For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Transcription

1 1 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH st Street SE PO Box 118 Gwinner, ND Divine Service 10:00 am Every Sunday December 2016 Newsletter For Unto Us A Child Is Born Snow is arriving; decorations are going up; December is upon us. This means that we now turn our eyes towards the Christmas Season, where we will celebrate, remember, and receive this Child that was born to us some 2,000 years ago. Considering this, I would like to direct your attention to the details in this newsletter, where you will be able to see all the different Christmas events and services here at Zion for this Advent and Christmas Season! As you will see, we are going to have some great Advent Meals, which will give you all a night off from cooking! We also are having some Christmas Parties for the LWML and LYF. And most importantly, we will get to hear how the Lord came to us that Christmas long ago, through our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services. In This Issue Pastor s Note Youth Events December Birthdays Mission of the Month Christmas Celebrations Service Lists Calendar Pastor s Article So, please take some time to check out this newsletter, mark the important dates in your calendars, and let us receive the gift of Christmas - Christ Jesus our Lord - together. The Lord bless you during our Advent and Christmas Season. -Pastor Richard

2 2 Thank you! The Power of a Simple Gift Operation Christmas Child, The Shoe Box Gift sponsored by Zion Evening LWML was able to send out 50 Shoe Box Gifts this year. We would like to thank all who contributed towards this project. Your donations in monetary gifts or packing your own shoe box will brighten a child s Christmas. Boys and girls in dozens of countries are becoming faithful followers of Jesus and telling others the Good News. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Here I Stand - July Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN December Birthdays 3 Logan Essig 5 Michelle Brockman Samantha Timmerman 11 Jay Enderson 16 Andrew Greenmyer Grover Riebe 18 Hollie Asche 19 Jan Riebe 21 Joseph Greenmyer 22 Greg Nelson Andrew Fletcher 26 Annah Greenmyer 30 Carissa Stroh 31 Howie Neustel When? Where? Why? What to Bring? December 11 at 7:00pm St. John s Lutheran in Oakes Pastor Matt likes throwing diapers at you!! A gift worth as little as possible, preferably slightly embarrassing!

3 3 Mission of the Month Sargent County Food Pantry The Food Pantry provides food and personal products to those in need and is an opportunity for Zion to serve neighbors in local communities. Both cash donations and items are appreciated. Suggested items of need include: shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, tooth brushes, tooth paste, dish soap, dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, bathroom tissue, peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal, flour, sugar, cooking oil, cereal, crackers, canned foods. Place donated items in the box near the kitchen in Zion's fellowship hall. Thank you and please no homemade food. The Food Pantry is asking for volunteers to help one Tuesday afternoon per month. If you can help or have questions, call Cheryl Wyckoff at or Advent Series Wednesdays at 6:15pm Why Was Jesus Born? Born to Serve You November 30 Born to Live for You December 7 Born to Die for You December 14 Pastor s Office & Study Hours Make note of these: Parish Assistant Office Hours Monday Pastor s Day Off Tuesday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Wednesday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Thursday, Friday noon to 5:00 pm Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Wednesday 9:30am to 5:00 pm ziongwinner@gmail.com If Pastor is out for visitations, meetings, etc during the scheduled times above, he will generally have a be back soon sign on the church s front door informing you of his estimated time of return. Need to Contact Pastor? pastor@ziongwinner.org Cell: Office: Blog: Please call or either Pastor or the Church Office if you need spiritual care, know of somebody in the hospital needing a visit, have prayer submissions for the divine service, or for any other church related circumstance.

4 4 Ushers December 4 th Chris & Marsha Mathias 11 th Scott & Christine Bopp 18 th Jim & Marge Asche 24 th Brian & Tana McKenna 25 th Gary & Kay Drevlow January 1 st Rodney & Sandy Asche 8 th Kelly & Liz Neustel 15 th Joey & Cindy Enderson 22 nd Andy & Stephanie Stroh 29 th Brian & Tana McKenna Note: If you are unable to usher or acolyte on your scheduled date, we ask that you please contact another member to switch with. CHIP Families (Christians Held in Prayer) December 4 Crystal Fletcher Jacob, Jewell, Maggie & Andrew th Ave Milnor, ND December 11 Rick & Dawn Gaden April, Autumn, Lily 26 Broadway Ave E Delamere, ND Acolytes 4 th KyAnna Halmrast 11 th Brady McKenna 18 th Christina Mathias 24 th Brady McKenna 25 th Carissa Stroh December 18 Duane Gemar Four Season s Manor th St SW Forman, ND December 25 Collin & Betsy Greenley Hudson nd Ave W Lisbon, ND Counters 4 th Brian McKenna, Jason Asche, Jay Enderson 11 th Cindy Dietz, Bob Orn, Gary Drevlow 18 th Rodney & Sandy Asche, Jennifer Hansana 24 th Brian McKenna, Jason Asche, Jay Enderson 25 th Cindy Dietz, Bob Orn, Gary Drevlow 4 th to 10 th Cleaners List 18 th to 24 th Jason & Hollie Asche Jay & Karen Enderson Alex & Sam Opdahl Andy & Stephanie Stroh 11 th to 17 th Jan Swanson Scott & Teresa Illies Duane & Sharon Orth Jody Schreiner Roger & Kathy Schreiner Dale & Martha Asche Joey & Cindy Enderson Derek & Jennifer Wangler Lonnie Hoechst 25 th to 31 st Rodney & Sandy Asche Collin & Betsy Greenley Ella Rempfer Teresa Rodahl Kevin & Cindy Dietz *Please remember to sign your name on the chart on the bulletin board by the kitchen noting which area of the church you have cleaned*

5 5 December 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY pm Campbell/ Greenmyer Wedding shower am Sunday School for adults and children 10 am Divine Service *Communion 11 9 am Sunday School for adults and children 10 am Divine Service 5 pm LWML Christmas Party 7 pm LYF Christmas Party in Oakes Pastor s Day Off 10 am Staff Mtg 9 am Pastor s Study 12 Pastor s Day Off am Staff Mtg 3:30pm Program Practice 4pm Confirmation 5:15 pm Advent Meal 6:15 pm Vespers 8:00 pm Council Mtg 14 9am Pastor s Study 2 pm LWML 3:30pm Program Practice 4pm Confirmation 5:15 pm Advent Meal 6:15 pm Vespers am Sunday School for adults and children 10 am Divine Service *Communion Pastor s Day Off 10 am Staff Mtg *Newsletter Material Due 9am Pastor s Study 10:30 am 4Season s Chapel 4pm Confirmation 5:15 pm Advent Meal 6:30 pm Children s Christmas Program NO Sunday School for adults and children 10 am Christmas Day Divine Service *Communion NO Pastor s Study NO Confirmation Church Office Is Closed Pastor on Vacation 5 pm Campbell/ Greenmyer Wedding 5 pm Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols

6 6 Zion LWML Christmas Party The Afternoon and Evening LWML units will host their Annual Christmas Party at Zion on Sunday, December 11th at 5pm We encourage all members of the congregation to come and join us in great Christian Fellowship during this Advent season. New Year Open House Saturday, January pm Pastor and Serenity would love to open their home to the church family this New Year s Season. Please bring your family to the Parsonage for an evening of fellowship and goodies on Saturday, January 14 from 5-8 pm. Wednesday, December 21 6:30 pm Soup & Sandwich supper at 5:15 pm

7 7 Baneck accepts call to be LCMS Pastoral Education director LCMS North Dakota District President Rev. Dr. James A. Baneck of Mandan, N.D., has accepted the Divine Call to become executive director of LCMS Pastoral Ministry, effective Jan. 1. The Pastoral Ministry position has been vacant since June 2014, when the Rev. Dr. Glen D. Thomas left to accept a call to St. Paul s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Mo. Baneck is serving his third and final (due to term limits) three-year term as the North Dakota District president. The district s first vice-president, the Rev. Arie Bartsch of Minot, N.D., will complete the term as president, leading up to the election and installation of a president at the district s next convention in January In an to Reporter, Baneck wrote that he is honored and humbled to be selected for this position. I look forward to working with the universities, seminaries, the LCMS Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support [PALS] program and others, as we give particular focus to pastoral education in our beloved Synod. LCMS Chief Mission Officer Rev. Kevin Robson announcing Baneck s acceptance of the call in a Nov. 1 memo to LCMS staff members referred to him as a highly capable servant of the Church [who] brings a wealth of strong educational and work experiences, relational strengths and personal skills, and a deep-rooted heart for pastoral formation, all of which will serve the Synod well in the provision of crucial leadership, coordination and oversight for pre-seminary, seminary and post-seminary continuing education, and in advocacy for pastoral education and health within the Synod. Robson noted that among other activities, [Baneck] will serve as the advisory member of the recently constituted [by 2016 LCMS Convention Resolution 6-01] Pastoral Formation Committee, whose task is to ensure that the Synod s objective of training pastors is fulfilled consistently. Let us also prayerfully give thanks for Rev. Bart Day, who over the past several years has ably and diligently fulfilled these Pastoral Education unit-executive responsibilities on an interim basis, Robson wrote in the memo. Day is executive director of the Synod s Office of National Mission. Baneck indicated that he plans to relocate to St. Louis in December to assume the Pastoral Education post at the Synod s International Center. He said his wife, Myrna, plans to make the move after completing her teaching contract next May. The Banecks are the parents of four grown children.

8 Years of the Lutheran Reformation Southeast Circuit North Dakota District A Mighty Fortress is our God Reflection by Rev. Matthew Tooman In his hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Martin Luther points out the truth that we live lives over our heads. Satan strives up against us, and our power does not rise to the point of resistance, let alone victory. On our own and by ourselves, Satan has defeated us. The war is lost, and we are lost. Any thought that we might be able to stand and face the enemy falls under the category of delusion, and our delusion leads to hopelessness. When we sing this hymn, we confess this powerlessness. By faith, we set aside our delusion and we cry out along with Paul in Romans 7, Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? We also confess where we find comfort, hope, and peace. Our only peace comes from Jesus Christ our Lord who has come to face Satan in our lives. Jesus is on our side and He gives us the victory. He is our fortress and strength. In the face of suffering and pain and death, this brings us security. We know that this life produces much pain. The infection of sin so permeates our lives that confusion and danger, loss and hardship afflict us. We know that the Lord does not promise to take suffering away, but He does promise to get us through it all. With Luther, we recognize that Satan may be permitted to take from us our earthly wealth, our reputation, and even our family. But, by the Word of God, we are connected to Jesus who died and rose again, and we believe that we too will die and rise to new life. This means that we need not fear the foe, and we need not fear death. Death will come, but whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord s. There is nothing better! In Christ, we know that our suffering in this world will give way to greater joy in paradise. Martin Luther desired to teach at every turn that only Jesus saves us. We cannot save ourselves or even contribute to our salvation. We depend in every way upon the Lord for our salvation and our protection. We do not rise up to meet the Lord and so join our strength with His to win the victory. We are not empowered by the Lord to win the victory. He does it for us. "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" The opening line to this hymn is now emblazoned upon the 289-foot-tall tower of the Castle Church in Wittenberg where Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door.

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10 10 Zion Lutheran Church A Church of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod THE MISSION OF ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH IS TO CONTINUE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST BY BEING ROOTED IN THE WORD, BY GROWING IN FAITH, AND BY BRANCHING OUT WITH THE GOSPEL