December 2017 Leaping this season for all the right reasons Life is full of firsts, isn t it? Some are good, some are not, and others are just plain memorable because they are a little bit of both. Several years ago, I had my first experience with Black Friday shopping on the night of Thanksgiving. Now you have no idea how out of character that was for me. Shopping is not my thing, just ask my wife. It is partly because, believe it or not, I am actually not that big of a fan of crowds, especially crowds like there were at Walmart that night. It was crazy. It was like a shark feeding frenzy, except not for fish, but for stuff. It was really the last place I wanted to be at that point, but I toughed it out for my wife. I had seen something earlier that day that she had mentioned wanting for some time, so I decided to brave the crowd because it was such a good price. The things you do for your wife. With that in mind, I was on a mission. I had one item to get and I was going to get in and get out as quick as I could. I immediately went to that aisle only to see someone putting the last one of that item in his cart. If you had seen my face, I am sure I looked like a little kid who just got his sucker stolen. I couldn t believe it. I didn t know what to do. Oh sure, I could have shopped for other stuff, but that wasn t part of my original plan. Left with no other choice in my mind, I was prepared to leave the store empty-handed, but that s when I saw it. It was my item, in what looked like an abandoned cart next to a register. I quickly asked the cashier about it and discovered someone had indeed left it. I couldn t believe it. I was going to get my item after all. As I have thought about it later, I still can t believe how the whole scenario played out, but I also couldn t believe all the people and the frenzy that is Black Friday. In a way, the whole scene saddened me a bit as pastor. Here are all these people practically breaking down the doors to get all this stuff thinking that is what Christmas is all about and I know for many that is all that it means for them. Now don t get me wrong. I like gifts too, but how long does the joy over those gifts last? We get so excited about them and put such effort into getting them, but it isn t long and their luster fades. The toys we got for our children quickly get old to them. The gadgets we just had to have soon lose their appeal as new and better ones come along. If only we all had that same zeal for the eternal as we do for the temporal. If only we all have that same zeal for the worship of our Lord or for helping our neighbor or for telling the good news of salvation in Christ as we tend to do for our Christmas shopping.
It really struck me that night that all these people are going through all this effort and time and money to get what they think Christmas is all about, when actually Christmas is about none of it. Christmas is about the birth of the Christ, our Savior, and the celebration of His coming through worship. It is the reason the holiday exists, otherwise there is no Christmas-Christ-day. Now don t misunderstand me. I am not planning on giving away my Christmas gifts just to make a point. I enjoy the gift giving with family as much as the next person, but in the midst of our zeal for gift giving, let us not lose sight of what this season of Advent is about. It is preparing again to celebrate Christ s day and the greatest gift given to our world and that is Jesus. It is why we have additional Advent worship services this time of year. It is why Advent devotionals are produced. It is why throughout the season of Advent you usually hear sermons about John the Baptist s call to repentance to prepare for the Christ or about how we are to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. They are all things which are meant to focus our hearts and minds on what this season really is all about: Jesus, the long-awaited Christ. As I have thought about it, I think John the Baptist as a little baby in the womb captures what the real spirit of Advent should be when we find him leaping in His mother s womb with joy. He leaped for all the right reasons. He leaped because His Savior was going to be born. He leaped for Christ. May you be led this Advent season to leap for all the right reasons, too. To leap this season for more than just the great deals and gifts and meal preparations, but also for Your Savior who came to this earth for YOU. To redeem YOU from sin and death. It is why Christmas matters. It is why it exists. It is all about Christ. Amen. Struck down, but not destroyed Pastor Chris Worshipped Communed Offerings 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 Nov. 5 216 182 152 129 $ 8213 $ 5246 Nov. 12 215 181 141 119 6910 4467 Nov. 19 227 169 138 108 7056 8934 Nov. 26 179 165 119 115 4366 5446 Averages 209 174 137 117 $6636 $6023
November gave us an opportunity to focus on both thanks AND giving! We learned about pilgrims, their Native American friends, and we even discovered that they were so thankful they celebrated and gave thanks to God for 3 whole days! That s a lot of feasting! Sharing was the theme of our class parties as the 3K class worked together to create their delicious GORP mix, which they shared! The 4K class read the book STONE SOUP and then made their own delicious soup from a stone which they also shared. We took time to learn about turkey birds, and found out the difference between turkeys and chickens. We also played it safe with the help of MR YUK. The 4 k class learned about many things not to touch, smell, taste or even go near. We learned about bacteria and germs and how to stay safe around strangers, and even got a visit from the fire department. What a busy learning filled month! CHILD CARE: Please remember that we are not a drop-in child care. You need to have a reservation so that we can meet the state child:teacher ratio. We are unique in that you pay only for the hours you schedule in Child Care. Please also keep in mind that we need twenty-four notice for all reservation, changes in schedule or cancellations. Jesus Time Our Bible stories this month focused on being thankful as well! We learned about Moses, crossing the Red Sea, Israel in the desert and the Ten commandments. Train up a child in the way he should go, and wen he is old, he will not depart from it Proverbs 22:6 Don t forget to like us on Facebook! *Gift exchange will be December 20 th and 21 st. * Christmas Vacation for Preschool and ChildCare will begin on Friday December 22 nd, and go through January 2 nd. * Mark your Calendars for January 29 th and 30 th for Father s Night
Wednesday December 6 5:15 pm Advent Supper 6:30 pm Advent Service ~ Wednesday December 13 5:15 Advent Supper 6:30 Advent Service ~ Sunday December 24 5:00 Children s Christmas Program 9:00 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service ~ Monday December 25 10:00 Christmas Day Service
SCHOOL AGE PARENTING PROGRAM The Ladies of the LWML are once again asking for donations for the Racine Unified School Age Parenting Program. Items needed are: Baby diapers (newborn Size 1 and 2) Baby Bottles Baby Wipes Baby Bibs Burp Cloths Small Baby Wash Cloths Blankets POP LWML appreciate any items that you are able to Donate. Donated items can be placed in the box in the Narthex. Thank-You in advance. YOUTH NIGHT We will be having a Youth Night on Wednesday December 27 th from 6 To 9 p.m. All Youth grades 5 th and up are invited to join us for games, fellowship, and fun. Bring a friend! SEVENTH ANNUAL COOKIE WALK AND HOLIDAY VENDOR FAIR Please join us for This year's Cookie Walk and Holiday Vendor Fair which will take place on Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. As always, we will have Christmas music throughout the event for your listening pleasure. If you have any questions or need of additional information, lease contact either Julie Maiwald at (262) 488-1259 or Carla Abel at (262) -639-1277. Thank you!
Lutherans For Life December 3 Advent I The hand of God tenderly, intentionally forms every human person (Isaiah 64:8). No life happens by mistake (though God s accidents would surpass humankind s grandest feats). Inabilities due to stage or state of life do not disqualify a person any more than our sins (Isaiah 64:6) disqualify us. Without our merit or worthiness does He make us each His own, on account of His Fatherly goodness. Prayer: Omniscient Lord of all, reveal to us the wonders You bring out of every human life until we cherish them all. Amen. December 10 Second Sunday in Advent The Gospel of Jesus Christ extends healing forgiveness to all those involved in sins against life (Isaiah 40:1-2). God s Word offers redemptive hope also to all those victim or vulnerable to intentional death. Our Lord does not wish that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), and He lifts up those trampled underfoot (Isaiah 40:4, 11). Prayer: Son of God, make straight the ways for us to meet You among those who have been thought unfit. Amen. December 17 Advent III Lord Jesus specializes in bestowing dignity upon lives the world views as insignificant or inconvenient (Isaiah 61:1-2). Indeed, He has dealt with each of us according to this graciousness. Therefore we savor participating in it by speaking and showing it to both our neighbors and the culture (Isaiah 61:4). Prayer: Light of Life, anoint us with Your voice of grace to bring the poor good news. Amen. December 24 Advent IV/Christmas Eve Jesus brought God delicately amidst sinners, as humble in crucifixion as He was helpless in conception. Yet this estate did not hinder but in fact heralded the full realm and reign of God for us. And thereby He reaffirmed the worth of even the feeblest human beings. God s gift of life arrives all the better for the plain packaging He habitually hides it behind. Prayer: Lamb of God, make our taking hold of You to cradle Your little ones as well. Amen. December 31 Christmas I/New Year s Eve Since God has come born of a woman under the law to redeem (Galatians 4:4-5), neither age nor appearance nor ability nor any other illegitimacy will be able to separate from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39) and the right to life as His children (Galatians 4:5-6). In this fullness of time, let us not keep silent or stand still about it (Isaiah 62:1)! Prayer: Christ Jesus our Lord, raise us up as banners and lamps testifying to righteousness. Amen.
December 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 Family Education Hour 10 Family Education Hour 17 Worship/Communio n Family Education Hour 24 Family Education Hour 5:00 Children s Christmas Program 9:00 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 31 Family Education Hour 4 6:00 Mom s 6:00 Pickle Ball 11 Stephen Ministry Mtg. 6:00 pm 6:00 Pickle Ball 18 6:00 Mom s 6:00 Pickle Ball 25 10:00 Christmas Day Service 5 11:00 am 6:30 Choir Practice 7:00 Divorce Care 12 11:00 am 6:30 Choir Practice 7:00 Divorce Care 19 11:00 am 6:30 Choir Practice 7:00 Divorce Care 6 5:15 Advent Supper 6:30 Advent Service 13 5:15 Advent Supper 6:30 Advent Service 26 27 Youth Night 6 to 9 p.m. 7 6:30 Bd/Meetings 14 6:30 Council Meeting 1 2 9 til noon COOKIE WALK 8 to 10:30 4:00 pm 8 9 8 to 10:30 a.m. 4:00 pm 15 16 8 to 10:30 a.m. 4:00 pm 20 21 22 23 Christmas Program Practice 8 to 10:30 a.m. 4:00pm 28 Mtg. 6:00 pm 29 30 8 to 10:30 a.m. 4:00pm
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 4340 Six Mile Road Racine, WI 53402 Tel: 262-639-1277 Fax: 262-898-2088 Rev. Christopher Lockie ~ Pastor SW District-LCMS Assoc. Member of RLHS www.princeofpeaceracine.com Church Secretary Colleen Otto Congregation Chairman Tom Guziewicz Congregation Vice Chairman Ben Pulley Head Elder Dave Janke Director of Preschool and Child Care Center Carla Abel Preschool and Child Care Admin. Asst. Julie Maiwald Sunday School Superintendents Julie Pulley, Nicole Riemer Music Directors Dianne Luedtke, Barb Miller