The. From the Pastor s Desk: The New Liturgical Year is Here! Inside this Issue. Shines with Grace Lutheran Church News.

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1 The Shines with Grace Lutheran Church News Grace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I write for our December edition of The Beacon on Sunday evening, November 20, 2016, which is the Sunday we have celebrated as Christ the King Sunday. On this particular festival Sunday we embraced the sacramental act of baptism for Cole Barcikowski whereby Cole was eternally established as a child of God, marked by the cross of Christ forever! We who are the family of God by our baptisms celebrate regularly God s good purpose in the human story and in the story of our lives. Regularly we gather to nurture one another, be we as young as Cole or as aged as the eldest person worshipping at Grace Lutheran Church, Red Lion, in faith in the triune God and in the hope that is ours in Jesus who has been raised from the dead... To help focus us in our gathering and in our nurturing we make good use of the liturgical year. Our liturgical year has seasons, as does our calendar year; those of the calendar year. We begin with the Season of Advent when our focus is upon the reality that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. In our larger culture words such as sin and judgement are thought to be defective words or concepts, not kind, not helpful, not building of the optimism and denial we so want to embrace. But in truth sin does abound and when it abounds it always hurts and debilitates the people whose lives it dominates, be those people the sinner (which we all are) or those sinned against and or those who love the sinner and dearly wish the sinner would behave otherwise; a concern motivated by love for the one behaving badly. The badly that we in our sin commit is always relational in our interaction with one another. If I drink too much, if I drug wrong, if I drive my car while texting or drunk well you get the point! When I do any of these deadly things, I am sinning against God, neighbor (be that neighbor my spouse, my child, my parent, my co-workers, etc.), and even myself. God does not desire the death of sinners, December, 2016 From the Pastor s Desk: The New Liturgical Year is Here! Give a smile, Get one back, Give a hug And see the smile... It s Happening at Grace Lutheran! nor does God desire that we persist in our sin. God desires life for us, rich, abundant, embracing good, embracing a future of relationship to and with those whom we encounter in this life s experience. In Advent we embrace the deep truth and recognition that Christ will come again to judge us, to see, and declare that in our lives which is sin, and then, I believe, to invite us to His recognition, His vision of our lives; to make apology for our sin, to recognize the pain it has brought to others, and then to receive the embrace of his arms and His father s arms, and love for us. Following Advent is the Season of Christmas, a that has dwelt among us full of grace and truth. In the Season of Christmas we joy in the coming of God into the creation that God has created through the Word that we might live not as the world lives and does, but as our heavenly Father s kingdom to come invites us to live in this creation, not necessarily and always (Continued on page 2) Inside this Issue Giving Opportunities...2 Christmas Poinsettias...2 Highlights from the Congregational Meeting...3 Teddy Bears are Needed...3 Family Christmas Eve Service...3 Luther s Small Catechism, Continued...4 ELCA Announces Volunteer Ministries...4 Council News...5 Food Pantry Ministry...5 Project Pride...6 Thank You Notes...6 Book Club...6 What s in the Showcase?...7 Lutheran Camping News...7 T.O.G.S...7 What s in the Display Case...7 Birthdays, Anniversaries & Flowers...7 Calendar...8

2 as we ought, often but as we are able. In that living we ponder in the Christmas Season the love of our heavenly Father s love for us. After Christmas we step into the Season of Epiphany when we celebrate the light of Christ burst forth upon the world. In the Season of the Sundays after the Epiphany we explore biblical texts focusing on how Jesus light bursts forth in this creation and the joy His light bursts forth upon the creation. Following Epiphany we move into Lent, a somber time as we focus upon the way of the cross, the way that our Lord Jesus Christ walked in his self-giving love for us and for all the people of the world. The way of the cross, the way that culminates in our religious traditions, traditions that often seek a good morality and caring purpose analogous to the best of the Christian tradition s intent, advocacy, and purpose. We who are the church, however, see in this Jesus who walks the way of the cross and who arrives at death, not escaping death but in a sense embracing death, the one who is the redeemer, the savior of the world. And we hopefully deeply understand that the redemption Jesus walks for our sakes he also invites us to participate in for the sake of others, even when that redeeming action on our part is the way of the cross, the way that love embraces for the sake of the other. For the sake of the other NOT for the sake of one s own accumulations and pleasures and leisures and lording over others, but for the sake of love and for the sake of the other, even when that other is a strange and alien other. The full darkness of death and the Lent Season comes to us in Holy Week when we immerse in the Sunday of the Palms AND the Sunday of the Passion, then coming together in the terrible and beautiful intimacy with God and one another in our Maundy Thursday Service at which we embrace Holy Communion and Strip the Altar, remembering the last earthly night of Jesus prior how it was for his disciples during those hours. We death on Good Friday, the last day of Holy Week. We know the pain of our Lord and of those who loved him, and we remember how even in that pain of death he loved beyond our ready comprehension to forgive even his enemies, even as it is very clear death is winning the day and having its way. AND suddenly Easter Day and its joy explodes upon us, and we joy with the disciples in their experience and witness that Jesus the Christ is Risen from death and the dead, and we in great gladness share these words with one another: He is risen indeed! Then for seven Sundays we joy in Easter celebration, at the end of which celebration we remember Pentecost, upon the church and witness to the resurrection of Jesus was given in many tongues to people of many lands. With the coming of Pentecost comes the season of the Sundays after the Pentecost (a season we often reference in a shorthand sort of way, the Season of Pentecost) wherein we recall the purpose and the action of God in Jesus to redeem and save the creation that Father and Son love. In this season, as we do in other seasons, we invite one another, we encourage one another to mimic as we are able the acts of human good and human kindness into which Jesus invites that the deaf may hear, the blind may see, the broken may be raised, the world may be fed, and the miracles that God intends to immerse the human experience in life rather than death burst forth in an ever bursting froth of good! Such is the life intended for us in the year to come after Christ the King Sunday, Sunday November 20, In this year to come, wherever the year takes us, may we commit to being with Jesus and our siblings in him as we gather to be the church, hear the Word, receive the sacraments, and going forth into the world to serve the purpose of our Heavenly Father and our Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. Have a good year! Pastor Ed Giving to Those in Need Grace Lutheran Food Pantry - If you wish to place a gift listing for commemoration instead of purchasing a minimum gift required to be listed with the Christmas Lutheran World Relief for world hunger envelopes are available in the usual places in the pew racks and in your envelope packet. Please place your payment with this form in the plate or in the Treasurer s lockbox. 2 Christmas Poinsettias printed on salmon colored paper and can be found in information areas around the church. The deadline to order is December 4. If you order red, delivery is guaranteed. If you order white or pink, delivery depends on availability. Order early!

3 Summary of the Annual Congregation meeting The meeting was held on November 12. The Beacon is reporting on the questions, comments and concerns that were raised during the deliberation. The big discussion centered around the computer software had this year, which has become a large unexpected expense. Our entire computer system crashed as well. We had no backup for some records, but we now have storage in the cloud. There was also debate and comment about having an outside contractor having password control of all the church passwords. Currently, the contractor who is helping to repair and implement Powerchurch (our church software), has both access to the passwords of everyone, and he works on the software himself. The council is hoping to have the outside consultants be a temporary necessity and something will eventually be in place to ensure security and consistency for the future. Another issue we have is a possible audit next year. If that happens, we will have to reconvene to authorize the funds needed for this. It is of note that any large expense has to be authorized by the Congregation in a costs that come up during the year, nor does it cover surprise expenses. The budget we approved is our best guess at what will happen in A question was asked about the scholarship fund. is spent. It goes to Seminary candidates. This fund is separate from the Lutheran Camping Corporation scholarship money. candidates, was completed and sent for approval. We that occurs, we can begin interviewing candidates. An important change for this call search is that we can now interview up to three candidates at a time instead of one. In past call searches we had to interview one candidate at a time and call or not call before we could look at other candidates. Another large discussion was regarding the proposed all members. The change was approved, although it was the only item in the meeting that did not get a unanimous vote. Going forward the Treasurer will be He or she will serve a two year term and OVERSEE the create a clear boundary between paid employees and council members. an age of technology. We previously had a temporary working on this. Finally, Cora Sue Herbst pointed out a mistake in the printed report. Her report was added to the budget, even though it is not a part of the budget for The in so far in 2016, not the proposed budget for Additionally, the report had an error in March. The money was not given to Pastor Tina by Cora Sue, but it was allocated by Pastor Tina, which was then sent to a missionary family in Africa. This should not have been done, as the money collected in Noisy in the Kondi Diocese. (Unfortunately, a high school education is not a right in Africa). It s That Cuddly Time of the Year Again This year we will be collecting Teddy Bears until the 18th of December when they will be used for our Christmas distribution. It has become increasingly use them to bring joy to the children and grandchildren of our clients. Bears do not have to be new but should be clean and in good repair. Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel The Family Christmas Eve Service will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the 24th of December. Our program this year is titled The Gospel of Christmas and will include readings, lots of music, communion and the traditional candle lighting. Since the program is designed for families that often include very young children, the service will last for minutes. Children under glow sticks to take home in place of a candle. Please mark your calendars now so that you can come to celebrate Jesus' birth with us at Grace. 3

4 Continuing our Exploration of Luther s Small Catechism by Pastor Ed In last month s The Beacon we introduced a series of articles intended for publication in The Beacon over the next several months discussing Luther s Small Catechism. Luther s Small Catechism is an excellent resource for us to use as a means to think about how it is we are to behave in the world as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not give us quick, ready answers, but instead provides a resource of depth for each of us to consider in the particularities of our relationships and life circumstances how we can go about keeping the two great commandments, to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In this commandments, the table focusing upon God and our relationship with God. The First Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What is this? Answer: We are to fear, love, and trust God above all things. Is God Calling You? The Lower Susquehanna Synod celebrates the diverse gifts of its members and asks that members consider sharing those gifts in leadership roles in this comprised of the one member of each conference and three representatives from Synod Council, is seeking volunteers who are willing to be nominated for election to the following ministries: (two clergy, two lay female and one lay male). Each member serves a three-year term, with a two term limit. Synod Council youth We need one youth, who is a voting member of a congregation not yet 18 at the time of election. The members serve two-year terms, especially seeking nominees from the Chambersburg, Dauphin and West Shore Conferences. (three clergy and three lay). Each member serves a six year term, with one term limit. clergy and two lay) serving a six year term with a one term limit. people: Bible Reading: Exodus 32 The Second Commandment: You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. What is this? Answer: We are to fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice magic, lie, or deceive using God s name, but instead use that very name in every time of need to call on, pray to, praise, and give thanks to God. Bible Reading: Leviticus 24:10-16 The Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. What is this? Answer: We are to fear and love God, so that we do not despise God s Word or preaching, but instead keep that Word holy and gladly hear and learn it. Bible Reading: Luke 10: Rev. Dana Blouch-Hanson: pastordanabh@gmail.com Sister Deborah McClellan (Hanover): sisterdebmcc@comcast.net Rev. Patrick Wirick (Harrisburg): pastorwirick@verizon.net Rev. Daniel Long (Lancaster): pastor.dan@zionep.org Rev. Timothy Craven, dean (North Lancaster): revtic@ptd.net revbarb.barry@gmail.com Rev. Nancy Knol (Perry): nknol@verizon.net kakuehl@aol.com Rev. Jerri Carlin (West Cumberland): revjerricarlin@gmail.com Rev. John Brock, dean (West Shore): john.brock@trinitycamphill.com titusclarke@gmail.com Zoe Clark (Synod Council Representative): zoe.l.clark@gmail.com M. Jane Wigand (Synod Council Representative): mjwigand@comcast.net

5 Minutes from the October meeting were reviewed and approved. News please watch the bulletins for more information on this event. Pastor Ed reported an average of hours worked per week since coming to us as an interim. He has also logged 551 miles from September 13 through November 7. His original contract with us was estimated at 22.5 contract to bring his hours to a more realistic number but he preferred to let the current contract ride for the remainder of this year. Pastor Ed also reported that he suggested he pull some of his compensation from his housing allowance to cover the increase. Nothing further was suggested nor voted on at this time by council. by council and some very slight wording changes, council step in the call process. I just was informed that council will be meeting with members from the synod and call next phase of the process. T.O.G.S. are wrapping up their M&M campaign and are now collecting gently used winter coats. Soon they will be taking orders for cookies which they plan on baking during the lock-in here at the church on December 10. (Good luck to Joe and Pris Torek, chaperones). Please see a T.O.G.S. member for ordering information. The T.O.G.S. are also planning something for Souper Bowl Sunday; Tis the season to feed the hungry Thanksgiving distribution was very busy with 285 clients receiving not only food but many treasures from the sanctuary. Volunteers on Sunday helped to display the donations while others assembled things in the welcome center. Volunteers had packed the boxes on Saturday, November 3 and 10 while others had tediously packed newly purchased boxes with cleaning of December. Packing boxes will occur on Saturday, December 3 and 10 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Food Pantry. Sanctuary set-up will be on Sunday the 18th beginning after the traditional service. Instead of purchasing turkeys, Jack asks that you donate the cost to the pantry so that he can purchase turkeys that are all the same weight. As always, we can use more volunteers to help at every activity. If you want to truly feel the blessings of Christmas, come out to help! 5 strategy, has been reviewing our Trusts and investment company portfolios to move forward with re-investment for more favorable returns on investments. concerning surrounding neighbors using our parking lot. Those using our parking lot have been re-informed of our policy and informed if they fail to comply with their agreed upon permit, their cars will be towed at their expense and they could face having their permit revoked. Property is still waiting for quotes on parking lot lights and security camera upgrades. Mission and Discipleship asked Council for approval to add a communion card, special envelopes and an Approval was granted. Council reviewed the new slate of council candidates members. The agenda for the Annual Meeting was reviewed and approved. A quick review of the new overtime rules and regulations was presented by Pastor Ed. More will be presented and discussed by Council soon. How to submit to the Newsletter an event you are planning in the church, tell people about something you or your family are doing, thank members, celebrate a victory. The possibilities communicate between members in a clear and interesting format. If you would like to submit to the *If you are comfortable with computers, you may Chris Jacobs at: kndsis1@yahoo.com. Please make sure your document is either a.doc make sure it is at least 300KB in size. located on a table across the hall. Please keep in mind that the deadline for submission is the 20th of each month for the following month s complement your submission, include them along with directions or suggestions on their use. Please include your contact information in every submission so the editor can get in touch to clarify or fact-check. If you are interested in a monthly submission or article, we welcome that as well.

6 Community Service Project Pride Christmas gift giving for the Red Lion Area School district has made a change in their Christmas gift giving program for selected children. Instead of having members of church congregations purchase gifts, they would like us to contribute the money (checks) that we would have put into gifts toward Red Lion Project Pride with Holiday Help in the subject line. clothing needs, and musical instruments for students you can donate that same amount of money to this project, however any amount of support is welcome. There will be envelopes provided for your donations of cash or check with the above mentioned designation. All monies should be received by December 4. Thank you for your continued compassion to the children and their families that reside within the school district. Project Pride contact person. The book club meets every third Thursday. The book we are reading for December is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Goodreads.com has this summary: After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own. Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, who has already killed Bod's family... Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his modern classic Coraline. with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages. If you would like to read the book, contact Geri Jacobs or Jennifer Rudolf for a copy to borrow. Book Club 6 Letters of thanks to Grace Lutheran A letter from Wicky Barnes Dear members of Grace Lutheran Church, Grace and peace to you in this most holy season of Advent. I am writing you to express my heartfelt thanks for your support of my seminary education. I truly support. The aid that I receive from you helps to fund my for my multi-cultural trip to Hungary in the summer of A trip of this nature is an expense and requirement for all Master of Divinity students. As I look forward, I plan to complete all my coursework in May 2017 followed by an internship. I will be assigned a site and complete one year of intern education there. Following that internship, I will for ordination in the late summer of your generosity and I ask for your continued support and prayers over the next six to eight months of transition. May God richly bless you this Advent as we await Christ's birth. PAX VOBISCUM, Wicky Barnes, III Seminarian A Letter from Connie Walters I would like to thank all who sent cards, called and visited during my recovery from back surgery in October. I very much appreciated everything. Once again, Thanks! Connie Walters Christmas Eve Service Times Family Service 5:30 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service 10:45 p.m.

7 Lutheran Camping t.o.g.s. News Team announces the theme of the 2018 gathering: This Changes Everything, based on Ephesians 2:8, By grace you have been saved.. Read more at: youthgathering. Grace s T.O.G.S. are Houston bound! We have several fundraisers happening right now: them with quarters and return them to our T.O.G.S. collection buckets by December 11. The M&M factory is going to be observing the Thanksgiving holiday until mid-december. T.O.G.S. Cookie Sale can help busy people with their Christmas cookie needs. We will be making Christmas or assorted in a half dozen or baker s dozen. A half order forms at each service. Order forms and payments need to be in by Sunday, December 4. Payment is due out to Grace Lutheran with youth group in the memo. Orders will be delivered on Sunday, December 11. Order today! ADVENT DAY APART at The Wittel Farm - 2:00p.m. Waiting with Elijah Led by The Rev. Jean Kuebler watching and waiting for the birth of the Christchild. Each month, The Beacon reports who is 04 Christopher & Larissa Schell 11 To the glory of God & the advent of his birth 24 Connie Walters 25 Dean & Linda Anderson October Celebrations 02 Grant Stanley 02 Sharon Stein 03 Carol Coeyman 03 Grayson Frey 03 Nichole Pollard 05 Keith McCleary 05 Emeline Osterhaus 05 Ofelia Osterhaus 07 Madison Ruth 08 Carolyn Noll 08 Andrea Sprenkle 10 George McCallum 11 Karen Traina 15 Cindy Strobeck Wedding Anniversaries 23 Donald & LaDawn Anderson 26 Tom & Dee Kerr 27 David & Shelley Fishel 16 Blaine Howard 17 Josie Flory 17 Jamie Golden 17 Hazel Hammers 18 Angie Kicas 18 Krista Kiehner 18 Gary Krout 21 Samuel Hont 21 Brayden Markley 25 The Light of the World 26 Christine Jacobs 31 Paul Vigna Spirit Cellar is counting advent Blessing In keeping with the season, the Spirit Cellar is counting ways we observe advent: A - ACTION: Come to church, make a snack, or help others. D - DONATE: Church envelopes, Food Pantry, or the Christmas Fund. V - VOLUNTEER: Food Pantry, teach a church E - ENGAGE FOCUS: The true meaning of Christmas, and ignore daily distractions. N - NURTURE SOMEONE: The hurting, the lonely, children or the elderly. T - TAKE TIME TO PREPARE: Pray or meditate. Every time you do an act, count it on our star chart. We are hoping to run out of stickers by Christmas. The Beacon is brought to you by: Chris Jacobs, Editor/Staff Writer Jennifer Rudolf, Layout/Staff Writer Ottilie Grim, Copy Proofreader Richard Rhine, Proofreader Dee Kerr, Proofreader Germar Rudolf, Webmaster 7

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