Connecting People to Jesus A Congregation of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod

Transcription

1 Share 1. Did you have a favorite place where you celebrated Christmas as a child? Your home? Grandparents? What made it special? Is there a similar location for you today? 2. How did you unwrap Christmas gifts when you were growing up? A free-for-all? Take turns? Did someone play Santa and hand them out? Prayers of the Congregation Please contact the church office at if you would like someone added to the Prayer List. To place someone on the Telephone Prayer Chain contact Dianne Lohan at or Lianne Anderson at We thank the Lord that the picture ID cards that are so highly valued and so useful to the teachers and staff, though rather a complicated process to produce, are now completed. This week, please pray for the Kobon Living Word School at Mingam, for teachers Amos David and Augustin Kur, and for all the students. Reverend John and Maila Davies, Lutheran Bible Translators, Papua New Guinea Pray for Our Country, Our State, Our Leaders, Our Military: Evan Edison, Edward Miettinen and all the Military and their families Connecting People to Jesus A Congregation of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod Christ Lutheran Church and School is a 21st Century mission outpost where people are supported, equipped, and launched into ministry, acting locally and impacting ms.florio@christcm.org Study The purpose of this study is to help you take a deeper look at how Mary unwraps Christmas. 1. Take a look at Matthew 1 and Luke 1 and 2 and put together a sequence of Mary s elements of the nativity story. 2. Identify the key moments when God pushed her to trust Him in this incredible event. What are some lessons you can learn from Mary s experiences and how she grew in faith? 3. Read through Mary s Magnificat (Song) in Luke 1: Where does Mary set her focus? What mind-blowing discovery does she make about how she will be viewed from this time forward? How does she express her humility? What declarations of trust and faith does she make in God, no matter her circumstances? How does she connect her situation to the Messianic promises of the Messiah? Now, how remarkable does it seem to you that a young woman of 14 is able to put all these pieces together? That s some amazing spiritual insight! 4. Talk with your group about the dangers of allowing the traditions of the church to be equal to the Word of God. How has that issue obscured many of the simple Biblical teachings about Mary, her role, her life, and the lessons we can take from it? 5. The traditions of the Roman Catholic Church look to Mary as an intercessor, a person to whom people pray, asking her to intercede on their behalf with her son, Jesus. Take a look at the Hail Holy Queen prayer that follows. Note those sections which ask for her intercession. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen. 6. Throughout the Old Testament period, the people of Israel did not have direct access to God they went through the priests. There was even a curtain that hung between the people and the Holy of Holies where only the priest could go. At the moment of Jesus death on the cross something changed in the Temple that opened the way for each of us to have direct access to God. No human intercession has been required since. What happened: Matthew 27: The Bible teaches us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit serve to intercede for us before the Father. Take a look at two of those passages: 1 John 2:1; Romans 8: How do they do that? Support 1. What is the most important faith discovery you made as a result of this week s message and study? Is there a change called for? Is there a prayer to pray? Is there a conversation that you need to have with someone else as a result? 2. How can your group pray that this truth is best be realized in your life? PERSONAL Amburgey Family Dakota Becker Brian Clark Family Shannon Crogan Dustin Josh Freeman Geoff Robert Parish ILLNESS Art Cheryl Behrens Terry Brennan Thad Bower Delpha Cadogan Patrick Frericks Waynella Gonzalez Jim Gorsline Sr. JoAnn Guetzkow Julie Koonce Tom Ludtke Richard (Rick) Martin Pam McPhee David Moeschler Arlene Norcutt Krystal Norcutt Duane Rohmaller Denise Robb Betty Ruesler Rusty Dusty Sawran Mike Thornton Marjorie Tomko Marlene Weisheit Gertie Wiechmann Garth Wilson The Christ Lutheran Staff Lead Pastor ~ Associate Pastor ~ School Principal ~ Preschool Director ~ Parish Administrator ~ Director Of Children and Youth Ministry ~ Director of Local Mission/High School Youth ~ Music & Worship ~ Church Exec. Communications ~ Deployed Pastor, Montclair, CA. ~ Pastor Emeritus ~ Deployed Missionary ~ Worship Schedule 8:00 AM Traditional Worship 9:20 AM ** Special Equipping Hour Study 10:30 AM Contemporary Worship and Kid s Church Mike Gibson Glenn Shelton Caleb McFerran Kristie Flohra Karen Culp Emily Eltiste Dana Burkey Chris Peterson April Florio Lance Irey Joseph Strubbe John Davies - pastor.gibson@christcm.org - pastor.shelton@christcm.org - mr.mcferran@christcm.org - mrs.flohra@christcm.org - mrs.culp@christcm.org - miss.eltiste@christcm.org - miss.burkey@christcm.org - mr.peterson@christcm.org - ms.florio@christcm.org - pastor.irey@christcm.org - josephstrubbe@yahoo.com - Papua New Guinea Altar Flowers The flowers that grace the altar today are given to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Sunday, December 11, 2016 Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. Church ~ Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, California School ~ Fax ~

2 CHRIST WELCOMES YOU! We are delighted that you have chosen to worship with us at Christ Lutheran! Please check us out at for more information on all our ministries, missions and small groups. Need additional attention or direction? Give us a call in the church office and let us know how we can serve you! The Equipping Hour During December We offer several Bible studies and ChristCare classes throughout the week; mornings afternoons and evenings. Contact the church office ( ) if you would like more information please Pastor Mike pastor.gibson@christcm.org Sunday School Classes are from 9:20-10:20. We meet in room 103 for a Bible lesson and fun activity! All children age 3 (and potty-trained) through 5th grade are invited to join! Kid s Church continues during 10:30 worship every Sunday. Children, Junior High, High School & Young Adults Children s Ministry Today we continue our series through the Christmas story with story of Jesus' birth in that little town of Bethlehem! All children age 3 (and potty-trained) through 5th grade are invited to join us for Sunday School from 9:20-10:20 in room 103 and Kids Church during the 10:30am worship service in rooms 102 and 103. Kids Church participants will be brought back into worship prior to Communion. If you have questions about Children's Ministry, please contact Emily Eltiste at miss.eltiste@christcm.org. All Youth Join us tonight for our All Youth Christmas Carols and Cheer Christmas Party! We'll meet from 6-8pm for games, cookie decorating, Christmas carols and more! Youth in grades 5 through 12 are welcome to join. Wear your most festive Christmas outfit and don't forget a jacket! Questions? Contact Emily at miss.eltiste@christcm.org or Dana at miss.burkey@christcm.org. Confirmation This Sunday is "Family Week -- Home", lesson 12 in your confirmation binder. We will NOT meet at church, instead this lesson will be done with family at home. Next Sunday we'll meet in the youth room from 9:20-10:20am. For more information contact miss.burkey@christcm.org If you are new please register online by completing our medical release and information form at forms.htm. You can do so by scanning this QR code with your wireless device. CONTRIBUTION REPORT ~ CHURCH BUDGET ~ 12/4/16 Weekly Worship Weekly Offering Weekly Offering Offering Attendance Received Budget Variance 11/30 INC 12/4 358 $ 25,284 $ 28,150 $ - 2,866 Budgeted YTD $ 619,300 Offerings YTD $ 577,292 $ - 42,008 4 Those 2 Come Phase 2 Capital Campaign 12/04 Pledged $3,789,526 Rec d To Date $2,534,138 Bal. $1,255,388 Give Now: by scanning the QR code to the right with your wireless device, or through PayPal on our webpage:

3 What s Happening? Wednesday Advent Services: December 14th - Music and devotions from 5:00pm - 5:45pm in the Fireside Room, freewill offering dinner will be served from 6:00pm - 7:00pm in the gym, followed by the Church Christmas program in the Sanctuary from 7:00pm- 8:00pm. LAST CHANCE: Unique Christmas gifts benefiting Mission India Looking for beautiful, unique Christmas gifts that benefit a great cause? Today is your last chance to check out the photography of Marty Shubin, Elder at Christ Lutheran, available for sale after worship on the plaza. Pay what you want, and all proceeds will be directly donated to Mission India to make Jesus known to the people of India. Remember matching funds are available through the end of December. Wilson Christmas Party Volunteers Needed - Join us as we connect Wilson school families & west side churches with a fun Christmas community celebration! We'll celebrate with Christmas crafts, games and activities at Wilson Elementary School. Volunteers are needed for 1-hr shifts between 2 and 4pm. Setup and tear down volunteers are needed from 1-2 pm and 4-5 pm. Contact miss.burkey@christcm.org today to sign up! Want to work on your OUT? The OC Rescue Mission is in need of people to rock babies, care for small children, tutor and more. For more information contact Marley at marley.penalosa@rescuemission.org. Petal Pushing - If you are interested in helping to decorate floats for the Rose Parade a group will be going on Thursday, December 29, from 8:00-4:00. Please see or contact Kathy Steinfeld at if you are interested in going and/or have any questions. Local Mission Looking for other ways to express your OUT? Contact miss.burkey@chirstcm.org to learn more about how we live God s mission here in Costa Mesa. Zumba - Christ Lutheran; Mon. 6-7pm & Sat. 9-10am $4.00 per class contact Donna for additional information: dtodd1362@yahoo.com Volunteer Needed - We are looking for a volunteer to help out with the recording of weekly worship attendance. This is about an 1.5 hour weekly commitment. Please contact April if you are interested. Equipping Hour Class Information: New Member Orientation and The Basics - Conference Room 1 Pastor Mike Gibson leads this class each Sunday. Loving God With Your Mind - Rm 114 This study with Dr. Larry Vescera engages your mind, your heart, the Bible, theology, science, history, current events, and more. - Rm 112 Join Chris Bellew & Matt Williams in a Bible study. Dig deeper into the week's topic! Hymns that Jesus Sang - The Psalms - Library Former Christ Lutheran School Principal, Ed Stelling leads this class on selected Psalms. Effective Parenting in a Defective World Raising Kids is Tough...But God has a Plan Fireside room Facilitated by Christ Lutheran Caleb McFerran with an 8-session video series taught by Pastor Chip Ingram. There is a $7 cost for the workbook.

4 Mary Unwraps Christmas December 6, 2016 Most Protestants know far more about what they don t believe about Mary than what the Bible teaches about her. The most wonderfully blessed woman of all time Luke 1:46-49 The first true follower of Jesus Some Controversies Surrounding Mary Scripture only or Scripture and Tradition? Immaculate Conception Virginal Conception Luke 1:34 Perpetual Virginity Matthew 1:25 Mary Intercessor John 2:2-5 Mary a first-hand account, eyewitness Luke 1:1-4; 2:19, 51; John 19:26-27; Acts 1:12-14 Mary did you know... With God all things are possible. and 51 And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. Luke 2:19 A pondering that never ends how can this be? A rough start in marriage and parenting A widow A single mom A broken heart yet with a deep, deep joy Longing for a heavenly reunion #1: Keep your eyes always on the of God and hope in Christ! #2: I am your servant. May it be as you have said. Scan the QR code or simply download the YouVersion app on your phone. In the more options, select events and find Christ Lutheran Costa Mesa to follow the service in worship electronically.

5 Share 1. Did you have a favorite place where you celebrated Christmas as a child? Your home? Grandparents? What made it special? Is there a similar location for you today? 2. How did you unwrap Christmas gifts when you were growing up? A free-for-all? Take turns? Did someone play Santa and hand them out? Prayers of the Congregation Please contact the church office at if you would like someone added to the Prayer List. To place someone on the Telephone Prayer Chain contact Dianne Lohan at or Lianne Anderson at We thank the Lord that the picture ID cards that are so highly valued and so useful to the teachers and staff, though rather a complicated process to produce, are now completed. This week, please pray for the Kobon Living Word School at Mingam, for teachers Amos David and Augustin Kur, and for all the students. Reverend John and Maila Davies, Lutheran Bible Translators, Papua New Guinea Pray for Our Country, Our State, Our Leaders, Our Military: Evan Edison, Edward Miettinen and all the Military and their families Connecting People to Jesus A Congregation of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod Christ Lutheran Church and School is a 21st Century mission outpost where people are supported, equipped, and launched into ministry, acting locally and impacting ms.florio@christcm.org Study The purpose of this study is to help you take a deeper look at how Mary unwraps Christmas. 1. Take a look at Matthew 1 and Luke 1 and 2 and put together a sequence of Mary s elements of the nativity story. 2. Identify the key moments when God pushed her to trust Him in this incredible event. What are some lessons you can learn from Mary s experiences and how she grew in faith? 3. Read through Mary s Magnificat (Song) in Luke 1: Where does Mary set her focus? What mind-blowing discovery does she make about how she will be viewed from this time forward? How does she express her humility? What declarations of trust and faith does she make in God, no matter her circumstances? How does she connect her situation to the Messianic promises of the Messiah? Now, how remarkable does it seem to you that a young woman of 14 is able to put all these pieces together? That s some amazing spiritual insight! 4. Talk with your group about the dangers of allowing the traditions of the church to be equal to the Word of God. How has that issue obscured many of the simple Biblical teachings about Mary, her role, her life, and the lessons we can take from it? 5. The traditions of the Roman Catholic Church look to Mary as an intercessor, a person to whom people pray, asking her to intercede on their behalf with her son, Jesus. Take a look at the Hail Holy Queen prayer that follows. Note those sections which ask for her intercession. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen. 6. Throughout the Old Testament period, the people of Israel did not have direct access to God they went through the priests. There was even a curtain that hung between the people and the Holy of Holies where only the priest could go. At the moment of Jesus death on the cross something changed in the Temple that opened the way for each of us to have direct access to God. No human intercession has been required since. What happened: Matthew 27: The Bible teaches us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit serve to intercede for us before the Father. Take a look at two of those passages: 1 John 2:1; Romans 8: How do they do that? Support 1. What is the most important faith discovery you made as a result of this week s message and study? Is there a change called for? Is there a prayer to pray? Is there a conversation that you need to have with someone else as a result? 2. How can your group pray that this truth is best be realized in your life? PERSONAL Amburgey Family Dakota Becker Brian Clark Family Shannon Crogan Dustin Josh Freeman Geoff Robert Parish ILLNESS Art Cheryl Behrens Terry Brennan Thad Bower Delpha Cadogan Patrick Frericks Waynella Gonzalez Jim Gorsline Sr. JoAnn Guetzkow Julie Koonce Tom Ludtke Richard (Rick) Martin Pam McPhee David Moeschler Arlene Norcutt Krystal Norcutt Duane Rohmaller Denise Robb Betty Ruesler Rusty Dusty Sawran Mike Thornton Marjorie Tomko Marlene Weisheit Gertie Wiechmann Garth Wilson The Christ Lutheran Staff Lead Pastor ~ Associate Pastor ~ School Principal ~ Preschool Director ~ Parish Administrator ~ Director Of Children and Youth Ministry ~ Director of Local Mission/High School Youth ~ Music & Worship ~ Church Exec. Communications ~ Deployed Pastor, Montclair, CA. ~ Pastor Emeritus ~ Deployed Missionary ~ Worship Schedule 8:00 AM Traditional Worship 9:20 AM ** Special Equipping Hour Study 10:30 AM Contemporary Worship and Kid s Church Mike Gibson Glenn Shelton Caleb McFerran Kristie Flohra Karen Culp Emily Eltiste Dana Burkey Chris Peterson April Florio Lance Irey Joseph Strubbe John Davies - pastor.gibson@christcm.org - pastor.shelton@christcm.org - mr.mcferran@christcm.org - mrs.flohra@christcm.org - mrs.culp@christcm.org - miss.eltiste@christcm.org - miss.burkey@christcm.org - mr.peterson@christcm.org - ms.florio@christcm.org - pastor.irey@christcm.org - josephstrubbe@yahoo.com - Papua New Guinea Altar Flowers The flowers that grace the altar today are given to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Sunday, December 11, 2016 Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. Church ~ Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, California School ~ Fax ~

6 Share 1. Did you have a favorite place where you celebrated Christmas as a child? Your home? Grandparents? What made it special? Is there a similar location for you today? 2. How did you unwrap Christmas gifts when you were growing up? A free-for-all? Take turns? Did someone play Santa and hand them out? Prayers of the Congregation Please contact the church office at if you would like someone added to the Prayer List. To place someone on the Telephone Prayer Chain contact Dianne Lohan at or Lianne Anderson at We thank the Lord that the picture ID cards that are so highly valued and so useful to the teachers and staff, though rather a complicated process to produce, are now completed. This week, please pray for the Kobon Living Word School at Mingam, for teachers Amos David and Augustin Kur, and for all the students. Reverend John and Maila Davies, Lutheran Bible Translators, Papua New Guinea Pray for Our Country, Our State, Our Leaders, Our Military: Evan Edison, Edward Miettinen and all the Military and their families Connecting People to Jesus A Congregation of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod Christ Lutheran Church and School is a 21st Century mission outpost where people are supported, equipped, and launched into ministry, acting locally and impacting ms.florio@christcm.org Study The purpose of this study is to help you take a deeper look at how Mary unwraps Christmas. 1. Take a look at Matthew 1 and Luke 1 and 2 and put together a sequence of Mary s elements of the nativity story. 2. Identify the key moments when God pushed her to trust Him in this incredible event. What are some lessons you can learn from Mary s experiences and how she grew in faith? 3. Read through Mary s Magnificat (Song) in Luke 1: Where does Mary set her focus? What mind-blowing discovery does she make about how she will be viewed from this time forward? How does she express her humility? What declarations of trust and faith does she make in God, no matter her circumstances? How does she connect her situation to the Messianic promises of the Messiah? Now, how remarkable does it seem to you that a young woman of 14 is able to put all these pieces together? That s some amazing spiritual insight! 4. Talk with your group about the dangers of allowing the traditions of the church to be equal to the Word of God. How has that issue obscured many of the simple Biblical teachings about Mary, her role, her life, and the lessons we can take from it? 5. The traditions of the Roman Catholic Church look to Mary as an intercessor, a person to whom people pray, asking her to intercede on their behalf with her son, Jesus. Take a look at the Hail Holy Queen prayer that follows. Note those sections which ask for her intercession. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen. 6. Throughout the Old Testament period, the people of Israel did not have direct access to God they went through the priests. There was even a curtain that hung between the people and the Holy of Holies where only the priest could go. At the moment of Jesus death on the cross something changed in the Temple that opened the way for each of us to have direct access to God. No human intercession has been required since. What happened: Matthew 27: The Bible teaches us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit serve to intercede for us before the Father. Take a look at two of those passages: 1 John 2:1; Romans 8: How do they do that? Support 1. What is the most important faith discovery you made as a result of this week s message and study? Is there a change called for? Is there a prayer to pray? Is there a conversation that you need to have with someone else as a result? 2. How can your group pray that this truth is best be realized in your life? PERSONAL Amburgey Family Dakota Becker Brian Clark Family Shannon Crogan Dustin Josh Freeman Geoff Robert Parish ILLNESS Art Cheryl Behrens Terry Brennan Thad Bower Delpha Cadogan Patrick Frericks Waynella Gonzalez Jim Gorsline Sr. JoAnn Guetzkow Julie Koonce Tom Ludtke Richard (Rick) Martin Pam McPhee David Moeschler Arlene Norcutt Krystal Norcutt Duane Rohmaller Denise Robb Betty Ruesler Rusty Dusty Sawran Mike Thornton Marjorie Tomko Marlene Weisheit Gertie Wiechmann Garth Wilson The Christ Lutheran Staff Lead Pastor ~ Associate Pastor ~ School Principal ~ Preschool Director ~ Parish Administrator ~ Director Of Children and Youth Ministry ~ Director of Local Mission/High School Youth ~ Music & Worship ~ Church Exec. Communications ~ Deployed Pastor, Montclair, CA. ~ Pastor Emeritus ~ Deployed Missionary ~ Worship Schedule 8:00 AM Traditional Worship 9:20 AM ** Special Equipping Hour Study 10:30 AM Contemporary Worship and Kid s Church Mike Gibson Glenn Shelton Caleb McFerran Kristie Flohra Karen Culp Emily Eltiste Dana Burkey Chris Peterson April Florio Lance Irey Joseph Strubbe John Davies - pastor.gibson@christcm.org - pastor.shelton@christcm.org - mr.mcferran@christcm.org - mrs.flohra@christcm.org - mrs.culp@christcm.org - miss.eltiste@christcm.org - miss.burkey@christcm.org - mr.peterson@christcm.org - ms.florio@christcm.org - pastor.irey@christcm.org - josephstrubbe@yahoo.com - Papua New Guinea Altar Flowers The flowers that grace the altar today are given to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Sunday, December 11, 2016 Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. Church ~ Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, California School ~ Fax ~