'Rejoice in the Lord
always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to
everyone. The Lord is near.' Philippians
4.4-5
December can be a brutal
month. It's crunch time for Christmas. The many extra things people
feel they need to do to get ready for the holiday can crush sensitivity towards
others. We get our game face on, and become self
absorbed.
I like Paul's encouragement:
"Let your gentleness be known to everyone." Are we being gentle with the
harried store clerks? With the pushy shoppers? The reckless
drivers? Our co-workers? Our family members?
Ourselves?
Jesus came into our world
gently, quietly, soft as midnight snow falls. An old prayer I learned in
childhood and prayed each night at bedtime applies:
'Jesus, Savior, wash away
All that has been wrong today. Help me every day to be, Good and
gentle, more like Thee. Amen.'
MIDWEEK ADVENT
VESPERS: Wednesday evenings, Dec 13 and 20. 6pm
Soup and Bread Supper, followed by 7pm Holden Evening Prayer.
SUNDAY, DEC. 17,
our children and youth will tell the Christmas story as only they can
during our worship. Please be sure to join us and let the children Jesus
loves so much give us an early Christmas gift from God.
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL ON
DEC. 24 AND 31 for the children. But there WILL be
Bible class for the adults. My class on Amos will continue in the
Commons Room at the regular time of 8:50 - 9:45am, and Paul Schutz leads his
group in the Library.
CHRISTMAS
WORSHIP:
- Sunday, December
24.........10:00am, a joyful Christmas service with Choir and
Communion
- Sunday, December
24.........7pm, Christmas Eve candlelight worship with special
guest Sarah Brauer as soloist (yes, that's my
daughter!)
There is no service on Christmas Day,
December 25.
NATURAL CHURCH
DEVELOPMENT: Will all those who have been given surveys to
fill out please return them by December 31? Do not put your name on them;
just bring them in to the office or place in Pastor Joel's mailbox.
COMING IN JANUARY
2007: Our Council and congregation have committed to a
stewardship program entitled 'Consecrated Stewards'. Ryan McIvor from our
NW District Office will lead this 8 week emphasis, beginning on Sunday, Jan. 21
and culminating on March 18 with Consecration Sunday. It looks like a
good, solid program and I invite you to commit to participating with your whole
heart.
CORRECTION: At the dedication of our new
stained glass window last Sunday, I neglected to recognize Al Binder and his
crew, who spent many hours carefully installing the windows. Al's a humble
man who doesn't want recognition, but give him a pat on the back for a job well
done!
'Holy Child within the
manger,
Lead us ever in your
way,
So we see in every
stranger how you come to us today.
In our lives and in our
living
Give us strength to live
as you,
That our hearts might be
forgiving and our spirits strong and true.'
(from the modern carol,
'Holy Child Within the Manger', Marty Haugen, 1987)
