The holidays always sneak up on us. As soon as I put the

Transcription

1 A Different Kind of Advent The holidays always sneak up on us. As soon as I put the Halloween candy away, Thanksgiving is almost here, and before I know it Christmas is over and we are moving into the new year. Happy New Year! You may not realize it, but the season of Advent, which, this year, arrives Sunday, Dec. 3, begins a new year in our liturgical (church) calendar. The Altar Guild will switch the paraments on our altar and pulpit to blue, the color of Advent, and you ll see the Advent wreath down front. The season of Advent lasts four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This year, Advent is late, so the Fourth Sunday of Advent falls on Dec. 24, which is also Christmas Eve. So, we ll have one combined morning service Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and then two festive evening services for Christmas Eve,, one at 5 p.m. led by the Praise Band, and the other at 10 p.m. led by organ. For many years I have tried to find a way to enjoy the holidays instead of spending my time attending holiday parties, making (and eating) Christmas cookies, buying presents and doing all the other things that come with holiday tradition. This year, I want to find a way to slow down and to not only survive the holidays but to enjoy them as well. That s why this year I am creating a different kind of Advent. Each Sunday, I will focus my sermons on a word Listen, Wait, Hope and Share. I will talk about how we traditionally see these words in the context of Advent and how we can look at them differently. I also will send a daily to those who subscribe with a brief bit of inspiration and motivation for this Christmas season. Some s will be a brief video, other s will be a blog post or something for you to listen to. If you are interested in subscribing, please go to faithgardner.org/advent2017 to sign up today. Pastor Joe Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 5 p.m., Led by Praise Band 10 p.m., Led by Organ Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him Faith Adopts CAC Family for Christmas O nce again, Faith has adopted a CAC family for Christmas. We are collecting monetary donations until Sunday, Dec. 10, so that Katie McGarry can purchase gifts specifically needed by this low-income family. Faith has done this for the past two years, and it is always greatly appreciated. This year s family has two children. Thank you all for your generosity.

2 You Will Never Wait Alone Note: The following is an excerpt from Pastor Joe s sermon Sunday, Nov. 12, based on Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids. As we move into Advent, this sheds light on who we are. One thing that I think we (Faith Lutheran) as a church can offer that no one else can is this idea that we will never wait alone. If there is something going on in your life right now that you are excited about, that you feel like you are going to burst any day because of this impossibly goods news, share that news so we can be excited and we can wait with you. Or if you feel like you cannot put one foot in front of the other because you are dreading something you don t know if it is going to be good or bad, but you are struggling, share that news so we can support you and walk with you and carry you if you need it. We are not always going to be prepared, but this community can ensure that no one is going to be locked out because they have run out of oil. Not only do we have oil in our lamp, not only do we have a spare to refill our lamp, but we as a community can pack even more to share with our neighbor in need. We as a community can celebrate with one another. We as a community can walk together and be prepared with and for one another. We as a community can wait together, making sure when the waiting is the hardest part that no one not one person has to wait alone. This is the message of the gospel that when times are tough we can turn to God for support, grace and love, but we can turn to one another, as well, that we can receive support from one another and that we can carry each other through the difficult times. Amen. FESTIVAL OF TREES Youth Group members and friends decorated and donated a tree to the 13th Annual Festival of Trees open now through Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Gardner Museum. Theme of Faith s tree is The Last Jedi. All proceeds from the raffle of the trees will benefit the museum. Marion Knoll is museum coordinator.

3 All Saints Sunday We remembered the following people, now in the Church Triumphant, on All Saints Sunday, Nov. 5: Tekla Bedard Ruth Bisbee Betty Boutell Dorothy Breda Carol Devine Elof Holmquist Astrid Johnson Sigrid Larsson Russ MacDonald Helga Nygard Judy Phillips Rosemary Pastor Louis Roder Frank Strahan Stella Strahan Altar Guild Workshop Dec. 3 An Altar Guild Workshop will be held Sunday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m., between the two worship services. Karen Anderson will teach and explain what is done each week for Holy Communion. The workshop should only last about 30 minutes. Please come and learn about this important mininstry. Questions? Contact Karen Anderson, After fellowship time, please remember to discard your paper products in the trash so that others may use a clean room. Women s Luncheon Dec. 5 On Tuesday, Dec. 5, women from Faith will meet for lunch at the Mountain Room, Monty Tech, Fitchburg. Please notify Maxine Pincott if you would like to join us. You can meet in the parking lot at Faith at 10:45 a.m. to car pool or be at Monty Tech by 11:30 a.m. In October, more than 14 women from Faith broke bread together at this popular venue operated by the school s culinary program. The menu changes daily. Gourmet desserts are only $2.50! HELP WANTED Energetic Lutherans who want to become more involved at Faith Lutheran Church! POSITION OPENINGS Worship Assistant Duties : Lead portions of service Read Psalm of the Day Prayers of the People Prayer after Communion Assist Pastor Joe to serve Communion Dismissal Lector Duties: Read two lessons Assist Pastor Joe to serve Communion Usher Duties: Hand out announcements and worship guide before service Collect offering Assist to bring Communion elements to Altar Direct people to Altar for Communion Altar Guild Duties: Usually serve one month at a time Spend minutes on Saturday to set up altar and Communion for Sunday Help Sunday to set up Communion for second service Wash Communion elements after second service Take altar linens home to wash Please Contact: Pastor Joe: Faith Lutheran: Mary Chace: Karen Anderson: Kendall Marinelli:

4 In 1977, during Advent, one of Faith s predecessor congregations First Lutheran Church held a Lucia Festival of Light, a tradition that dates back generations in Swedish-Lutheran churches in the USA. According to one legend, St. Lucia, a 3rdcentury martyr, wearing a crown of glowing candles, appeared in the dark to a band of lost, starving Vikings, bringing them food. St. Lucia Day, Dec. 13, honors the saint, initiates the Christmas season in Swedish households, and points to the birth of Christ, the light of the world. Can you recognize Lucia and any of her attendants? Today, many of them are active at Faith, serving on the Congregation Council and altar guild, teaching Sunday school, and as lectors. L U C I A Ed Opgenorth, organist; Tim Opgenorth and Dana Erickson, recorder duet. Pastor Emil G. Swanson lights the candles on the Advent wreath.

5 Clockwise, upper left, Astrid Johnson, chief baker, Gunhild Anderson and Florence Carlberg prepare refreshments in First s kitchen; Astrid s traditional Lucia buns (lussekatter); Lucia and her attendants in a relaxed moment with Nancy Anderson; Lucia and her court ready to begin their procession into the church sanctuary for their program of songs in English and Swedish; Pastor Emil G. Swanson places the traditional crown of candles on Lucia s head. Can you identify Lucia and any of her attendants? (Find their names on p. 6.)

6 Youth Group Activities Saturday, Dec. 2 Youth at the Movies. We are going to see the new movie, The Star. A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told the first Christmas. Sunday, Dec. 17 Ugly Sweater Party and Christmas Baskets for CAC. All youth 3rd grade to 12th grade are invited to an Ugly Sweater Party at the church Sunday, Dec. 17, at 12:30 pm. We will serve a festive Christmas lunch (Christmas cookies included) and pack Christmas baskets for the Gardner CAC. Please bring a wrapped gift, good for a boy or girl, no more than $10, for a fun gift exchange. Confirmation Class Confirmation Class meets Sunday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. in the Monadnock Room at Faith. Karen Sharpe Dec. 3 A.J. Rocheleau Dec. 8 Sylvia Dube Dec. 9 Ekatarina Rau Dec. 10 Ethan Pfeifle Dec. 11 Ray Pfeifle IV Dec. 11 Eleanor Russell Dec. 13 Cheryl Bourque Dec. 14 Lisa Cruz Dec. 14 Sara Jorgensen Dec. 16 Joyce Tyson Dec. 18 Gail Hoisington Dec. 19 Gerard Desrosiers Dec. 20 Scott Anderson Dec. 23 Seth Cochran Dec. 26 Andrew Fleming Dec. 30 On your birthday, may there be peace within you. St. Theresa Is your birthday missing? Misspelling? Please call the church office at so we may celebrate the day God introduced you to the world. Who Are They? LUCIA and HER MAIDENS Idents for photo on p.5: Jody Opgenorth (left), Lisa Michaud (now Tenney), Kristi Pfeifle, Jennifer Michaud (now Chagnon), Ellen Anderson (now Johnson) as Lucia, Karin Johnson, Tina Anderson, Sandy Erickson and Virginia Strahan (now Sistah). YUMBO GUMBO Tamara helps our Youth Group (Zoe, Genna and Addy) prepare Tiana s special Gumbo recently during a Faith and Food program after church. Pastor Joe showed Disney s The Princess and the Frog. Faith Welcomes Alcoholics Anonymous Monday through Friday 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday noon to 1 p.m.

7 Church Staff Pastor Joe McGarry Organist Sue Sawyer Band Director Bob Boutwell Office Secretary Andi Hinckley Sexton Ray Pfeifle IV Pastor Joe McGarry Contact Us Faith Lutheran Church 627 Green St., Gardner, MA Church Office Hours Andi, our church secretary, is usually in the Church Office: Tuesdays, 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Please Call the Church Office When: You or a family member is sick or in the hospital; You are planning a meeting or scheduling an event, so it can be placed on the church calendar; A baby is expected in your family; You want to arrange for a baptism or wedding; A family member has died; Your telephone number or address has changed or if you are planning to move, locally or out of town; You feel the Church can help you in any way. Pastor Joe McGarry is available by appointment. Please call the office: or pastor@ faithgardner.org. In an emergency, you can reach Pastor Joe on his cell: Sunday Worship Dec. 3, 10 and 17 (Advent 1-3) 9 a.m., Contemporary worship with praise band 10 a.m., Sunday school 11 a.m., Traditional worship with organ Dec. 24, Advent 4 and Christmas Eve 10 a.m., Combined morning worship 5 and 10 p.m., Festive Christmas Eve worship Dec. 31, New Year s Eve 9 a.m., Contemporary worship with praise band 10 a.m., Sunday school 11 a.m., Traditional worship with organ After worship, join us for Coffee and Fellowship! COUNCIL MINUTES AVAILABLE A white three-ring binder containing copies of minutes from all Council meetings is located on a table in the narthex for anyone to view. It is updated monthly. Anyone with questions about Council meetings is urged to contact any member of the Council. Congregation Council President Ray Pfeifle III Steve Nolin Vice President Secretary Jennifer Chagnon Treasurer Steve Pincott Peg Knowlton April Lunny Dave Palojarvi Paula Rocheleau Congregation Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Faith. Open sessions. Minutes are posted on the bulletin board. Watch Pastor Joe s latest sermon on YouTube: faithgardner.org/youtube Connect with us on Facebook: facebook. com/faithlutherangardner

8 On the Calendar at Faith Faith Lutheran Church / 627 Green Street / Gardner MA / December 1 (Friday) December 2 (Saturday) Youth Group at the Movies December 3 (FIRST SUNDAY of ADVENT) Worship 9 and 11 a.m. Faith Learning 10 a.m. Altar Guild Workshop 10 a.m. December 4 (Monday) December 5 (Tuesday) Women s Luncheon, Monty Tech, Fitchburg December 6 (Wednesday) December 7 (Thursday) December 8 (Friday) December 9 (Saturday) December 10 (SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT) Worship 9 and 11 a.m. Faith Learning 10 a.m. Confirmation Class 10 a.m. December 11 (Monday) NEWSLETTER DEADLINE December 12 (Tuesday) Congregation Council 6:30 p.m. December 13 (Wednesday) December 14 (Thursday) December 15 (Friday) December 16 (Saturday) December 17 (THIRD SUNDAY of ADVENT) Worship 9 and 11 a.m. Faith Learning 10 a.m. Ugly Sweater Party for Youth 12:30 p.m. December 18 (Monday) December 19 (Tuesday) December 20 (Wednesday) December 21 (Thursday) December 22 (Friday) December 23 (Saturday) December 24 (FOURTH SUNDAY of ADVENT) Joint Worship 10 a.m. December 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE) Worship with Praise Band 5 p.m. Worship with Organ 10 p.m. December 25 (Monday, Christmas) Church Office Closed December 26 (Tuesday) Men s Group 6:30 p.m. (Tentative) December 27 (Wednesday) December 28 (Thursday) December 29 (Friday) December 30 (Saturday) December 31 (Sunday, New Year s Eve) Worship 9 and 11 a.m. Faith Learning 10 a.m. NOTE: Dates and times of meetings at Faith during the week may change. Please call the church to verify. Newsletter Deadline: Dec. 11 (FIRM) office@faithgardner.org