1353 Witte Road - Houston, TX ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH. December 2018.

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1 ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH 1353 Witte Road - Houston, TX office@standrew-lcms.org The Net 2018

2 The Net Published Monthly by St. Andrew Lutheran Church and Early Childhood Center 1353 Witte Road, Houston, Texas 77055, Tel: I didn t want to go to this Christmas party. I had too much going on: the Christmas shopping, preparing and sending Christmas cards, picking pictures for those Christmas cards, Christmas decorations at home and at church, preparation for the Christmas family get-together, taking kids to show some Christmas lights around Houston, all the extra services with extras horns and whistles we have to pull off at my church, etc. Party was just one more thing on my To Do s list and I didn t have time for it. You may feel the same way as we fall into the Christmas season. If you do, here is my suggestion. Fight that temptation. Go to those parties. Here are three reasons why you should go to those parties. First, parties are a great way to experience the life together with God. Here is how prophet Isaiah described what the day would be like when God returns to Israel. 6 In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. Isaiah 25:6 (NLT) When God comes back to Jerusalem, it will be like an awesome party with bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac, 2010, and some USDA Prime ribeye cooked just right. The similar expression is used to describe when God ushers us into the new heaven and new earth. Life with God is like a great party. Parties remind you what life with God is like.

3 Second, parties are good for God s mission. The author of Joining Jesus On His Mission, Rev. Greg Finke, says the first step of joining Jesus for his mission is to get to know and start to enjoy the people he [Jesus] had placed around us. And he says how do you begin that? Have a party. You meet people at parties. You talk with people there. Your conversations deepen relationships. And that is the pipeline through which God s word and the Spirit will flow to the others. Meeting people and deepening relationship is the primary way of God doing his work, and at parties you can do both. Lastly, going to parties can make you happier. Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times-bestselling author, after his research on how people can be happier, suggests that spending time is a good way to make you happier. He writes, Smiling, trusting, and giving others your time have been shown by research to create happiness. Christmas parties are great opportunity for you to go and smile, trust, and give others your time. The happiness is in the air, and it will be yours when you go to the Christmas parties. That Christmas party I felt not going I ended up going to it. I was glad I did go. I had great time, and learned about what Grand Marnier was. And more threads were woven to my relationship with others. It was heavenly. That s what you may experience. Therefore how about you RSVP yes, get dressed, and go to those parties this year instead of staying home and do nothing? David Jung Pastor

4 Stewardship Corner - Edie Bourland Throughout his epistles and his preachings recorded in the Book of Acts, St. Paul refers, in one way or another, to thanksgiving and thankfulness nearly 50 times. Whether vertically toward God, or horizontally toward the neighbor, thanksgiving is a major theme within St. Paul s body of work. What does this mean? It means thankfulness is intrinsic to the life of those baptized into Christ. In other words, giving thanks is what Christians do as they live out their lives in this world. The problem is that we often forget this. We remember the bad things. We focus on discontent. And we fail to give thanks in all circumstances for everything (Eph. 5:20) and to rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4). Thankfulness and contentment go together. St. Paul could be content with having plenty or when in need because He gave thanks to the Lord for all things. He thanked the Lord for those who had prayed for him and listened to his proclamation of the Gospel. He gave thanks for their good works in and for the Church of Christ. He gave thanks for the grace of God in Christ Jesus and found that God s grace was sufficient for him. So, give thanks for all things and in all circumstances for we have been saved from sin, death, and hell by the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We have been added to the very family of God in an adoption of grace through Holy Baptism. God is our Father. Our Lord, Jesus Christ is our brother. But He not only provides for our spiritual well-being, He cares also for this body and life. Our Father in heaven provides food and clothes, house and home, husband, wife, and children. He gives us reason and all our senses. He has given us the raw talents that we have developed into careers. Everything we are and everything that we have is a gift from His fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in us. God has given us these things so that we may be of service to those around us our family, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ. For to whom much is given; much shall be required (Luke 12:48). We Need Your Help For Christmas Decorations We will be decorating the sanctuary & hallways for Christmas, Wednesday, 5 th, immediately following the Advent Worship service, please mark your calendars.

5 Angel Tree- help sponsor one of four families for Christmas! This year we are sponsoring four families with gifts. Please help out by picking a tag from the Angel Tree, which is located on the credenza in the narthex. Each tag has a name and age of the child, in addition to the child s tags, each family has 5 tags for gift cards to HEB or Kroger. Please place the wrapped gifts with the pink Angle Tree Tags taped outside the box located in the narthex. The red Angle Tree Tags should be enclosed in envelope with gift card. RED TAGS=$10 gift cards to HEB or Kroger, Each child has Pink gift tags=3 gifts (toys), please bring all gift by 16 th. Special Dates & Times During Advent *Midweek Meal each Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. *Wednesday, 5 th at 7:00 p.m. Children s Christmas Program Sunday, 9 th at 9:30 a.m. Non-Communion *Wednesday, 12 th at 7:00 p.m. *Wednesday, 19 th at 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Monday, 24 th at 6:00 p.m. Christmas Morning Worship Tuesday, 25 th at 10:00 a.m.

6 Pray For Us Calendar These prayer requests were submitted by coworkers in the Lord s mission. Congregations and individuals are invited to copy these pages for newsletters or other distribution. Download at lcms.org/prayforus or call to request a copy. ADVENT: THE SECOND COMING DECEMBER 1 15 Advent means coming. We anticipate the promised return of Christ as the judge of the world. We look with hope to the day of the resurrection of all flesh, when those who believe in Christ will rise to everlasting life. The Church waits for the Second Coming in repentance, hope and faith. For the following, we pray Lord, have mercy For hearts that imitate the generosity and graciousness of Jesus. Pray that God s people would be eager to show forth the love of God through their good works for their neighbor. 2. That the Lord would preserve His Word and Sacraments in our midst, so that we may be kept strong in the one, true faith until Christ s return. 3. That the people of God would be faithful in their attendance of the Divine Service, where God strengthens our faith toward Him and our steadfast love for one another. 4. That all people would fear God and find hope in His gracious forgiveness through Christ. 7. For steadfast faith as the world writhes and groans in anticipation of the day of judgment. 8. For the ministers of the Word, that they would be faithful to their calling. 9. for the Church s missionaries, that through them the Word would go forth into the world with power. 10. For our government, that we might live peaceable and quiet lives. 11. For parents, that they would see their role in raising children as a holy calling from God in these last days. 12. For patience, as we wait for Christ s coming, that we might believe God is not slow in keeping promises, but patient. 13. For those who mourn the loss of loved ones, that the promise of the resurrection may be their hope. 14. For those who are dying, that they may entrust their whole lives unto God who keeps them. 15. For the coming of Christ. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 5. For all who do not believe in Jesus, that they might hear the Gospel and believe. 6. For all Christians, that we might repent of our sins and prepare for Christ s return.

7 ADVENT: THE INCARNATION DECEMBER During Advent we rejoice that God sent His Son to be the redeemer of the world. We gather with all Christians to celebrate this gracious gift from our heavenly Father. We trust in Christ alone as our Savior. The Church gathers to thank God and ask for faith to trust in His gift of a Savior. For the following, we pray Lord, have mercy. 16. For faithful reading of Old Testament, that all who read may see Jesus as the promised Savior. 17. For opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in this season. When the world is open to hearing the story of Christmas, may we be unashamed in our witness. 18. That all Christians might see the needs of their neighbor and love with the love of Christ. 19. For those who only attend worship at Christmas, that the Spirit would work faith through the hearing of the Word. 20. That we may believe the truth of the two natures of Christ. 21. For St. Thomas, apostle. That with him we might believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and God. 22. For faithful readings of the New Testament. That all the words of the apostles and evangelists may result in faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 23. For pastors who serve as Christ s under-shepherds in our midst. That they might proclaim the truth of the Good News of Christmas. 24. Rejoice that Jesus is Immanuel. God is with us to save us. 25. Rejoice in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen His glory glory as the onlybegotten of God. 26. Thank God for St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. That we might also serve God with our lives thoughts, words and deeds. 27. That God would grant us faith to believe that He comes to us in the Means of Grace. 28. For all those who face depression and desperation at this time of year. That God s gift of love in Christ would gladden their hearts. 29. For all those who travel. That God would grant them safety. 30. That all would know and believe in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus for the world s salvation. 31. That the Lord would abundantly bless the efforts of the LCMS and its partners in the coming years. That the Gospel is the primary focus of all that is done and proclaimed.

8 coffee donations will go to L.A.M.P. (Lutheran Assn. of Missionaries and Pilots). These volunteers "take the light of Christ to the ends of the earth" by serving more than 50 communities of isolated indigenous people in far northern Canada (most of which can only be reached by plane); and spread God's Word through mission trips, VBS, and sharing the Gospel. 14, 2018 Eunah Jung. 2 Misty VonSehrwald 3 Shela Black. 4 Karen Koepke. 4 Riley Lewellyn. 4 Georgia Herrera.. 6 Dottie Bonura.. 11 Remi Emmott.. 14 Dawn Dudley Michael Kellar. 27 Jeannette Spencer. 29 David Jung.. 30 David Stojan 30 Please Notify the Church Office When You or a member of your family is hospitalized. You have a change of address Your phone number has changed. Your address has changed. Your board or committee changes a meeting date or time. Members of your family are students attending school away from home or are living at a different address Your help with all of the above is very much appreciated!

9 Duties Schedule for the Month of Date Duty Name(s) Name(s) Name(s) Name(s) Name(s) Altar Guild Vi Howe Steinsiek Vi Howe Steinsiek Vi Howe Steinsiek Vi Howe Steinsiek Vi Howe Steinsiek Elder Angelo Okuma Doug Emery Doug Emery Doug Emery Counting Bill Meinecke, Steve Inskeep, Dottie Bonura Bill Meinecke, Steve Inskeep, Dottie Bonura Bill Meinecke, Steve Inskeep, Dottie Bonura Bill Meinecke, Steve Inskeep, Dottie Bonura Bill Meinecke, Steve Inskeep, Dottie Bonura Trustee Charles Hansen Charles Hansen Charles Hansen Charles Hansen Charles Hansen Greeters Ruby & Riley Lewellyn Hal & Betty Marquardt Alex & Chris Von Sehrwald Evelyn Register Herta Strobel Ruby & Riley Lewellyn Usher Team Rearick Steinsiek Rearick Steinsiek Marquardt Midweek Cooking Schedule Date Trustees Morning Guild Outreach

10 St. Andrew Early Childhood Center - ECC Shatha Razzook Remember to prepare our families' hearts for Christmas! Do our children know why we celebrate this holiday or are they too focused on making sure Santa knows that they want the newest games. We should not forget that our most important responsibility as a parent is to prepare our families for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. His coming was the fulfilment of the promise that God made to Abraham and his descendents that He would send a Savior. Jesus was not born in an ornate setting, but in the humblest of settings a manger among cows, sheep, and oxen, not amid the glitz and glamour of decorated pines and cedar. Try to bring this humbleness into your home by taking a moment away from the holiday frenzy to prepare your family's heart. + Take time to explain the story of Christmas. Make sure that this celebration is about Jesus not Santa. + Share your stories. What are your memories of Christmas? + Create an atmosphere of a Christ centered Christmas in your home. Make the Nativity scene the focus in your home. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." (Luke 1:46-47) + Let us prepare not only our homes, but our hearts and spirits for the birth of Jesus. The Christmas Tree is the Tree of Life, Love & Peace

11 ECC continued... We will be Closed on 24 th & 25 th and 31 st at Noon Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ECC Christmas Program: Welcome, Baby Jesus...there is nothing that puts you in the Christmas spirit more than seeing our children bring the true meaning of Christmas to our hearts in songs and prayers. Sunday, 9 th is the annual ECC Christmas Program at 9:30 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Please join us for Advent Worship as we prepare for the coming of our Savior. Wednesday, Dec: 5 th, 12 th & 19 th at 7:00 p.m. An Advent Calendar: Buy or make an Advent calendar and let the children open a door or add a figure each day in. There is no better timekeeper that this for small children who have difficulty tracking timer. Legend of the Christmas Candy Cane: A candy maker on Christmas many years before, created a special candy as testament to the Lord. He made this candy cane red & white as you see, representing the blood Christ shed and His everlasting purity. The shape is a shepherd s staff "Believe", the Lord proclaimed. Turn the candy to a "J" as in our Lord Jesus' name, so remember always at Christmas when you hang the candy cane... the Love and sacrifice our Lord gave as a testament to His name. 5 th German Rondon 4yrs 11 th Brennan Gonzalez 4yrs 12 th Preslee Clark 5yrs 15 th Tyler James Lasko 1yrs 17 th Braleigh Brown 6yrs 22 nd Alexander Aguilar 1yrs 25 th Jesus Christ 2yrs 30 th Oliver DeLaGarza 2yrs But Jesus said, let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me: for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

12 ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 1353 Witte Road - Houston, TX ecc@standrew-lcms.org