January 2018, Vol. 18, Issue 1

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1 January 2018, Vol. 18, Issue 1 Pastor Brock Cain Web: Phone: office@lutheranchurchofthepines.org Laura King, Editor 309 Hwy 90 Waveland, Mississippi LMKingUSA@hotmail.com And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. Matthew 2: 9 Now that December is behind us, the Christmas lights start to come down and go back in their boxes in the attic. The stockings are packed away, the cookies are consumed, and the tree goes over the fence into the neighbor s yard. We ve told the story of Christ s birth and the narrative is over. Time to move on to other things. Well, not quite yet In many Nativity depictions, the narrative of Jesus birth is condensed down into a single image - the shepherds, the angels, the Magi, the animals, Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Christ all gathered together into one glorious scene. It s a beautiful picture of peace and hope, but the scene is often a little inaccurate. Our friends the Magi (or Wise Men, if you like) were not in fact at the scene of the birth. If we read chapter two of Matthew s Gospel we find that their arrival took some time and some bouncing from place to place before they arrived at Jesus home to present him with the honors they brought. Our celebration of their arrival takes place after Christmas; so don t be so hasty to pack away all your celebration items! The story is still unfolding. For a long time now I ve found these guys to be the most fascinating part of the Nativity narrative. Here we have a group (no mention is made of an actual number) of Gentiles, people who know the Lord as the Israelites do, from another land and culture. They know the signs to look for that tell of the birth of a great king prophesied to deliver His people. How did they know? Who told them what was coming and of its importance to mankind? There are some guesses to the answers to these questions, some which even make sense. But the important thing is that these men were seeking hope of some kind and God led them to it. While we usually say Jesus ministry began with his baptism, I tend to see the Magi as the first real success story of Jesus ministry. We don t know what precisely they might have believed when they arrived, when they left, or what they might have later heard about his life. What we know is that they found something they were seeking, and they found it because their hearts and minds were open. Today we live in a world that is always seeking something. We re surrounded by those who are looking for a light of hope in their lives. Where will they find it? And will they know what it is they have found? The Magi are an important part of the Nativity narrative because they illustrate the ongoing impact of Jesus birth. When the Christmas season ends, another season begins, and through it all the light of God s love shines like a star wherever His Gospel of truth and peace is proclaimed. Your friends and family and neighbors may have celebrated the Christmas season, but what did they find? What gift brought truth into their lives? The tree and the ornaments may be packed away, but the story lives on. Each day is an opportunity to light a life with the truth of Christ and his promise of peace to a hurting world. The birth of Jesus illuminates God s promise of salvation to all who are seeking comfort and mercy. Throughout the narrative of his life we find the fulfillment of that promise through his word, his death, his resurrection, and his ongoing presence. This is good news we can proclaim at any time because there is no time in which the world isn t looking for that hope. May you find ongoing hope in the promise of Jesus and an ongoing purpose throughout all seasons in leading others to the joy they are seeking. God s Peace to You, Pastor Brock A Pine cone is the seed-bearing fruit of the pine tree; those seeds will plant other trees. Here at the Lutheran Church of the Pines, we believe that our members are not here solely to nourish ourselves; we carry the Word (seeds) with us out into the world to plant in others we meet.

2 Greetings From the Outreach Ministry, Happy New Year to you all! 2017 has been an incredible year and I can t even begin to imagine what God is going to do with We ended 2017 with our Ladies Mini Retreat, Kids Christmas party and of course our beautiful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. I would like to thank you all again for all of your help during our Outreach projects. My hope is to have more Outreach outside of the church this coming year, and of course none of this would be possible without all of the wonderful servants of The Lord. Counting It All Joy, Hope Roche Outreach Ministry Coordinator Greetings from LWML Thank you for making 2017 a year of Mission, Celebration, Praise and Hope. Thank you for doing so much for the mission of the Lutheran Women s Missionary League as we celebrated 75 years in the mission field. Hope for the success in reaching our LWML Mission Goal of $2,075,000 for 22 Mission Grants. In December the collection of items from Undie Sundays were delivered to the Hancock County CASA office. The timing was great because the volunteers were busy wrapping and filling the Christmas wish lists from the children. Most of the children had socks and underwear on their list. Therefore, I would like to personally thank all the members of the Lutheran Church of the Pines for your donations and your love for our local community children. Items given from the Congregation included: 82 pairs of girl s socks 71 pair of boy s socks 74 girl s briefs 51 boy s briefs 6 pairs of women s crew socks 5 boy s T-shirts 3pairs of girl s tights Thank You! Thank You! Happy New Year from LWML To God be the glory! Cathy Adams Mason, LWML President of LCOP

3 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Dear Lord, Thank you for the time You have given us with our loved ones. Please bless the coming year as we celebrate with the ones still here and honor those who are now with You. Guide us as we treasure these memories and make new ones. Amen. Dorothy Kessner 1st Betty G. Garrity 14th Sandra Spears 2nd Stephanie Eichelberger 18th Travis Bath 3rd Cameron Hanley 18th Tom Demboski 4th Hamilton Guenard (In memory) 19th Kassi Breland 4th Barbara Powell (In memory) 21st Shanna Dixon 4th Dick East 23rd Liz Cain 6th Kelly McCloskey 24th Cody Bielstein 12th Penny Allen 24th Brian Villanueva 14th Shirley Hastman 27th Lindsey Sterling 29th Robert & Mary Dardar Mike & Jeannette Podgurski Hamilton & Terry Guenard (In memory of Hamilton) Fred & Cassie Breland Randall & Gay Larré Jacob & Natalie Myers 1st 3rd 15th 17th 19th 28th In an effort to engage the congregation in continued prayers for our world and the Body of Christ, we are including the list of individuals on our PRAYER LIST. Please your prayer requests to: to be included in this list. MEDICAL/HEALTH ISSUES Steve McQueen, Sue Worsley, Jay & Hazel Cousin, Zander, Collin, Baby-Michael, Addison, Isabella, Tommy, Lillian, Larry, Brenda & John Cain, Doc, John Ellermann, Gene J., Dick Petersen, Carolyn, Frank, Arline Morris, Carla & Rex Isted, David & Sheila, Alex P., John Schuengel, Bobby Could, Teresa, Bobby, Angie, Courtney, Shia, Paulette, Leo & Martha, Mike Myers, Chris Jeffries, Terry Guenard & Marie Paralta, Noah Estopinal, Myron & Mike Myers, Inge Maroney, Juanita Weary, Alex Proulx, Dorothy Bielstein. NATURAL DISASTERS: Continued prayers for: FL (Pastor Faith s Church/school), TX, Puerto Rico damage from Hurricanes. Families affected from the fires in California. Prayers for healing physically & emotionally. FIRST RESPONDERS and THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY: Josh Eichelberger Thank you! Thank you for those who donated poinsettias! You may pick them up outside the church office.

4 $7, $2, $3, $4, $2, $2, $4, $2, Budget report Annual Budget $178, November December Weekly Budget $3, Tithes Received Weekly Monthly Budget $13, $13, Tithes Received Monthly $12, $17, Amount Under or Over for Month -$ $3, Noise Offering December s noise offering went to the South Mississippi Regional Center an organization that provides residential and in-home and community services to citizens with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who reside in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, George, Pearl River and Stone counties. For more information, please contact them at Thank you for raising $367.09! Church Council Corner There was no meeting in December. The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday Jan 14 after the 10:30am service. Junior and Senior High Youth Group Please join us at the church at 5pm on Sunday, January 21! Friends are always welcome! Come hang out and have a good time.

5 JANUARY WEEKLY HELPERS Flower Donations Please consider donating flowers in celebration of marriages, anniversaries, baptisms and birthdays, or to say Congratulations or Thank you. You may sign up on the Flower Chart posted on the wall outside the sanctuary. If you want the Altar Guild to purchase flowers for you, please mark on the Flower Chart and contact Shirley Halterman: or Cappy Kelso: or Liane Myers: or by After the 10:30am service, flowers may be taken with you or donated. Date Flowers provided by In Honor/Memory of 1/7 1/14 1/21 1/28 Robert & Mary Dardar Celebrating Bryce Genna s 9 th Birthday!(1/30) Date/Time 1/7 1/14 1/21 1/28 8:30 Greeters Leo & Martha Driscoll Altar Assistant Dave Kelso 10:30 THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THIS MONTH! PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING FOR AN OPEN SLOT. If you cannot be here to help on your day, please notify Liane or Brock. If you have altar assistant duties, please contact one of the Elders to take your place. Wednesday Altar Assistant: Steve Gibson Ushers Readers Acolytes Martha Driscoll & Carla Isted Brandon Witt & Bruce Prestien Carla Isted Cassie Breland 8:30 Peggy Frisard Dave Kelso Terry & Sasha King Sue Worsley 10:30 Becky Wilde 8:30 Leo & Martha Driscoll Dave Kelso 10:30 Paula Carter 8:30 Dave Kelso 10:30 Tina & Mallory Peters Becky Wilde & Haleigh Hanley Martha Driscoll & Carla Isted Dana Bielstein & Gene & Shirley Halterman Hope Roche Sally Schultz Laura King Nolin Briley Brandon Peters Wednesday Night Supper 1/3 Laura King 1/10 Sue Worsley 1/17 Robert Hand 1/24 Tina Thornton 1/31 Robert & Mary Dardar

6 Dec 2017 January 2018 Feb 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year's Day Take down Christmas decorations 7 Worship Service 8:30am SS/Adult Bible Class 9:15am Worship Service 10:30am 8 9 Confirmation class 6pm th Anniversary of Pastor Brock s ordination! Worship Service 8:30am SS/Adult Bible Class 9:15am Worship Service 10:30am Martin Luther King Day 16 Confirmation class 6pm Worship Service 8:30am Confirmation class 6pm SS/Adult Bible Class 9:15am Worship Service 10:30am Worship Service 8:30am Confirmation class 6pm SS/Adult Bible Class 9:15am Worship Service 10:30am Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17

7 January Message Board If you have announcements or pictures for upcoming events or general messages for the congregation, be sure to let me know! You can text me at , me at or leave me a note in the newsletter mailbox of Mrs. Liane s office! Thank you!! -Laura Pastor Brock Cain is in the LCOP office on Tuesdays thru Fridays. If you would like to visit with him, please call his cell or the church or him to set an appointment. LCOP: lohengrin4001@yahoo.com 2018 Flower Chart is here! Please sign up by the picture board near the church office.

8 Lutheran Church of the Pines 309 Highway 90 Waveland, MS Sent with love and a prayer for: Worship Opportunities: Worship with Holy Communion 8:30am Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 9:15am Worship with Holy Communion 10:30am Wednesday Contemporary Service 6:30pm (Contemporary Service with a light meal before at 5:45pm)