| The Giese Christmas Letter 2006 2 |
Rachel began her senior year at Luther College. She plans to
receive her B.A. degree next spring with a major in Art and
minor in Theater Dance. She's still holding onto her music
scholarship by playing trumpet Luther’s in jazz band. We
are, of course, biased, but we think she’s good. We’ve put
one of the band’s numbers on our web site if you want to get
a taste of her playing:
http://www.1stfamily.org/LutherJazz061108a.html
receive her B.A. degree next spring with a major in Art and
minor in Theater Dance. She's still holding onto her music
scholarship by playing trumpet Luther’s in jazz band. We
are, of course, biased, but we think she’s good. We’ve put
one of the band’s numbers on our web site if you want to get
a taste of her playing:
http://www.1stfamily.org/LutherJazz061108a.html
1st Lutheran Ogema celebrated its 125th Anniversary on
September 23-24. Many of the former pastors and/or spouses
came and we had a great picnic and heard stories about the
past and a great message from Bishop Bob Berg for our
special joint service.
September 23-24. Many of the former pastors and/or spouses
came and we had a great picnic and heard stories about the
past and a great message from Bishop Bob Berg for our
special joint service.
In late October Bob joined a group of eight on a mission
trip to New Orleans. They spent the week mucking out a
house to get it ready for rebuilding. It was tiring but
rewarding work and the group came back motivated to get
more people involved in restoring the homes of people in
that hurricane devastated area. It’ll take years, and it’s
clear that if we church people don’t do it, no one will.
trip to New Orleans. They spent the week mucking out a
house to get it ready for rebuilding. It was tiring but
rewarding work and the group came back motivated to get
more people involved in restoring the homes of people in
that hurricane devastated area. It’ll take years, and it’s
clear that if we church people don’t do it, no one will.
Things are going well at both
First Ogema and First Westboro.
We had a great VBS with kids
coming out of the woods (not the
woodwork up here) topped off by
a joint worship service at
Mondeaux Dam park that had
nearly twice as many worshipers
than last year. Our float put
together by the Confirmation
class and several tireless adults
won first place in the Christmas
Tree Festival parade. Our fall and
hunter suppers were great
successes, bringing hundreds of
people through the doors for
food and fellowship. On
Reformation Sunday we received
numerous new members at both
congregations. It’s been exciting
to see the pews fill up more and
more as some have returned to
worship and new members have
found us. You can find more
about our ministry at the two
First Lutherans by going to the
parish website at
http://www.1stfamily.org.
First Ogema and First Westboro.
We had a great VBS with kids
coming out of the woods (not the
woodwork up here) topped off by
a joint worship service at
Mondeaux Dam park that had
nearly twice as many worshipers
than last year. Our float put
together by the Confirmation
class and several tireless adults
won first place in the Christmas
Tree Festival parade. Our fall and
hunter suppers were great
successes, bringing hundreds of
people through the doors for
food and fellowship. On
Reformation Sunday we received
numerous new members at both
congregations. It’s been exciting
to see the pews fill up more and
more as some have returned to
worship and new members have
found us. You can find more
about our ministry at the two
First Lutherans by going to the
parish website at
http://www.1stfamily.org.
For the first time in years we didn’t host
Thanksgiving dinner. Instead we traveled to
Oshkosh, were Jo’s brother Paul and family
(Tamara, Paul Jr. and Nathan) deep fried a
turkey and hosted the feast.
Thanksgiving dinner. Instead we traveled to
Oshkosh, were Jo’s brother Paul and family
(Tamara, Paul Jr. and Nathan) deep fried a
turkey and hosted the feast.
If you received a link from Bob leading you to
this on-line Christmas letter, you will probably
not receive a print copy in the mail. Bob's
trying to save a tree or two. If you’d like to
receive a print copy, let Bob know at
rjgiese@gmail.com. If you do not contact
him, he'll assume you prefer to get our
Christmas letters on line.
this on-line Christmas letter, you will probably
not receive a print copy in the mail. Bob's
trying to save a tree or two. If you’d like to
receive a print copy, let Bob know at
rjgiese@gmail.com. If you do not contact
him, he'll assume you prefer to get our
Christmas letters on line.
Next year will bring another life milestone for
us all. Rachel and Joe have set Saturday,
August 18 as their wedding date. Think early
afternoon and picnic in the national forest as
you make your plans to join us. Weather
permitting the ceremony and reception will be
at Mondeaux Dam Lodge picnic area in the
Chequamegon/Nicolet National Forest just
west of Westboro. We’ll be sending out
official invitations and more details when we
know them, but set aside the date right now.
us all. Rachel and Joe have set Saturday,
August 18 as their wedding date. Think early
afternoon and picnic in the national forest as
you make your plans to join us. Weather
permitting the ceremony and reception will be
at Mondeaux Dam Lodge picnic area in the
Chequamegon/Nicolet National Forest just
west of Westboro. We’ll be sending out
official invitations and more details when we
know them, but set aside the date right now.
May God bless
you this
Advent/Christmas
season and grant
you a joyous new
year.
Peace and Joy!
Bob, Jo &
Rachel Giese
you this
Advent/Christmas
season and grant
you a joyous new
year.
Peace and Joy!
Bob, Jo &
Rachel Giese
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| Rachel & Joe in Guadalupe National Park |
If you'd like to view and read Bob's Christmas letter to the
congregations, go to http://www.1stfamily.org/ov061203.html.
congregations, go to http://www.1stfamily.org/ov061203.html.
| All Photos in this letter copyright 2006 Bob Giese |
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