Lake George Lutheran Chapel December, 2017 Newsletter

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Mark Cooper
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1 Lake George Lutheran Chapel December, 2017 Newsletter Proclaiming Jesus, the Living Water Dear Friends in Christ, From Your Pastor This is the time of year when families are doing a lot of traveling. The old Christmas song reminds us of going over the river and through the woods to grandfather s house. In reflecting about traveling places, I am reminded of our travel experiences with young children. Most parents traveling with young children have heard the complaint, Are we there yet? The other question is How much longer? I once heard someone give an answer that I adopted with our children: Twenty minutes! No matter whether we were an hour away, or 30 minutes away, I always gave the same answer: Twenty minutes! The month of December may bring that question to your mind as we look forward to celebrating Christmas. For little children, it may seem as if it will never come. For older and busier adults (like me!!), it may seem like it is coming faster and faster! No matter what age we are, we likely have asked ourselves, How much longer? Throughout the ages, people asked again and again how much longer until the coming of the Messiah. But God also was asking the same question of his people. And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? (Numbers 14:11) How often does God ask this about each of us? Do we heed God s word and embrace his commands? It is with this thought in mind, that we also begin our cry to God to send the promised Messiah, the Savior, Jesus Christ! Jesus has come. This is what our Christmas worship is all about. He has come to pay the price for all our sins. He has come to give us the great gift of a heavenly home. He has come to bless us with the joy of resurrection! Now our cry of How much longer? is a cry of anticipation at His second coming to take us to be with Him forever! In the meantime, we wait. Waiting is good. It gives us time to reflect on what is ahead. (Think about waiting for the Thanksgiving meal as you sit and smell everything cooking!) In the church, we call this season of waiting. It is a time when we prepare for the celebrating of Jesus birth as well as anticipate His second coming. We sing familiar advent hymns like this one: O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!. Jesus has come to Israel and to us. He will come again. Savor the wait!!! Pastor Easterday

2 Well Done Thou Good And Faithful Servant For a good number of years, Arnie and Velda Dose have been actively involved in the life of Lake George Lutheran Chapel. On November 11, 2017, Arnie finished the race in faith and received the crown of eternal life. I was blessed to know Arnie for a little over two years. During that time, I learned to appreciate his little quips and jokes. He might have been late for a council meeting because he had to sweep the fish off his pier. Or he may have been trying to save the church some money by suggesting that we all wear our winter coats in church so we can turn the heat down. He always had a twinkle in his eyes as he said these things. Arnie served in a variety of capacities over the years. He was chairman of the congregation. He was the long-time treasurer. He also used to help with mowing back when the church mowers were a lot smaller. And he built a number of things for the church using his carpentry skills. He built the cupboards in the pantry. He made the two tables that sit beside the altar and the two small tables for the communion cup baskets. He made the stand for the guest register. He made the aisle candle holders that we just put up last week. He also made the Christ candle holder and the advent wreath that sits on it. Of all the things he made, he said he especially enjoyed the challenges of this wreath because it had so many different angles to cut. Ultimately, while Arnie did so much for the congregation, it was what Jesus did for him that mattered most. When I visited him a week before he passed away, Arnie wondered aloud whether he would be able to go to church again. This is where he received the blessing of forgiveness of sins and the promise of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus. I give thanks for the time I had to know Arnie. But I especially give thanks that Arnie had saving faith in Jesus Christ! So, like Jesus in his parable of the talents, we also say, Well done, good and faithful servant! Pastor Easterday Worship Schedule- December/January December 3 First Sunday In As we begin this time of preparation for the birth of Jesus, we are reminded to be awake! (Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 12:24-37) **December 6 Midweek Service The first of our three midweek services focuses on putting on the light! (Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-15, Matthew 24:36-44) December 10 Second Sunday In The Prophet Isaiah reminded us of God s word, Comfort, comfort my people We gather to hear God s word of comfort that was announced by the prophets, prepared by John the Baptist, and fulfilled in Jesus! ** December 13 Midweek Service The second of our midweek services considers the power of many lights together. (Isaiah 1:1-11, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12) December 17 Third Sunday In The sixth month was important to the Virgin Mary as Gabriel came to her with the news that she would give birth to a Son. (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38) **December 20 Midweek Service This week we consider a light with a special purpose. (Isaiah 7:10-17, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25) December 24 Christmas Eve We gather to hear the Christmas story read among the Christmas carols that repeat this wondrous message in song.

3 December 31 New Year s Eve First Sunday After Christmas As we conclude the calendar year, we are reminded of two people who had been waiting for the consolation of Israel. They were blessed to hold and see the infant Jesus as Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple to present Him to the Lord. (Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40) January 7 Epiphany (Celebrated) We begin a series of messages with the concluding question, What good is it? Today we address this: The Light- What good is it? Epiphany is a great time to be led by the light to the Light, Jesus Christ! (Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12) January 14 Baptism of Jesus (Celebrated) This week we consider this: Baptism- What good is it? We will have the opportunity to be renewed in our baptism as we consider the baptism of Jesus. (Genesis 1:1-5, Romans 6:1-11, Mark 1:4-11) January 21 3 rd Sunday After The Epiphany This week we consider this: Repentance- What good is it? Jonah preached and the people repented. Jesus also preached repentance. Today we consider it in our life and relationship with Jesus. (Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-35, Mark 1:14-20) January 28 4 th Sunday After The Epiphany We conclude the What good is it? series with a look at The Voice of the Prophet- What good is it? (Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28) Christmas Caroling We will go caroling on Sunday, December 10. We ll meet at the church at 11:30 a.m. and make a few home visits, then go to Angola for lunch before a visit to Lakeland Nursing Home. All are invited. Pastor Easterday will be treating for lunch!! (Formerly known as Worship For Shutins) December 3, 2017 First Sunday in Psalm: 80:1-7; Old Testament: Isaiah 64:1-7; Gospel: Mark 13:28-37 Do We or Don t We? - Sermon Text: Mark 13:29,33 Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer What Do We or Don t We know about the second coming of Jesus? How does what we know and don t know shape our daily lives? December 10, 2017 Second Sunday in Psalm: 80; Old Testament: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 The Trailblazer - Sermon Text: Mark 1:4 - Rev. James Elsner The life of a trailblazer is risky! It takes courage to do something new something that s right and good. John the Baptist was a bold trailblazer for Jesus. He shows us the way for making things new again! December 17, 2017 Third Sunday in Psalm: 126; Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Gospel: John 1:6-8, Good News for a Change! - Sermon Text: Isaiah 61:1-4, Rev. William Mueller In God's Word, we read how we will have troubles in this world, but God encourages us to take heart because He has overcome the world. It is true that we know all too easily how wicked this world can be. But God has good news for us good news of such a nature and to such an extent that our lives will forever be changed!

This story brings us comfort and joy, as we consider the way the announcement was made, what was announced, and how God prepared Mary for the role announced to her.

4 December 24, 2017 Fourth Sunday in Psalm: 89:1-5; Epistle: Romans 16:25-27; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 A Great Announcement - Sermon Text: Luke 1:26-38 Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III The angel Gabriel made a great announcement to Mary. This story brings us comfort and joy, as we consider the way the announcement was made, what was announced, and how God prepared Mary for the role announced to her. December 31, 2017 First Sunday after Christmas Psalm: 111; Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7; Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 Mother and Son - Sermon Text: Luke 2: Rev. Paul Shoemaker When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to Jerusalem Simeon confessed: "my eyes have seen Your salvation." Jesus is our salvation. He has come to "redeem those who were under the Law." Birthdays- December *Yolonda Gonom (12-05) Mike Saalfrank (12-08) Todd Scherer (12-16) Jeff Smith (12-29) *Summer Friend Anniversaries- December Don & Rene Scheimann (12-08) Jim & Robin Bertram (12-30) New Organ Installed We were fortunate to procure a newer organ to replace the organ that had been in use at the church for a number of years. You may wonder how the organ gets up to the balcony. Here are a few pictures that show how that happens. The organ is positioned on the lift ready to be raised to the balcony. Mike Saalfrank guides the organ as it ascends to the balcony. Thank you, Yogi, Mike, and Cory, for your good work!!!

5 Shutins Remember our shut-ins with cards of encouragement! Esther Hein 440 Lane 201 Lake Pleasant Fremont, IN Ruth Lehman Lakeland Skilled Nursing And Rehab 500 N. Williams Street Angola, IN Earnie Pfeiffer 527 Harbaugh Drive Coldwater, MI Todd Scherer Grand Station Drive Fort Wayne, IN Membership Information Weekly Attendance Average- Year to date /week (48 weeks) /week (48 weeks)

At Home with the Word

At Home with the Word 2017 2018 Daily Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary November 27 December 3, 2017 Monday Isaiah 64:1-9 Tuesday Psalm 80:1-7 Wednesday Psalm 80:17-19 Thursday 1 Corinthians