythms that equip women to navigate 24/7 from a place of strength, transformation, and joy.

A little information about our speaker: Brenda Jank

As a catalyst for personal and organizational change, Brenda is high energy and story driven, equipping God's people to explore transformative rhythms of work and rest for themselves and those they lead, love, and serve. Founder of Run Hard. Rest Well., Brenda speaks from coast to coast and is a thought leader in the arena of Restorative Wellness. She is also the mother of five of the finest, feistiest children ever assembled under one roof. Brenda and her family live in Indiana where her husband, Tim, has been the Executive Director of Camp Lutherhaven for 28 years. Learn more at www.RunHardRestWell.org

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Happy New Year from your Thrivent Whitehall Office!!

Charitable Contributions from IRAs

Did you know that, if you are at least 70 ½ years old, you can make tax-free charitable donations directly from your IRA? By making what's called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), you can benefit your favorite charity (for example your church) while excluding up to $100,000 annually from gross income. These gifts, also known as "charitable IRA rollovers," would otherwise be taxable IRA distributions

How do I make a Qualified Charitable Distribution?

In order to make a QCD, you simply instruct your IRA trustee to make a distribution directly from your IRA (other than SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) to a qualified charity. The distribution must be one that would otherwise be taxable to you. It must go directly from your IRA to your charity of choice.

To learn more about Charitable IRA Contributions and how QCDs work, contact the Thrivent Whitehall office at 231-894-8886 or email whitehalloffice@thrivent.com

Marci Bentz and Tony DeNicolo, your Thrivent Financial Advisors

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5 ways to care for caregivers

These meaningful gestures can go a long way
By Anya Britzuis

It's challenging to be a caregiver. And it's especially difficult during the pandemic, when people may not be comfortable with in-person activities. If you want to provide support to a caregiver, here are some ideas of how you can help.

1. Listen without judgment
From heartfelt conversations to simple text messages, let caregivers know you are there for them. Provide emotional support by being a trusted confidante. Offer your thoughts when they ask.

2. Pamper them
Take them out to lunch or give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant or for services at a salon or spa. Go shopping or go on a walk around the neighborhood. Look for ways to give them time to practice self-care regularly.

3. Tackle their to-do lists
Whether it's grocery shopping, driving kids to activities or doing a couple of loads of laundry, ask if these are practical tasks (big or small) you can help with.

4. Help them feel included
It's easy for caregivers to feel isolated. Set up a virtual happy hour or book club meeting with the caregiver and other friends. Even if they can't attend, they will appreciate the thought. Make sure your invitations come without pressure.

5. Start a meal train
Coordinate a group of people to drop off meals at the caregiver's house Some meals can be frozen for later.

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Online Service Directions!

How to watch our services online step by step: on Facebook Live on Sundays at 8:15 am

1. In the top search bar... Go to https://www.facebook.com/stjamesmontague/videos
   (You do not need to have a Facebook account page to access this)
2. Close the popup box asking to login to your Facebook account.
3. Scroll down through the Facebook page until you come across the most recent videos
4. Click on the Live video of the church service.
5. Explore the rest of the Facebook page and watch other videos. 😊

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Reminder

If you are unable to fulfill your assigned duty, please make arrangements with someone before or after you on the list. Thanks!

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Funeral Families

If we have a funeral, Faith Mayville, our Luncheon Coordinator will contact you for help. Each funeral luncheon requires table/chair set up, food donations, food servers (kitchen staff), and table/chair take down. Faith will let you know what is needed.