COUPLAND – On the Nov. 8 ballot, three Coupland City Council places were up for election. Incumbents Barbara Piper and John Roulston-Bates were reelected. The newly elected alderman is Russell Schmidt.
Coupland Civic Organization (CCO)
The CCO held its annual Halloween Trunk or Treat Sunday, Oct. 30, in front of St. Peter’s Church. Residents in costumes handed out treats from their decorated vehicles.
Thanks to the firefighters of the Coupland Volunteer Fire Department for bringing a fire engine that everybody enjoyed seeing. This holiday season marks the Second Annual Trail of Lights for Coupland. The CCO is again asking residents to line their property with white lights with colored lights elsewhere on the property. The lights are expected to be up by the first weekend of December.
Once again, CCO board member Jonathan Jones will decorate the Depot and Caboose. Each year, he adds more lights, increasing the impact of this centerpiece of the Trail of Lights.
This year, the CCO will host Santa Claus at the Depot to talk to children as their parents take their pictures. Santa will be in Coupland Sunday, Dec.
18, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Coupland School News
Coupland ISD’s school board placed a bond election on the November ballot for $56 million to build facilities to address the growth at the middle school. The student population has already outgrown the recent expansion of the school facilities.
The bond failed in a close election. A total of 541 votes were cast in the election, with 262 for and 279 against.
Superintendent Tammy Brinkman said, “The Coupland ISD board of trustees and I would like to thank our community for voting and letting your voice be heard. While the election results are not what we had hoped for, we will continue to provide highquality education for all students.” She added, “We know that Coupland will continue to develop, and student enrollment will continue to increase. Our facility challenges will not disappear, so the board and I are committed to partnering with you to come up with another plan.”
St. Peter’s Church of Coupland
Senior Luncheon co-chairs Lois Schmidt and Sandra Wernli note, “There were 62 senior citizens that attended our Thanksgiving luncheon including hostesses and helpers. It was a great day. Donations for the Thanksgiving meal were greatly appreciated.”
Hostesses and hosts were Sandra and Don Wernli, Becky Sutton, Charlotte Albert, Cindy and Jim Alexander, Hermania Vitek, Bonnie Sladek, Janet Doss, Jack Piper, Schmidt, and Joyce and Arthur Henze.
Helpers were Wanda Walther, JoAnn Ging, and Teddy Wittliff.
Schmidt adds, “Thanks to Cindy Wood and Joyce Henze for calling bingo. There were lots of bingo players and three tables of ‘42’ dominoes.
Pastor Charles Stark provided the blessing and announcements. Thanks to everyone who helped us with the Thanksgiving meal in any way.”
The next luncheon will be Jan. 17, at 11:30 a.m.
Schmidt says, “Come join us in the new year. If you would like to play Bingo, please bring a prize of under $10. ‘42’ Dominoes will be played.”
On Tuesdays the Coffee Connections group meets at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room.
The annual Totenfest was held Sunday, Nov. 20. Stark says, “As part of the service, we read the names of our members who have passed away since the last Totenfest, rang the bell, and observed a moment of silence.”
Nov. 27 will mark the hanging of the greens to prepare the church for Christmas.
Doreen Streit announced, “St. Peter’s is sponsoring the Angel Tree Project again this year.
We do three gifts for each individual.”
Gift tags are in the back of the church Sunday, Nov. 27.
Streit adds, “When you select your tags from the sign-up sheet, please write your name and phone number in the block of the associated tags. Please return the wrapped gifts with the tag attached by Sunday, Dec. 11. This date is very important for coordination with the school and fire department.”
If you have questions, please contact Doreen at [email protected] or 512-659-3625.
Everyone is welcome at St. Peter’s worship services at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays.
For more information, email [email protected] or go to the website stpeterscoupland. org and click on the calendar link at the top to see all the church events.
New Sweden Church
Barbara Carisalez announces the New Sweden Lutheran Church Sunday School schedule, “Adult Sunday school is at 9:15 a.m. and youth/ children’s Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m.” She adds, “Bible studies continue with ladies Bible study the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Tuesdays in the morning at 10:30.”
The New Sweden Heritage Center is open for visitors by appointment. For more information, call 512-964-1689.
Thanksgiving Eve Service was held Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m.
All are welcome at the New Sweden upcoming holiday activities. For a festive day, come to New Sweden Dec. 3 to decorate the church and set up the Christmas tree.
Refreshments will be served.
Terry Ramm says, “The New Sweden WELCA invites all ladies to join us for Delights of December, Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Join us for some holiday festivities and socializing and a catered luncheon.” She adds, “Come and explore the beautiful tables that will be decorated by our ladies with their individual inspirations.”
Bring an ornament to hang on the tree for the ornament exchange.
Tickets are $12 and available for purchase through Sunday, Dec. 4 from Ramm, 512-6192249, or the church office, 512-281-0056.
She concludes, “You do not have to be a member of this church to come and join us for some good old-fashioned fun.”
Sankta is Swedish for Saint, and the Sankta Lucia celebration and the Christmas sing-along will be held Dec. 11, at 7 p.m.
Sankta Lucia is remembered for her sacrificial giving to the poor and her devotion to Christ.
In Sweden, Sankta Lucia Day, celebrated Dec. 13, heralds the arrival of the Christmas season. She is celebrated each year at New Sweden. The candlelight Christmas Eve Service will be held at 7 p.m. with the Swedish tradition of Julotta Service on Christmas morning at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast in the Parish Hall.
New Sweden Church is at 12809 New Sweden Church Road. For information, go to newswedenchurch@ gmail.com and www.newswedenelca.org.
Type Church
Pastor Terrence Kennedy’s sermons can be seen on Type Church’s Facebook page, facebook. com/type.church.1. The Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m.
For the children, Type has Children’s Church and a nursery. Everyone is welcome to participate in Communion, which is the first Sunday of each month. Type Church is at 1200 County Road 466, about five miles eastsoutheast of Coupland.
For more information, email Kennedy at [email protected] or call him at 512-599-7761.
Coupland Volunteer Fire Department
The firefighters have a warning about space heaters – please take great care with them.
They have seen several house fires started by space heaters over the past few years. Never plug them into an extension cord, and never use them if they have been damaged. Don’t leave kids or pets alone in rooms with them and keep them at least three feet away from anything flammable.
Training is very important to fire service. In November, the firefighters ran through a dozen training evolutions, practicing interior fire attack and vehicle fires. Thanks to the Pflugerville Fire Department, who allows neighboring agencies with their own certified instructors to use their burn field.
Hermann Sons Christmas Party
Hermann Sons Life Coupland will meet Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. at the Coupland Fire Station for its meeting and Christmas party. All members are encouraged to attend; please bring snacks to share. For more information, please call President Lena Ging, at 512-468-0072.
