Decorating Church for the Holidays - NEW DATE!! In the hope to increase the number of workers to assist in decorating the church for the Christmas season, the Key Women will be decorating on Sunday, November 22nd after the worship service. Soup and sandwiches will be served just before we begin putting up the trees and displaying the ornaments. We would welcome any suggestions and ideas for a new Christmas look for our sanctuary. Please save this date, November 22nd, to enjoy the fellowship of our congregation.

Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 10:30AM before the start of worship.

Agenda items: Proposed 2010 Budget for vote of approval and Nomination and election of council members for 2010-2011.

Please contact President Mike Peters or Deacon Charley if you have any questions.

Budget News: The proposed budget for 2010 will be presented to the Council at their next meeting on November 19th. Council will review and make a recommendation for a budget to be presented to the congregation for final approval. The proposed budget will be mailed to members of the congregation, who are in good standing, with the notice of the Congregational meeting.

‘A CELEBRATION OF CAROLS’ presented by Carroll County Singers, December 1st at 7:30 PM, Westminster High School. Tickets are $5

A Community Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, November 22 at 7PM at Emmanuel Baust Church of Christ.

Our Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service - Thursday, December 24th beginning at 9:00PM. Come and celebrate with us as we welcome our Lord and Savior Jesus into the world.

Key Women will be meeting on Monday, November 16th at 7:15PM. Agenda includes the holiday schedule including decorating the church, our needy families, and the White Gift Service. We encourage all ladies to attend to learn about the mission of Key Women in the daily activities of the Church.

Christmas Poinsettias: Red poinsettias are being ordered again this year to decorate the sanctuary for the holiday season. The deadline to order poinsettias will be December 16th. Dedications of these plants may be made in honor or in memory of an individual or individuals. Purchase and dedication forms will be available in the church bulletin after Thanksgiving. Poinsettias may be taken home in January 2010. For more information, or to order a poinsettia and make a dedication, please contact Donna Roop, 410.756.2172

Rally Day was a smashing success this September! After an entertaining program in the sanctuary, everyone headed outside for more fellowship and fun. The Lord gave us great weather to enjoy hula-hooping, hot dogs, and moon-bouncing. Please join us each Sunday for Children’s Church during the Service, and adult Sunday School starting at 9:30 a.m.

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, several gifts given to Keysville Lutheran Church were dedicated during the Church service:

Sanctuary candles were dedicated in memory of Ruth Wilhide; In memory of D. E. Copeland, a liturgy rack was installed in the Vestibule and given by his family; and

Three items were given by the Key Women of Keysville Lutheran Church in dedication of three ladies who served our congregation with outstanding merit: in memory of Pauline Valentine, a cross is displayed at the entrance of the Educational Wing, in memory of Betty Flohr, a banner of Jesus as a shepherd is displayed in the Educational Wing entrance, in memory of Ruth Wilhide, a picture of Jesus and children will be displayed in her old Sunday School room in the lower level of the Educational Wing.

Since many of our members are now using email, we would like to collect these email addresses to load in our Power Church program. Please send an email to Ellie Geiman at egeiman@mcdaniel.edu. This would be secure and no other entity would have access because it is not an online program.

Treasurer’s Notes: The importance of giving money is not to be the main focus for a church, but it is still important. Any contributions to the Property account would be appreciated since we have used this account heavily in recent years. If you wish your contribution to be recorded for 2009, please have your funds to me by December 31st. Contribution statements for 2009 will mail on January 11, 2010. If you need to contact me, please call 410-756-2267 or email egeiman@mcdaniel.edu

The Shepherd's Staff organization provides a support center for the needy of Carroll County. From their website "Our programs are simple, concentrating on the smaller kindnesses that are needed in our everyday living and that are many times forgotten in the larger scheme of need."

The Key Women would like to offer our support. We will be collecting can goods and non-perishable food items but cash donations are also accepted. Collection containers are located in the educational wing of the church and items will be collected until November 22nd. During the holiday season, reaching out to the less fortunate is a way to minister to others.

Success Again!! Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated with our fundraiser and Annual Yard Sale held on Saturday, October 3rd. Many hours were spent preparing for the big day, and we had great weather and a generous crowd that day.

Combined sales of yard sale items and food $2,624.15

Matching funds from Thrivent $1,020.00

Total profit $3,644.15

The Key Women wish to thank our congregation, Thrivent and the Keysville community for their support. A big thank you to those who assisted with packing up what we were not able to sell and gave to Goodwill of Westminster for donation.

The Giving Tree continues to be a tradition for Keysville Lutheran Church. The Key Women will sponsor a family and an individual this year, and we will continue to use gift cards as our way to offer support. The Giving Tree will be displayed November 22nd and decorated with tags for various stores and restaurants in our area. Please select as many gift tags as you can and return the cards to the collection box under the tree by Sunday, December 13th. The amount of the gift card is up to you, but please indicate the dollar amount on the card.

White Gift Service, Sunday, December 6 at 7:00 PM: Join your church family for a time of celebration and fellowship. Come and encourage the young people of our church as they perform several musical selections for your enjoyment called "Tell Me the Story of Jesus." Refreshments and fellowship

following the service & Donations of cookies are welcomed. Gifts and Cash donations will be collected for Springfield Hospital Center.