- A Publication of St. James Lutheran Church, 4425 South Jackson Rd. Jackson MI 49201 (517) 782-8297 http://www.stjameslutheran.com pastor@stjameslutheran.jackson@gmail.com The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mark 1: 1-8 So, I have a question for all of you. How many of you love to sit in a dark room with a fire going, or with a candle burning, or with the Christmas Tree lights turned on? I do. There is something calming and peaceful about the lights burning in the darkness. Somehow it calms the soul. Warm lights breaking through the darkness reminds me of the Advent wreath. Did you know that the Advent wreath can be traced back to Roman times? According to Sundays and Seasons and theologian Gertrud Mueller Nelson, the Advent Wreath can be traced back to the ancient rite of waiting in the darkness of winter for the return of the sun and the Feast of the Sun on December 25. During ancient times people would take a wheel off their wagons and put torches on it to see them through the darkness. Evergreen, which was the only thing alive, was fastened to the wheel as a sign of vegetation and springtime. Over 300 years ago German Christians adapted this idea into our modern-day Advent wreaths. Today we use Advent wreaths and Advent calendars to mark the passage of time while we wait in the darkness and prepare to get ready for the coming of Jesus. John the Baptist tells us to prepare for the one who is coming, to slow down and get ready and to make the path straight. How do we do this? This Advent time of getting ready is not about all the busy activity of decorating, shopping, and entertaining that surrounds this season. Advent is a time of reevaluating, thinking, pondering. The spirit of Advent is that God may act in us, as he did in the shepherds and magi; through us, as he did through Mary and Joseph; beyond us, as he did the heavenly host. Advent is preparation time during which we invite to be visited by a spirit of openness, generosity, and energy to come over and sweep us into doing the obedient things we have not yet done, kingdom things we did not think we had in us, neighborly things from which we shrink back. The good news of Advent is that God may do more than we imagined, because Jesus is on the way to live among us. If we want to be immersed in the life-giving power of God, then we must do as John says while we mark the passage of time in the darkness: make straight the path, share your coat and shoes and goods, manage money in neighborly ways, and look to help those around us. Advent is a time to break through the tired patterns of fear in our lives and live for the sake of the kingdom. Page: 1
It s no wonder that King Herod arrested, imprisoned, and tried to silence John the Baptist. What John says is dangerous for business as usual. But we know what Herod could never have suspected: that John s Advent invitation to wait in the darkness and mark our time while being touched by the Spirit, cannot be silenced or arrested. It continues to invite us 2000 years later. And sometimes we let it come among us and do God s work of transformation in us. As we mark this passage of time, with our Advent wreaths and calendars, may we slow down and allow the spirit of this time to flow through us and do marvelous things. In peace, Pastor WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WILL WORSHIP this month with the residents of Summit Park Assisted Living Center on Sunday, December 24th at 2:00 p.m. FELLOWSHIP PUB THEOLOGY meets this month at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 5th and 19th at Grand River Brewery, 117 W Louis Glick Hwy, Jackson, MI OUTREACH Noisy Offering: Thank you for your Noisy Offering on Sunday, November 19th, we were able to donate $47.89 to the Christmas Giving Tree. Our next Noisy Offering will be on Sunday, January 21st and will be designated to the AWARE Shelter. Don t forget to bring your loose change to church with you! Thank you to Nancy, Kristi, Chloe, Marian, Sara, Mike, Jim, Roy, and all the Immanuel Workers - On a Cold blustery Veteran's Day we served 246 families - St. James gave slightly frozen Dish Soap to each family - the varieties were great and everything looked delicious in the Bread and Cake Room - and as always we had candy for everyone thanks to Becky and Ernie from Immanuel. Jack put in 3 extra people in the main room to learn how the process goes, so it was a bit crowded and noisy, but everything seemed to go well. Cindy was our Meat Person today and did a terrific job keeping the meat boxes full to the brim. Three of our St. James people were still on Day Light Savings time and arrived a bit late and one St. James person came in on time that wasn't signed up - that gave all of us a reason to smile. May God Bless you and yours with a wonderful Thanksgiving as you give so much of yourselves. In Christ's Service Becky and DeAnna Anyone at St James that is interested in still volunteering at the Immanuel Food Pantry on the 2nd Saturday of the month starting in January, please contact Jack Gahaganz at 517-745-7574. Type of Outreach At Work at St. James God s Plans...Our Hands in November November Immanuel Food Pantry 246 Summit Worship 12 Prayer Shawls 0 Home Communion 3 Please send us the stats for what you would like to report each week, so we can recognize the great work done by St. James members. Southern Care Hospice looking for Volunteer Southern Care Hospice called and is looking for volunteers in the office and with patients. They are open from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday and are located at 1965 Boardman Rd, Suite B, Jackson, MI. Page: 2
If you, or someone you know are interested please call Ashley Long at 517-788-6838. EDUCATION Thursday Study Group Led by Susan Thornton Looking forward to seeing the Thursday Study group December 7th at 1:30 in the sanctuary. Last month we saw how Constantine as Roman Emperor had made Christianity a state religion. Council of Nicaea wasn t finished with its work until long after Constantine s death. As we explore the 5th century of Christianity, we will see what was happening to the Roman Empire. Does Attilla the Hun sound familiar? Why did St. Jerome complete the Vulgate? What importance does it have to us today? What was the Council of Chalcedon? Were the Christians ever going to get it right? Did St. Patrick really live 1500 years ago? How was God able to build his church working through these very human people? Our reference books this year are The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History by Curtis, Land and Petersen, Turning Points by Mark A. Noll, and The Story of the Bible by Larry Stone, as well as other sources. Please bring a friend. We will be done by 2:30. MEET OUR MEMBERS My name is Karen Ernst Kendall. I am 61 years old and have been a member of Saint James for 36 years. I have been married two times, as my first husband died from cancer. I have three sons (all grown), two stepchildren (a boy and a girl) also grown. Two daughter-in-law's, one step son-inlaw, one granddaughter, one step granddaughter, and a dog named Mittens. I have been married to Doug Kendall for 10 years. I am a retired nurse, who remains very busy with different activities. After God, family and truth are the most important things in my life. Family can be more than just for marriage. I feel very strongly about Saint James, it has been my church family for a long time. The people here are friendly and inviting and helpful. It is easy to become a part of this family. They have helped me get through many struggles in my life. One of my favorite Bible verses has become Galatians six verse seven. " Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. " OK Let's put that in modern words-- you will harvest which as you treat others so he will be treated. I feel this is a wonderful base for the way you live your life. HELP WANTED Advent & Christmas Elves Needed The Worship and Music Team is asking for some help with all of the tasks that need to be completed for the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Many hands make light work, so if you would be willing to choose to help with one (or two) of the tasks listed below. Most of these items are things that could be completed within ½ hour after church on the Sunday before, or sometime during the week. We will be present to assist and give directions. Watch for a signup sheet in the Narthex. Thank you! Dec. 10-Dec. 16 Window decorations with votive candles Christmas Tree put up and decorated Put up new outdoor nativity scene Jan. 1-Jan. 6 Take down and pack away all except blue streamers Feb 3 Take down blue streamers 12/02 Edna Souder 12/07 Bill Anderson 12/08 Ida Anderson 12/12 Molly Souder 12/17 Gwynne Demeuse 12/18 Zachary Niemi 12/25 Austin 12/27 Doug Kendall Page: 3
Servant List - January 2018 December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24 a December 24 p Greeter(s) DeAnna McMillin Andrea & John Niehaus Pat Melinda & Neil Deb & Matt Schroeder Ushers Neil & Melinda Ken Zebarah & Chuck Thor John & Roy Kelly Joyce Anderson Neil & Melinda Assisting Minister Pat DeAnna McMillin Mike Tackett Tim Ernst Emily Ernst Reader Karen Ernst- Kendall Becky Stevick Laura Trombley Projectionist Kristi & Chloe Laird Kristi & Chloe Laird Susan Thornton & Fellowship Time Matt Schroeder Edna Souder John & Pat Not Needed Counters Mike King & Pat Mike King Kristi Laird & Sara Tackett Karen Dale & Rae Anne Mike King & Pat Altar Care Sara Tackett Pat Pat Sara Tackett Sara Tackett December 31 January 7 January 14 January 21 January 28 Greeter(s) Edna & Jim Souder Becky Stevick Jeanne Thomas Chuck Thor Ushers Ken Zebarah & Chuck Thor Neil & Melinda Ken Zebarah & Chuck Thor John & Roy Kelly Joyce Anderson Assisting Minister Laura Trombley Mike Tackett Pat Laura Trombley Deb Schroeder Reader Karen Ernst- Kendall Laura Trombley Becky Stevick Mike Tackett Projectionist Kristi & Chloe Laird Fellowship Time Sara Tackett Ida Anderson & Rea Anne Chris Zebarah Joyce & Bill Anderson Lois & Roy Kelly Counters Karen Dale & Mike King & Pat Mike King Kristi Laird & Sara Tackett Karen Dale & Altar Care Page: 4
St. James Lutheran Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 3:30pm Confirmation Class @ Immanuel 4 5 Pub Theology 6 1:30pm Thursday Study Group 7 6:00pm Christmas Dinner 8 Immanuel Food Pantry 9 10 Prayer Shawl Group 11 12 5:30pm Worship/Music Committee 13 14 15 16 Church Council 17 Noisy Offering 1:00pm 18 19 20 21 22 23 Life Changes 3:30pm Confirmation Class @ Immanuel Pub Theology Newsletter Deadline 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Christmas Eve Worship 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 9:30am Worship Page: 5
We are a grace-centered family of faith that seeks to know Christ and make Him known. Worship with us: Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion Staff Listing: Pastor Martha Porter-Reid Anna Pedrotte Parish Administrator Jim Skrocki Organist JoAnne Gaffney Choir Director Jan Lehman and Robin Vogel Custodians Pam Thomas Newsletter Editor St. James Lutheran Church 4425 South Jackson Rd. Jackson, MI 49201 We re on the Web! Visit us at:\ http://www.stjameslutheran.com Page: 6