CHRISTUS VICTOR Evangelical Lutheran Church 9833 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21234 December 2017
Pastor's Report: Greetings, Bing Crosby and David Bowie! How s that for some old classics! In the 1970 s they sang a duet in a Christmas special. The song was a combination of the Little Drummer Boy with lyrics of peace on earth and how it all relates to our children. That song holds some steadfast truths to this day. I encourage you to watch the video on YouTube. If you don t have computer access, I will be happy to play it on our big screen in the sanctuary. There are some very important phrases in this song. The main phrase that resonates with me is the phrases about peace, for us and for our children. They are phrases about God s peace in the world. It is the peace of knowing that God walks with us in the good times and the struggles. It is the peace in knowing that a small child, born of lowly means, will be the greatest of them all. Meaning, this child will eventually go to the cross for you and I. But for now, we live in awe of this small child who has so much ahead of him. God s Son will do amazing things, impossible things, compassionate things; all to show us how treasured God considers us. This month we receive the greatest gift of all; God s unconditional love in the form of an infant. May this season and this Christmas bring you blessings upon blessings. Peace, Pastor Chris
The President's Corner For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 One of the most poignant hymns that I have read is Christmas Has Its Cradle; Easter has Its Cross by Rae E. Whitney. The hymn s lyrics bridge the two seasons together since without Christmas there wouldn t be any Easter. These celebrations are inseparably linked together, all part of God s plan to redeem the world. Christmas has its cradle, where a Baby cried; Did the lantern s shadow show him crucified? Did he foresee darkly His life s willing loss? Christmas has its cradle and Easter has its cross. Christmas has its cradle, shepherds came to see, Little Son of Mary, Lamb of God to be Had His Father warned Him, none would give him room Save in the Christmas cradle and the Easter tomb? Christmas has its cradle, wise men came to bring, Myrrh and gold and incense, offerings for a King; Myrrh alone stayed with Him, death s balm for this Boy, From the Christmas cradle and to His Easter joy. Christmas has its cradle, where that Baby cried; In the Easter garden, Christ laid, crucified; When death s power was conquered, God s life through Him poured, Christmas has its cradle, and Easter has its Lord! Peace be with your always, Sherry Simpkins
Christmas Eve Services 10:00 AM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 PM New Years Eve Service 10:00 AM
SAVE THE DATE!! Saturday April 28, 2018: Our 60 th Anniversary Celebration! 2:00-6:00 PM Approx. cost $40.00 ea. There will be a children s menu at a reduced cost Beer and wine will be served Altar Guild Committee: The 2018 Flower Book is available in the Narthex. In order to defray the cost of flowers, we are increasing the price to $20.00. Once again, we will offer Chancel flowers for $20.00. On the third Wednesday of every month, one of their trucks comes to Christus Victor to pick up any donations from the congregation. (clothing, toys, useable house wares, small appliances, baby items, holiday items, tools, dishes, etc.) Please leave any donations in the fellowship hall by the coat rack and label your items LMS. The next pickup date is December 20th.
Victors Vittles: NEEDED FOR MONTH OF December: canned fruit Announcements: Many, many thanks to all the elves who helped with the Christmas bazaar. I cannot thank each elf by name because of space, but we would not be this successful without each and every one of you. Peace. Pat Eichner, Senior Elf. Cottage Meetings: One of the commitments made with regard to our Ministry Affirmation Review conducted over the summer was giving a chance for everyone to be heard with regard to the recommendations. We have scheduled some during the day and evening in an attempt for all voices to be heard. Sign-up sheets will be in the narthex a month in advance. Please take the time to review the dates below and make plans to attend: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January, 22, 2018 @ 12:00 p.m. Saturday, February 3, 2018 @ 12:00 p.m.
A Christmas Recipe: Laura Ingalls Wilder s Gingerbread Recipe Ingredients: My favorite childhood series was the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This Christmas, I am giving you her recipe for gingerbread muffins. (Sherry Simpkins) I cup of brown sugar (light or dark) ½ cup of shortening (softened) ½ cup molasses (an Laura Ingalls Wilder newsletter has this ingredient as 1 cup of molasses and says it s the key to its favor you be the judge) 1 cup of boiling water 2 teaspoons of baking soda 3 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of each of the following ingredients: nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger ½ teaspoon of salt 2 well beaten eggs Cooking Instructions: Blend sugar, shortening, molasses Add boiling water and soda to the mixture and mix well Add flour, spices, and salt then mix well Fold in beaten eggs Place in two 8x8 pans Bake at 350 for 30 minutes (it may take less time) The recipe makes 48 mini muffins
Thought of the day: Lessons From a Christmas Tree *Be a light in the darkness *We all fall over sometimes *You can never wear too much glitter *Bring joy to others *Sparkle & twinkle as often as possible *It's okay to be a little tilted ~~Jane Lee Logan The Smile Corner Did you know that according to the song, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Santa twelve reindeer? Sure, in the has introduction it goes "There's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen..." That makes eight reindeer. Then there's Rudolph, of course, so that makes nine. Then there's Olive. You know, "Olive the other reindeer used to laugh..." That makes ten. The eleventh is Howe. You know, "Then Howe the reindeer loved him..." Eleven reindeer. Oh, and number 12? That's Andy! "Andy shouted out with glee." The proof is in the song!
2017 Congregation Council Contact Information Pastor, Chris Litton clitton12@gmail.com 443-517-9890 President, Sharon Simpkins sherrylsimpkins@gmail.com 410-661-7568 V. President, Mike Schumann mike 82212@gmail.com 410-665-0702 Secretary, Linda Meyer lindacmeyer@msn.com 410-529-6401 Treasurer, Helen Tennant helentennant2@comcast.net 410-661-0686 Mutual Ministry Worship and Music, Pat Eichner paeeichner@hotmail.com 410-662-5345 Social Ministry, Diane Frederick dfrederick99@gmail.com 410-882-1402 Christian, Education, Cheryl Fidler ctfidler@verizon.net 410-879-1568 Administration, Todd Hieber todd.s.hieber@gmail.com 410-591-0986 Evangelism, Kathy Krause kathykrause@comcast.net 410-529-7083 Stewardship, Adam Wilson adam.wilson@nasa.gov 240-520-0085 Fellowship, Diane Frederick dfrederick99@gmail.com 410-882-1402 Church Staff Pastor: Pastor Christopher Litton pastorlitton@gmail.com 443-517-9890 Music Director: Tate Armstrong, taylor.armstrong@comcast.net Parish Administrator: Sharon Ibex office@christusvictoronline.org 410-668-8089 Church Leadership Financial Secretary Diane Earnest 410-760-8406 Asset Funds Chad Roeder 410-690-0888 Altar Guild JoAnn Velten 410-254-2814 Usher Chairman Chad Roeder 443-690-0888 Victor s Vittles Chairperson Pat Eichner 410-668-5345 Sunday School Superintendent: Sandy Petrovich 410-444-7947 Childrens Choirs Chad Roeder 443-690-0888 Oakleaf/Newsletter Editor Kathie Nichols 410-592-7942 WELCA Virginia McCurdy 410-665-9499 JoAnn Velten 410-254-2814 Please send Oakleaf articles to office@christusvictoronline.org
Christus Victor Care & Concern List Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil -it has no point We will keep names on the prayer list for 4 weeks unless the Church Office is called (410.668.8089) or emailed: office@christusvictoronline.org to request a longer listing. Thank you. *member of CVLC David Bryson Brian & Vickie Chester Linda Robbins Dennis Rosemary Durkin Bud & Ginny Getz Samantha Kimbler Tom & Marti Mabry* Elaine Myers Earl Robinson Harold & Diane Robinson John Ruby* Mildred Taylor* Kathy Ternent Dean Toskes Rev. Jack Trautwein Shauna Williams Homebound Members: Kay Diggs Jean Doty Gloria Forrester Betty & Frank Hines Elizabeth Raines LindaWalck George Warren