COME, LORD JESUS! - As Immanuel
 This time of year it is so easy to get caught up in the beautiful trappings of Christmas and forget why this birth had to take place. Mankind fell into sin. Sin brings an awful burden. Hatred and oppression. Suffering and pain. Guilt and shame. The devastation of death. These are all natural consequences of sin. And what can we do about any of it? Nothing of substance. We can numb ourselves to pain, but we cannot avoid it. We can fill our life with distractions in an attempt to forget about our guilt. But our conscience is always nagging. And death… no one avoids that.
Man can do nothing to shake off the burden of sin. Therefore, the Church prays that God would come in power to remove that burden for us. Since the Garden, there has been only one plan to do that: God would take on flesh and blood. To do what mankind could not do—remove all the burdens of sin—God became man. When you look into the manger, what do you see? A baby? Yes. But, more. That is Immanuel, “God-with-us.” The Son of God became Mary’s son, so that he could do for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Join us this Sunday, as we hear, ponder, and celebrate the truth of Immanuel. And make plans to join us for all of the upcoming holiday services (see below).
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Prayer Requests
Please keep the following in your prayers:
- Our Christmas Outreach, as we invite others to Christmas worship.
- The Pastor whom the Lord called through our congregation to serve as Associate Pastor for Youth and Outreach.
- Brian Werth, who continues to wait for a kidney transplant
- Jeff Theimer, who suffered a major heart attack yesterday
RLS Christmas Service
Join us tonight, December 16, at 6:30 pm, as the students of Riverview will be presenting The Birth Of Jesus: A Christmas Cantata. The service will be held in the activity center. Doors open at 6:00 pm.
Divine Call Extended
A divine call was extended this past Monday for a man to serve as Associate Pastor at Riverview. To give him time to announce it to his congregation, his name is not being shared here but will be announced on Sunday. Please keep him, his current ministry, and his family in your prayers, as he determines where best to use his gifts to serve our Savior.
Share the Good News of our Savior's Birth!
 The Christmas season is a time when many people might be open to a personal invitation to worship. Think about friends or family who don't regularly attend a church (if you don't know, ask!). Pray for them and for the opportunity to invite them. We now have business cards available with our Christmas service times on them to use as you invite them. Take as many as you want!
Holiday & Sunday Worship Times
Below is our worship schedule for the upcoming holidays and surrounding Sundays. There will be no Sunday Bible Study or Sunday School on December 25 or January 1. There will be no Monday Bible Study or Bible Basics Class on December 26 or January 2.
- RLS Christmas Service - December 16 - 8:30 am & 6:30 pm
- 4th Sunday in Advent - December 18 - 8:00 & 10:30 am (Sunday School & Bible Study 9:20 am)
- Christmas Eve Worship - December 24 - 3:30 & 6:30 pm
- Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion - December 25 - 9:30 am
- New Year's Eve Worship with Holy Communion - December 31 - 3:30 pm
- 1st Sunday after Christmas - January 1 - 9:30 am
- 1st Sunday after Epiphany - January 8 - 8:00 & 10:30 am (Bible Study & Sunday School resume)
Sunday Scrip Sales
Scrip Gift Cards will be available for sale in the office between services this Sunday. Stop by to pick up some gifts for the holidays. Contact the office to order scrip during the week. There will be no scrip sales on Sunday, December 25, or Sunday, January 1.
College & Military Addresses Needed
Riverview would like to remember our college students and those serving in the military with care packages this Christmas and other encouragement throughout the year. If you or your child fall into one of those categories, please contact the church office with your contact info (school/branch, address, phone, email) or complete this form as soon as possible! Thank you!
Offering Envelopes
Offering envelopes for 2023 have been placed in member mailboxes. Please pick yours up soon. God bless our giving back to him the first and the best of all that he has given to us!
69th Wedding Anniversary
With God’s blessing, Dean and Gertie Wink will be celebrating 69 years together on December 26th. Their family encourages anyone who knows them to please join in celebrating on their special day at Riverview Lutheran Church from 2:00-4:00 PM. This celebration will include vow renewal, hymn sing-along, social with light refreshments. Your presence would indeed be the greatest gift of all. Please RSVP to Julie Williams before December 18th @920-213-6828.
Serving this Weekend
8:00 Service
- Greeters - Hesse & D. VandenHeuvel Families
- Powerpoint Assistant - Emily Hesse
- Ushers - Tom Olson, Mark Diersen, Dave Fischer, Ben Jaeger, Linda Zwieg
10:30 Service
- Greeters - Prey Family
- Powerpoint Assistant - Ethan Melso
- Ushers - Dave Miller, Todd Blobe, Ryan Blobe, Jim Heiden, Bill & Linda Wenberg
Worship Times & Links
Sundays 8:00am (livestreamed), 10:30am
Fox Valley Lutheran High School Notes
- Do you enjoy baking? Consider making and donating homemade desserts (pies, cakes, tortes, candy) for Musicfest on February 5 Musicfest. Event proceeds benefit the FVL Music Program. Go to fvlhs.org/musicfest for details and to sign up.
- FVL Grads who were a part of the band program, please consider joining us for a special alumni band performance at Musicfest on Sunday, 2/5. Details and registration are at fvlhs.org/musicfest and registration deadline is 1/10.
- Registration is open for boys in grades 7-8 for baseball (registration closes 12/31). Go to fvlhs.org/youth-sports for details and to register.
- FVL is accepting applications for a part-time Custodian, a Guidance Assistant, and 1 maternity-leave substitute teacher. Go to fvlhs.org/about/employment for details.
- Information for the 2023 season for Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin (LVW), a WELS high school marching band, has been posted to its website. The season will begin with a rehearsal camp on Jan. 7-8 to be held at FVL. LVW is open to all WELS members in grades 8-12. The summer schedule, cost, registration procedures, and more can be found on the JOIN page. Go to lutheranvanguard.org or contact the LVW Executive Director James Neujahr at jneujahr@fvlhs.org.
- Transfer students can enroll for Semester 2 at FVL. Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@fvlhs.org or 920-560-5105 for details.
- Housing is needed for one male and one female student teacher from MLC from 2/26 through 5/6. Neither of them have any allergies or special dietary needs. Please contact Principal Nolte (principal@fvlhs.org) with questions or if you are able to help.
- FVL CHRISTMAS BREAK School & SCRIP Office Hours: Thurs., 12/22 – Wed., 1/4 – All Offices Closed (including Guidance) Thurs., 1/5 – Regular School & SCRIP Office hours resume
- The FVL Choirs invite you to attend their annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, 12/18 at 1 PM. The concert is free, and all are invited to join with the choirs as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. It will also be livestreamed on the FVLHS YouTube Channel.
- Whether retirement is less than 5 years or more than 25 years from today, you have this special opportunity to hear from experts and get questions answered. Join us for the Retirement Planning seminar at FVL on Thursday, 1/19 at 6 PM. Go to fvlhs.org/seminar to register and get information.
Area WELS News
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Horns A Plenty Christmas is an organization that offers horn players young and old the opportunity to come together and perform Christmas music for the general public. Guest artists are featured as a way to encourage the education and growth of participants, as well as to add their talent to the performance. This year’s concert will be held in the Fox Valley Lutheran High School auditorium on December 17th at 2:00 pm. Admission is free. Special guest artist is Joe Cradler, a member of The President’s Own United States Marine Band. For more information, please visit their website at https://www.hornsaplentychristmas.com/.
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