Advent Brochure December 2014
Shepherds abiding in the fields ADVENT 2014 The shepherds in the Christmas story were only doing their job at night watching sheep. Expectantly? Probably not. They were waiting for something quite ordinary for the rising sun to chase off the cold and darkness. Yet, the angel broke in upon these ordinary shepherds on their ordinary fields on a quite ordinary night. Advent is a time of being open to God stirring up power and breaking into our ordinary lives with the promise of one birth and, from that one birth, our new births. Join your community of faith during Advent in growing in faith through Christian community for Christ s service. Prepare for the angels Christmas surprise by marking Advent. Shepherds abiding in the field guides our shared Advent. Weekend worship with celebration of baptisms Mid-week worship Prayer and devotional resources Family and Children s activities Gifting and Service Projects Thursday morning Advent Bible study Advent Devotional and Prayer Resources Christ in Our Home Christ in Our Home booklets for October through December are available in the back of the sanctuary or church office. Reflections for Dec. 17-31 are written by Dr. Kathryn Kleinhans, Wartburg religion professor and St. Paul s member. Family Devotional St. Paul s Church is offering an Advent devotional book for families, called Prepare Him Room. The books can be picked up in the church or school office. Luther Seminary Advent Resources Your People Long to Greet You will also be available on Sunday, Nov. 30 with large print copies available. You can also receive the daily devotions by email when you subscribe to God Pause at luthersem.edu/email. 2 Advent Brochure :: December 2014 stpaulswaverly.org
Weekend Advent Worship Nov. 29-30 of Prophets Dec. 6-7 of Maps Dec. 13-14 of Mending Dec. 20-21 of Open Doors Shepherds abiding in the fields. Advent invites us to see and hear that God sustains us in our waiting. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 Shepherds abiding in the fields. Advent s path to Bethlehem is more than just avoiding obstacles, but rather living with purpose. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Isaiah 41:4 Shepherds abiding in the fields. God s Advent call to us to serve the world with God s healing grace. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Isaiah 61:4 Advent opens doors to the most enduring and life-giving presents that cannot be boxed or wrapped. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. Samuel 7:16 Advent Candle: Prophets Candle Strydoms at 8:30am, Nelsons at 11am Christmas hymn: Joy to the World Weekend baptisms: Oliver and Henry Gibson, sons of Jody and Brian Gibson Advent candle: Bethlehem Candle Hansels at 8:30am, Wingos at 11am Christmas Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem Weekend baptism: Kjell Lien, son of Nathan and Jamie Porter Lien Advent candle: Shepherds Candle Abkemeiers at 8:30am, Resors at 11am Christmas Hymn: It Came upon the Midnight Clear Weekend baptisms: Noah Edward and William Charles Pirkl, twin sons of Jared and Kelly Pirkl on Saturday Advent Candle: Angels Candle Drenkows at 8:30am, Britts at 11am Christmas hymn: Angels, from the Realms of Glory St. Paul s Lutheran Church and School Advent Brochure :: December 2014 3
Advent Worship & Fellowship Advent at the Arch Wednesdays Dec. 3, 10 & 17, 5:30-6pm The Christmas story is on the move. Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John. Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The shepherds ran to Bethlehem from their flocks. This year s Advent at the Arch is Prepare Him Room. It is an Advent journey that walks alongside Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. Advent at the arch is hands-on, interactive worship for all ages. Advent at the Arch services are at the arch in the Center for Ministry. The services aim to help families with at-home faith-centered activities. This year s shepherding themes are Finding Home, The Family Table and Into my Heart. Advent Soup Suppers Wed. Dec. 3, 10 & 17, 4:45-6:30pm School-led Worship My Heart Will Sing Wednesday Dec. 3, 10am & 7pm Youth-led Worship Prepare Him Room Wednesday Dec. 10, 7pm God Zone Christmas Program Sunday Dec. 14, 11am 4 Advent soup suppers start Wednesday, Dec. 3, serving from 4:45pm to 6:30pm. Come for food and fellowship before Advent at the Arch or between services. Kindergarten through 6th grade students will lead My Heart Will Sing Advent worship. The 6th grade class will lead the service, and each class provided music. Join the students in the sanctuary for this special time of scripture and songs. The youth are leading an Advent service entitled Prepare Him Room, an actual journey from the sanctuary to the stable in the Parish Hall. Follow Joseph and Mary along the way and sing favorite Advent and Christmas hymns as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. The God Zone Christmas program is set for Sunday, Dec. 14 at 11am. In October, God Zone students and leaders with the help of Wartburg College students recorded the Christmas story on real fields, with real shepherds, real sheep and enough Bremer County straw to make it authentic. Wartburg students edited the footage and audio into an impressive production! Join the children in watching themselves in the Christmas Story. This year s Shepherds in the Field was taped at the Ron and Mary Beth Zelle farm in October. God Zone students will sing traditional carols during the premier showing. Advent Brochure :: December 2014 stpaulswaverly.org
Advent Worship The O Antiphons Wednesday Dec. 17, 7pm Bach Cantata Sunday Dec. 21, 11am The O Antiphons are seven traditional responses for the week before Christmas. The Advent hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is based on these responses. On Wednesday, we will celebrate the antiphons with Christmas hymns, Scripture and ancient prayers. A deeper look at rich themes in the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel J.S. Bach s Cantata for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, composed in 1723, was written in honor of the Feast of the Visitation, when the virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and their unborn children dance for joy. The ten movements include the famous chorale known as Jesu, Joy of Man s Desiring. St. Paul s Chancel Choir will be joined by professional musicians from Wartburg College and the Cedar Valley to present this remarkable Advent gem in its entirety. Special Advent Giving Saints Alive and God Zone Shepherd Project Good Samaritan Fund Giving Tree Saints Alive and God Zone students are giving sheep for Christmas! Their gifts will turn a family into shepherds. $125 will by one sheep through the ELCA Good Gifts program. A sheep can provide a family with wool to make items for sale, and be the start of a small flock for an impoverished family. Students will each be receiving a God s Global Barnyard Coin box You can support the children s efforts by giving a large or small gift to Good Gifts Sheep in honor of a newlybaptized person, a special SaintsAlive or God Zone student, or as an life-giving option for children and grandchildren. Thanks to all who contribute to the church s Good Samaritan Fund. St. Paul s cooperates with other area churches to respond to emergency needs with fuel, food, medical expenses and housing. Consider a special Advent gift to this important ministry. St. Paul s is sponsoring some families for the Christmas season with a Giving Tree decorated with gift requests to choose from. If you know of a family who would appreciate being included on the Giving Tree, please contact Paul Frantsen in the church office, 352-3850 or paul.frantsen@stpaulswaverly.org. continued on back cover St. Paul s Lutheran Church and School Advent Brochure :: December 2014 5
ST. PAUL S LUTHERAN CHURCH 112 2ND AVE NW WAVERLY, IA 50677 Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE Return Service Requested Permit No. 32 Waverly, Iowa PAID Contact Us stpaulswaverly.org Advent Bible Study: Grazing Shepherds Fields Thursdays: Dec. 4, 11 & 18, 10-11am Shepherds wandered from place to place looking for pasture. God provided for them, one pasture after the next. Three Thursday Bible studies will explore ways that we can graze on the first lessons assigned to Sunday s Advent worship. Bring your Bible. Pastor Schneider 6 Advent Brochure :: December 2014 stpaulswaverly.org Church life@stpaulswaverly.org (319) 352-3850 School school@stpaulswaverly.org (319) 352-1484 Fax (319) 352-3999 Head of Staff Pastor Curt Schneider curt.schneider@stpaulswaverly.org 352-3850 or 352-4840 (home) Pastor Joyce Sandberg joyce.sandberg@stpaulswaverly.org 352-3850 or 352-0181 (home) Additional staff contacts available at stpaulswaverly.org/staff or by calling the office.