A Letter from the Pastor

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WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church DECEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017 1809 S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI 48733 Church office: (989) 693-6322 Rev. Joshua T.

1 WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church DECEMBER 2016 JANUARY S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI Church office: (989) Rev. Joshua T. Haller Cell phone: (248) SEE AMID THE WINTER S SNOW A Letter from the Pastor Winter is upon us. The cold has come. The winds have picked up. Furnaces and woodstoves have fired up. The days are shorter, and the outdoor chores have moved inside. Winter is upon us. It s cold, and it s harsh. Some people like that, but most would like to avoid it. That s why many move down to the south just after Christmas and won t return until all signs are clear, until it s warm again. Either way, things are different than they were back in August and September, when the grass was green and lush, when our vegetable gardens were overflowing with bounty, and all was well and alive. Now, things are dying. The grass isn t growing, because it knows it will soon be covered in snow. There are less birds chirping and singing, less moles digging up my backyard. Nature is slowing down and getting ready for a long winter s nap. Winter, for us Christians, is a reminder of our place in this world. For us, it s always somewhat cold and dark. It seems that everything around is dying and packing it in. There s no real life, because it s all been affected by sin. We try to make it seem like everything is all sunshine and rainbows, but deep down inside, we re a cold, harsh winter night. The wind gusts are far more than we can bear. There s nothing good inside of us, no ray of sunshine to break through the cloudy darkness of our souls. Like the winter, we d much rather avoid our sin, but like winter, there s no real way of escaping it. Our sin makes us cold. It makes us dark. It has no life but only death. It offers us no hope but only leaves us feeling bleak and depressed. But in the midst of this winter, both in nature and in each one of us, there comes Christmas. It s really the only thing that gives us any happiness during this long, cold season. It makes the snow a little more appealing when you can call it a White Christmas. Christmas brings families together and connects friends by way of cards and letters. It comes with presents and old family recipes, Christmas carols and traditions.

2 Christmas gives us a reason to hang on during the harsh winter nights, knowing that during at least one of those nights, all will be calm and all will be bright. And yet, for us Christians, Christmas is much more than just that. It s more than just the warm, fuzzy feeling we get inside being surrounded by family and friends or remembering the many Christmases we ve enjoyed from the past. It s more than tradition. It s more than just another holiday, like that of Thanksgiving or Valentine s Day. Christmas is even more than just the birthday of Jesus. Christmas is about an extremely profound and earth-shattering moment that goes beyond the manger scene, past the shepherds in the fields, and really get s at the heart of the matter: GOD BECAME A MAN. God became you. He took on your cold, harsh flesh. He placed himself into your shoes and walked in our wintery world. He broke through the icy wall between heaven and earth and landed himself in the womb of a sinful woman, who was betrothed to a sinful carpenter, named Joseph. God became a man. It s that simple, and yet, it s that extraordinary. He didn t need to do it, didn t have to do it. But rather, he wanted to do it. He wanted you, and in order to get you, he had to become you. He had to be you and be with you. He had to take your sin upon his shoulders and bloody back, making them his own, so that he in turn could give you the best present ever forgiveness. Through the death of Jesus, our winter turned into spring, our cold melted away and became the fresh air of summer. He turned our sadness into gladness, and our dark nights into the Light of the World. Laid in a manger was more than just a child. It was God our God. From his conception to the cross, from the womb of Mary to the tomb of Jerusalem, Jesus did it all for you. That s what Christmas is all about. It s about how God became a man for you, and without that fact, the traditions of the holiday season, the Christmas lights and parties would all mean nothing. It d be a waste of time and a sham. But the fact that God became a man and still is a man gives us a reason to celebrate. And even more than that, this God-man comes to us as the God-man on Christmas morning. Many say we need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, but what about the other half of the word? It s time we also put the mass back in ChristMAS. The Mass, that is the Lord s Supper, is where the whole celebration of Christmas takes place. What better way to rejoice that God became a man than to receive that man, that God, in his body and blood? Is there a more precious Christmas present under the tree than that which comes from the tree of Christ s cross? Is there a more fitting nativity scene than the one we gather around as Christians, kneeling before our Lord s altar? No. No. And no. So c mon, dear Christians. Come and celebrate our God who became a man. Come and receive his gift for you this Christmas season and every Lord s day throughout the year. What else matters in life than this gift? What else is worth celebrating? Nothing at all. So, Merry Christmas, and I ll see you at the rail. In Christ, Pastor Haller

3 THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE CLASS There are probably several books in the Bible that you ve never read or don t know much about, mostly from the Old Testament. They have funny names like Habakkuk and Zephaniah. There are twelve books like this, which are called The Minor Prophets. Written after the famous stories of Abraham, Moses, and David, these prophets point to the final prophet, priest, and king Jesus Christ, which is to say all of these books of the Bible are about Jesus. Come and join us on Thursday evenings at 6 pm, as we continue this study of the Minor Prophets. SUNDAY SCHOOL The Sunday School children begin to relearn the stories of the life of Jesus, beginning with his first miracle in Cana (John 2:1-11). These next two months, they will recall the teachings and miracles of Jesus, even as he was rejected in his hometown of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30) or recognized as the Christ by the woman at the well (John 4:1-42) Throughout the month of December, the children will continue to practice for this year s Christmas Eve service, in which they will join the voices of the Adult Choir in participating in a Lessons and Carols service. donations THUMB AREA CRISIS CENTER donations can be placed in box under fellowship hall window DECEMBER: Children s toothbrushes & toothpaste JANUARY: Paper towels, toilet paper THE CHRISTMAS CRIB A list of items can be found on the crib in the fellowship hall. THE CHRISTMAS FAMILY The Public Relations Board will be sponsoring a family in our community for Christmas. The family consists of a mom and dad along with their six kids, ranging from seven to fourteen years old. Gift cards will be purchased to help buy clothes and shoes. If you re interested in donating towards this cause, please speak with Diane Spencer, Bev Voss, or Pat Starkey. Also, the donations given to the Christmas Tree in the front entrance, collecting socks, hats, and gloves, will also be donated to this family. KNOWN DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Monika Siler Sadie Palm 3 Isaac Seeley Kayleigh Wilson 4 Kendra Weber Lynn Dinsmoore 6 Leslie Reinbold Richard Hadaway 15 Tegan Voss 16 John Kaijala Steven Reinbold 18 Ralph Knapp 21 Andrew Dickson 22 Tom Hadaway 24 Joshua Stogner Marilyn Cottrell 26 Sarah Pierce 27 Sharon Hadaway KNOWN DECEMBER ANNIVERARIES 6 Steve & Melinda Reinbold 9 Richard & Marilyn Cottrell KNOWN JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 3 Helene Weber 6 Isabella Reinbold 13 Helen Osborn 16 Sarah Reid 17 Lee Voss 18 Neal Rushford 24 Jordan Dickson 25 Rachel Stewart 26 Ruth Ann Kaijala 27 Hannah Beneman Johann Beneman 28 Anna Weber Sarah Hall 29 David Spyker 30 Joe Bublitz KNOWN JANUARY ANNIVERARIES 24 Vic & Jean Trisch

4 December Divine Services Sunday, December 4, 2016 Second Sunday in Advent Matthew 3:1-12 Sunday, December 11, 2016 Third Sunday in Advent Divine Service Setting 1 Matthew 11:2-15 Sunday, December 18, 2016 Fourth Sunday in Advent Matthew 1:18-25 Saturday, December 24, 2016 Christmas Eve Candlelight Luke 2:1-14 Sunday, December 25, 2016 The Nativity of Our Lord John 1:1-14 Saturday, December 31, 2016 Eve of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus Luke 12:35-40 January Divine Services Sunday, January 1, 2016 The Circumcision and Name of Jesus Luke 2:21 Friday, January 6, 2016 The Epiphany of Our Lord Matthew 2:1-12 Sunday, January 8, 2016 The Baptism of Our Lord Divine Service Setting 1 Matthew 3:13-17 Sunday, January 15, 2016 Second Sunday after the Epiphany John 1:29-42a Sunday, January 22, 2016 Third Sunday after the Epiphany Matthew 4:12-25 Sunday, January 29, 2016 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Divine Service Setting 1 Matthew 5:1-12 ADVENT MIDWEEK SERVICES The season of Advent is a season of repentance. It s a season in which we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. We look forward to celebrating the first coming of our Lord at Christmas, but our eyes are also lifted up toward the heavens from where our Lord will return and take us home. Starting November 30th, join us on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm for dinner followed by a service of Evening Prayer. This is another opportunity for you to hear the Word of the Lord. Don t despise or ignore this opportunity but take full advantage of it. ADVENT MIDWEEK SERVICE SCHEDULE November 30, 2016: The Father (Romans 8:12-17) December 7, 2016: The Son (1 Peter 1:13-21) December 14, 2016: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11) CHRISTMAS SERVICES CHRISTMAS EVE LESSONS AND CAROLS, Dec. 24th at 7 pm Combining the voices of both children and adults, we will explore the salvation story, beginning in the Garden of Eden and ending with the birth of our Savior. CHRISTMAS EVE CANDELIGHT, Dec. 24th at 11 pm Meeting together on Christmas Eve night, we ll finish on Christmas Day morning, as we remember the Light of the World who has come to save us. CHRISTMAS DAY DIVINE SERVICE, Dec. 25th at 10 am There is no better way to celebrate Christmas than to eat our Lord s body and blood in the Supper he s given us. Our God came down from heaven to be born in our flesh and suffer our death. He gives us his flesh and death in this meal. Come and get it!

5 CHRISTMAS CAROLING PASTOR S OPEN HOUSE CAROLING: All are invited to spread some Christmas cheer to those shut into their homes on Saturday, December 17, We ll meet at the church at 2:45 pm and depart by 3 pm. OPEN HOUSE: All are welcome to enjoy some hot soup at Pastor s home on Saturday, December 17, 2016, from 6 pm to 9 pm. You re invited to bring a finger-food/dessert dish to pass. COMMUNITY EVENTS Fairgrove Christmas Light Parade WHEN? Friday, December 2, 2016 at 6 pm WHERE? downtown Fairgrove Living Nativity presented by Immanuel Lutheran, Frankentrost WHEN? Friday, December 2, 2016 from 7 to 9 pm Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 6 to 8 pm Sunday, December 4, 2016 from 6 to 8 pm WHERE? 8220 E Holland Rd., Saginaw, MI The Boar s Head Festival presented by Bethlehem Lutheran, Saginaw WHEN? Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 7:30 pm Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 7:30 pm Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 4 pm WHERE? 808 Weiss, Saginaw, MI, Free will donation. First come, first serve Holiday Sweet Sale and Luncheon by St Paul Lutheran, Caro WHEN? Friday, December 2, 2016 from 10 to 2 pm WHERE? 503 S. State St., Caro, MI QUILTING BEE SILENT AUCTION When? NOW through Sunday, Dec. 11th Where? Fellowship Hall Why? To support their efforts in sending quilts, health kits, school kits, and baby care kits around the world PRIVATE CONFESSION Private Confession and Absolution is available by appointment. You can call Pastor Haller at the church office or on his cell phone: (248) TRANSFER IN October 30, 2016: Jan and Paula Holubowicz from Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Loveland, CO

6 Serving our Lord in the Month of December Elders for December Aaron Reinbold and Joseph Bublitz Ladies Aid for December Diane Spencer Sunday, December 4, 2016 Greeters: Dave & Joanne Hills Ushers: Harold Burnison, Alex Imker, Ralph Knapp Refreshments: Joanne Bigham, Carolyn Carpenter, Melissa Couture, Joyce Dickson Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Dinner: Evangelism Board Sunday, December 11, 2016 Greeters: John & Ruth Ann Kaijala Ushers: Markel Lokinski, Ed McAlpine, Justin Fritz Refreshments: Lynn Dinsmoore, Ann Emery, Sharon Hadaway, Sarah Hall Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Dinner: Dan Reinbold & family Sunday, December 18, 2016 Greeters: Larry & Diane Spencer Ushers: Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz Refreshments: Joanne Hills, Ruth Ann Kaijala, Mary Masker, Karen Mendyk Saturday, December 24, 2016, 7 pm Ushers: Vic Trisch, Dave Weber, Earl Voss Saturday, December 24, 2016, 11 pm Ushers: Lee Voss, Bryan Hadeway, Wayne Disnmoore, Jason Hall Sunday, December 25, 2016, 10 am Ushers: David Hills, Johann Beneman, Gordon Bigham, Joseph Bublitz Saturday, December 31, 2016, 4 pm Ushers: Harold Burnison, Alex Imker, Ralph Knapp **If you are unable to provide refreshments when scheduled, please switch with someone on the list. **If your name is not on the Greeter and/or Refreshment list and you would like to serve, please contact the church office.

7 Serving our Lord in the Month of January Elders for December Brian Steinley Ladies Aid for January Diane Spencer Sunday, January 1, 2017 Greeters: Vic & Jean Trisch Ushers: Markel Lonkinski, Ed McAlpine, Justin Fritz Friday, January 6, 2017 Ushers: Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz Sunday, January 8, 2017 Greeters: Dave & Kristi Weber Ushers: Vic Trisch, Dave Weber, Earl Voss Refreshments: Susan Pfund, Sarah Reid, Joanne Reinbold, Georgia Siler Sunday, January 15, 2017 Greeters: Daryl & Holly Winter Ushers: Lee Voss, Bryan Hadeway, Wayne Dinsmoore, Jason Hall Refreshments: Diane Spencer, Irene Stange, Pat Starkey, Beth Hoppe Sunday, January 22, 2017 Greeters: Harold & Cindy Burnison Ushers: David Hills, Johann Beneman, Gordon Bigham, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Bev Voss, Helene Weber, Kristi Weber, Holly Winter Sunday, January 29, 2017 Greeters: Joyce Dickson & family Ushers: Harold Burnison, Alex Imker, Ralph Knapp Refreshments: Joanne Bigham, Carolyn Carpenter, Melissa Couture, Joyce Dickson **If you are unable to provide refreshments when scheduled, please switch with someone on the list. **If your name is not on the Greeter and/or Refreshment list and you would like to serve, please contact the church office.

A Letter from the Pastor. But even more important than that, more important than presents, holiday meals and parties is the fact that

A Letter from the Pastor. But even more important than that, more important than presents, holiday meals and parties is the fact that WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 1809 S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI 48733 church office: (989) 693-6322 church website: www.gracefairgrove.org Rev. Joshua T. Haller cell phone: (248) 794-3703