Written by Grayce Lamon, 13 years old, and member of the Clearwater Lake Church
On December 9th, 2023, the Seventh-day Adventist Churches of the Northwoods of Wisconsin had their District Sabbath at the Clearwater Lake Church. The district is made up of the Lakeland, Tomahawk, Rhinelander and Clearwater Lake Churches. A Christmas program was presented with performances from several members of all four of the churches.
Services started with an opening prayer by the district pastor, Eric Anderson. An offering call was made and this offering will be going to ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). The Scripture reading, Luke 2:8-14, was read by Stevan Bacon. The opening hymn, Away in a Manger, was sung by the congregation.
Todd Shroeckenthaler, a regular special music presenter at the Clearwater Lake Church, opened with the musical selection, Oh, Holy Night. He was followed by a reading by Ed Blotnicki, of the classic Christmas story called, The Christmas Rifle. Then Ingrid Decker stood to the plate, well, the piano, with a musical selection, The Birthday of a King.
Anita Blotnicki followed with the song, Heirlooms. Ken Caudill sang, O Come All Ye Faithful, as the congregation hummed along. Stevan Bacon then told the story titled, The Greatest Present of All. We were then to sing along with Jamie Bushor as he sang the hymn, As the Shepherds. Todd Schroekenthaler again sang at the piano, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.
Another classic hymn, Noel, was sung by Joleta Westbrook. Elder Ray Cress then recited the story, The Man and the Birds. The program closed with the congregation singing, We Gather Together, and the benediction by Pastor Anderson.
We then were dismissed and most attended the Christmas Fellowship meal in the church school basement. About 65 members from the four churches attended.
Grayce Lamon, Member of the Clearwater Lake Church