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

Transcription

1 WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 1809 S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI church office: (989) church website: Rev. Joshua T. Haller cell phone: (248) DECEMBER 2017 JANUARY 2018 A Letter from the Pastor JESUS IS COMING. Winter always seems to sneak up on us. Every year, we re surprised at how cold it gets and how quickly it happens. Each November, we wish we spent more time outside in those summer days when the sun set late in the evening, when the grass was green and the sky was blue. Now, all of that is gone. It s dark, and it s cold. It s dreary and gray. And yet, we re still surprised by it. We knew it was coming, and yet, it still upsets us that winter is here. It s now the season for spending more time indoors, warming ourselves with a hot cup of soup or around a roaring fire. It s time for Christmas commercials and carols, for shopping and eating good food. It s time for family and traveling. It may be dreadful outside, and yet we re as busy as ever. There s much to do, and very little time to do it. We have our lists to check off and errands to run, our tasks to finish and deadlines to meet. There s a lot of pressure this time of the year, which is why many people become depressed during the holidays. Christmas is coming. But even more important than that, more important than presents, holiday meals and parties is the fact that Jesus is coming. This has been our focus the last few weeks in the Divine Service, and it will continue to be our focus leading up to Christmas. The last few Sundays of the Church Year and the first four Sundays of the new Church Year (the season of Advent) are focused on the coming again of Christ. Jesus made a promise to us, and he s not a liar. He will come back. The day is surely drawing near. The Bridegroom will return. This should cause us to worry a bit. It should bring about some sense of fear. God s coming back to judge the living and the dead, and we ll have to give an account of all that we ve done. It should cause us to panic far more than any other plans we might be making. It will surprise us more than winter s arrival, coming like a thief in the night. Our preparation for the Last Day should far outweigh our preparations in making Christmas cookies, getting the best deal on our gifts, or putting up trees and other decorations. Our focus ought not to be on this life but the life that is to come.

2 This year, don t let the doom and gloom of the wintery season get you down, and don t allow the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season let you forget about the Christ, who is to come. The Divine Service is really what gets us back on track. We come as poor beggars seeking God s mercy before he comes again in glory. We confess every week that we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. We bow before that judge and his throne, as he graciously serves us from his table, feeding us with the true bread from heaven. Every Sunday, we re prepared for Christ to come back. Our eyes are set on him and not on worldly prizes. Christmas is for us not just another holiday, but it reminds us that this same Christ who came in a manger will one day come again on a cloud with power and great glory. Christmas is about God becoming man, taking on our body of flesh, that he might reconcile us to the Father in his body of flesh by his death (Colossians 1:22). At Christmas, God came. In the church, he still comes. And we wait for him to come again that he might judge the living and the dead. Don t lose sight on the end by focusing so much on the present. All of this on earth will one day fail you and go away, but the one who has no end, who will never leave you nor forsake you, he s coming back. And he s coming back for you. He loves you. He forgives you. And he wants to bring you home. In Christ, Pastor Haller THE REASON I BELIEVE by Allen Quist In this day and age, Christianity isn t just unpopular, it s irrational. Christians are considered crazy for believing that some God created the whole world in just six days. Christians are fools for thinking that some man could save that world in just one afternoon. Although the Gospel is irrational and does surpass all understanding, that doesn t mean it s a lie. In fact, the claims of the Bible can be defended and proven to be true. This defense of what the Bible teaches is called apologetics. Starting on Sunday, January 21, 2018, we ll being studying Christian apologetics in our Sunday morning Adult Bible Class using Allen Quist s new book The Reason I Believe: The Basics of Christian Apologetics. You can order this book through the church for only $11 by signing up on the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Any more questions about Christian apologetics, the book, or the Bible Study feel free to speak with Pastor Haller. Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 at 7 PM As it took place last year, the singing voices of both the children and adult choirs will join together on Christmas Eve night to sing a joyful noise to the Lord. As we begin in the book of Genesis and end up at the manger of our Lord, we see our God s hand throughout history, as he fulfills the promise made to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and to us today the promise of his Son, Christ the Lord. Practices continue on Sunday mornings for the children and on Wednesday evenings after the Advent Midweek service for the adults. A rehearsal for both children and adults will take place on Friday, December 22nd, at 5 pm.

3 December Divine Services (services with Holy Communion) Sunday, December 3, 2017 First Sunday in Advent Matthew 21:1-9 Wednesday, December 6, 2017 Advent Midweek I Matthew 26:26-29 Sunday, December 10, 2017 Second Sunday in Advent Divine Service Setting 1 Luke 21:25-36 Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Advent Midweek II John 6:48-59 Sunday, December 17, 2017 Third Sunday in Advent Matthew 11:2-10 Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Advent Midweek III Luke 14:7-11 Sunday, December 24, 2017 Fourth Sunday in Advent Luke 1:39-56 Sunday, December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Luke 2:1-14 Monday, December 25, 2017 The Nativity of Our Lord John 1:1-14 Sunday, December 31, 2017 Eve of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus Divine Service Setting 1 Luke 2:21 January Divine Services (services with Holy Communion) Saturday, January 6, 2017 The Epiphany of Our Lord Matthew 2:1-12 Sunday, January 7, 2017 The Baptism of Our Lord Matthew 3:13-17 Sunday, January 14, 2017 Second Sunday after the Epiphany Divine Service Setting 1 John 2:1-11 Sunday, January 21, 2017 The Transfiguration of Our Lord Matthew 17:1-9 Sunday, January 28, 2017 Septuagesima Matthew 20:1-16 ADVENT MIDWEEK SERVICES The season of Advent isn t simply pre-christmas. Its focus isn t just on the coming of the Christ-child in Bethlehem but also on the coming again of Christ in glory on the Last Day. Advent is a time of self-reflection and repentance. It s also been a time of catechesis and particular study of God s Word. This year during the Advent Midweek services, we will be studying the sixth chief part of Luther s Small Catechism the Sacrament of the Altar. As Jesus came in Bethlehem and will come on the final day, he also comes today in the church through bread and wine. Because we re studying the Lord s Supper on Wednesday nights, we ll also be receiving it in the service. December 6, 2017: What is it? December 13, 2017: What s it give? December 20, 2017: Who receives it?

4 KNOWN JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 3 Helene Weber 6 Isabella Reinbold 13 Helen Osborn 16 Sarah Reid 17 Lee Voss 18 Neal Rushford 24 Jordan Dickson 26 Ruth Ann Kaijala 27 Hannah Beneman Johann Beneman 28 Anna Weber Sarah Hall 29 David Spyker 30 Joe Bublitz KNOWN JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES 24 Vic & Jean Trisch KNOWN DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Monika Siler Sadie Palm 3 Isaac Seeley 4 Kendra Weber Lynn Dinsmoore 6 Leslie Reinbold Richard Hadaway 15 Tegan Voss 16 John Kaijala Steven Reinbold 18 Ralph Knapp 21 Andrew Dickson Erik Howland 24 Marilyn Cottrell 26 Sarah Pierce 27 Sharon Hadaway KNOWN DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 6 Steve & Melinda Reinbold 9 Richard & Marilyn Cottrell OFFICIAL ACTS Marriage Benjamin & Brittany Howell (nee Southgate) November 11, 2017 donations THUMB AREA CRISIS CENTER donations can be placed in box under fellowship hall window DECEMBER children s toothbrushes & toothpaste THE GIVING TREE Donations can be placed on or under the Christmas tree in the narthex. All will be given to the Veterans Home in Akron. socks gloves hats men s toiletries QUILTING BEE old and/or new sheets cotton fabrics CHRISTMAS CAROLING & PARSONAGE OPEN HOUSE December 16, 2017 Caroling: meet at church at 2:45 pm Open House: 6 pm to 9 pm (bring an appetizer or desert) **COMMUNITY EVENTS** ANNUAL SWEET SALE & LUNCHEON St. Paul Lutheran Church 503 S. State St., Caro, MI Friday, December 1, 2017 Sweet Sale: 10 am to 2 pm Lunch: 11 am to 1 pm ($8.00) LIVING NATIVITY Immanuel Lutheran Church Frankentrost 8220 E. Holland Rd., Saginaw MI Friday, December 1, 2017, from 7 pm to 9 pm Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 6 pm to 8 pm Sunday, December 3, 2017, from 6 pm to 8 pm SPIRIT OF THE SEASON: COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS MUSIC CELEBRATION St. Paul Lutheran Church 503 S. State St., Caro, MI Sunday, December 10, 2017, 7 pm free-will offering

5 A FEW CHANGES TO THE DIVINE SERVICE The Divine Service is God s gift to you. It s how he, the Divine One, serves you. He forgives you, teaches you, and feeds you. It is his service to you. As we gather in his house to be served by him, we gather in the holiest of places receiving the holiest of things. Being in his presence, certain reverence and respect is to be expected. A few changes have been made in the way we conduct the Divine Service that will assist us in giving God such reverence. alb & stole Most Christian pastors wear a robe (also called an alb ) and a stole (a piece of cloth hanging around the neck) every Sunday. Some also might wear what s called a chasuble (chaz-yuh-buh l), which literally means little castle or little house. Chasubles have been worn by Christian pastors since the fifth century to indicate the celebrant, that is the pastor who serves in the Service of the Sacrament. Like the alb and stole, the chasuble is worn by a pastor to cover himself, so that he isn t the focus but, rather, Christ is. The beauty of a stole or chasuble is to represent the beauty and glory of Christ. Church is different from the rest of the world. We receive things we can t receive anywhere else. And so, the clothes a pastor wears are different. They are used to bring reverence and respect to the God we worship. Grace Lutheran has had a white chasuble (worn during the seasons of Christmas, Easter, and other feast days) for a few years now. Pastor Haller has also recently worn a red chasuble (Pentecost, Reformation Sunday, other feast days) and a violet chasuble (for Advent and Lent). alb, stole, & chasuble Along with the pastor wearing different clothes, so also the elder who assists the pastor with Holy Communion covers himself, wearing what is called a cassock and surplice. You may have seen these worn when we have a special service with the processional cross, candles, and Bible. The elder also will be communing first before the congregation. It s a good practice that all those who are to handle the holy body and blood of Jesus should first receive the body and blood of Jesus. In addition to what is worn during the Divine Service, how one acts in God s house is also important and speaks volumes as to what one believes is taking place throughout the service. We are in the presence of God, and we should act like it. We do this by standing for certain parts of the service (the Gospel Reading and when we pray), lowering our heads, closing our eyes, or making the sign of the cross. Traditionally, such reverence is also shown during the Words of Institution, as the bread and wine are consecrated and separated as Christ s body and blood. The pastor may raise above his head both the host (the bread) and the chalice (the cup of wine) to elevate our Lord s flesh and blood for all to see and adore. He may also genuflect at the altar in reverence toward our Lord who now comes to us in the sacrament. To genuflect is to bow with one knee all the way to the ground. In the Gospels, we hear of many who would worship Jesus in the same way. Pastor Haller has begun to do both of these things raising the elements and genuflecting, and both give reverence and respect to the God who comes to us in bread and wine. Any questions on these new practices or anything else that might pertain to the Divine Service, feel free to ask Pastor Haller!

6 Serving our Lord in the Month of December Elders for December Thomas Reid & Joseph Bublitz Ladies Aid for December Diane Spencer & Joanne Bigham Sunday, December 3, 2017 Greeters: Ed & Lil McAlpine Refreshments: Ashley Bublitz, Cindy Burnison, Carolyn Carpenter, Joyce Dickson Wednesday, December 6, 2017 Ushers: Lee Voss, Jason Hall, David Weber, Joseph Bublitz Sunday, December 10, 2017 Greeters: Marge Montgomery Ushers: Ed McAlpine, Earl Voss, Hunter Reid, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Sandy D Addezio, Ann Emery, Sharon Hadaway, Sarah Hall Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Ushers: David Hills, Harold Burnison, Joseph Bublitz Sunday, December 17, 2017 Greeters: Sarah Pierce Ushers: Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Joanne Hills, Beth Hoppe, Ruth Ann Kaijala, Nancy Keyes Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Sunday, December 24, :15 am Divine Service Greeters: Susan Pfund Ushers: Lee Voss, Jason Hall, David Weber, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Mary Masker, Lil McAlpine, Karen Mendyk, Marge Montgomery 7:00 pm Lessons and Carols Ushers: Ed McAlpine, Earl Voss, Hunter Reid, Joseph Bublitz 11:00 pm Candlelight Divine Service Ushers: David Hills, Harold Burnison, Joseph Bublitz Monday, December 25, :00 am Divine Service Ushers: Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz, Joseph Bublitz Sunday, December 31, 2017 Greeters: Tom & Sarah Reid Refreshments: Sarah Pierce, Susan Pfund, Sarah Reid, Heather Reinbold **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. **the Secondary Elder assigned for that month will also serve as the fourth usher. **If you re not able to serve on a particular Sunday, please call another usher to replace you.

7 Serving our Lord in the Month of January Elders for January Brian Steinley & Joseph Bublitz Ladies Aid for January Joanne Bigham & Joanne Hills Saturday, January 6, 2017 at 4 pm Ushers: Lee Voss, Jason Hall, David Weber, Joseph Bublitz Sunday, January 7, 2017 Greeters: Aaron & Heather Reinbold Ushers: Ed McAlpine, Earl Voss, Hunter Reid, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Tracey Reinbold, Joanne Reinbold, Leslie Reinbold, Diane Spencer Sunday, January 14, 2017 Greeters: Dan & Tracey Reinbold Ushers: David Hills, Harold Burnison, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Irene Stange, Bev Voss, Helene Weber, Kristi Weber Sunday, January 21, 2017 Greeters: Leslie Reinbold Ushers: Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Holly Winter, Joanne Bigham, Ashley Bublitz, Cindy Burnison Sunday, January 28, 2017 Greeters: Steve & Melinda Reinbold Refreshments: Carolyn Carpenter, Sandy D Addezio, Joyce Dickson, Ann Emery **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. **the Secondary Elder assigned for that month will also serve as the fourth usher. **If you re not able to serve on a particular Sunday, please call another usher to replace you.