THE PARISH
NEWS
HAYWARD-TRONDHJEM LUTHERAN PARISH
December, 2008January, 2009 Vol.143,
No. 12
In this Issue: 2009 Acolyte Schedule
2009 Usher Schedule
Please keep these schedules as
reminders
THE GIFT OF
PLACE
The story is told of how the young
camel was talking to his mother one day, asking, “Mother, why do we have such big feet?”
The mother replied, “So that when we walk across the desert we won’t
sink down into the sand.” Then the
young camel asked, “And why do we have such long eye lashes?” Mother said, “So that when the wind whips up
the desert sands, our eyes will be protected.”
Still full of questions, the young camel asked,
“Well, then, mother, why do we have these humps on our backs?” Mother sighed and said, “So that when we make
the long journey across the desert, we can survive without need of water.” The young camel thought for a bit, and then asked,
“So, mother, let me understand all of this; our feet keep us on top of the
sand, and our eye lashes protect our eyes from the sand, and our humps enable
us to make long journeys across the desert?”
Mother smiled and replied, “Yes, son, that is correct.” Then the young camel asked, “But, then,
mother, what are we DOING here in the San Diego Zoo?”
You and I are not so different from
that young camel, are we? We often take
a look at our particular gifts, talents and interests, and even our own
personalities, and we wonder, “What am I doing here?” or “How did I
end up here and doing what I am doing?”
We often play that game of “woulda – coulda – shoulda – if only;” if the
times and the circumstances could have been different, then I could have been
there; then I would have done this; then I should have been able to accomplish
that. When it looks to us like all our
self-evaluations seem to be pointing us to being over there, out there, then we
are puzzled and we ask, “So, what am I doing here; why am
I in this place?”
Such questions are not only asked by
us as individuals, but also by us as
congregations. As congregations we ask,
“So, Father/God, what are we doing in this place?” Many of our congregations in
this area go back over a hundred years, and some nearly 150 years. Long ago, the Holy Spirit was at work planting those seeds of
congregations and faithful people, gifting them, equipping them with all that
was needed for mission and ministry right here.
That gifting and equipping has gone on through the generations and into
the present, providing all that is needed to do God’s work in this context –
this time and place – here and now. This
is not the desert, though at times it may seem like a wilderness. This is not
So, here we are, at the beginning of
a fresh New Year, a year that is truly pregnant with all kinds of marvelous
opportunities to be and do what God would have us be and do. As we look to this New Year, our thought
should never be, “We could do these things, if only…”. Is not our time
best spent looking to what we do have and then building upon and making the
best use of all these and thus seeking to fulfill the ministry that God has
placed before us?
In his letter to the Corinthians,
chapter nine, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, because of God’s gift of
salvation to us, both personally and corporately as the Church, the Body of Christ,
we are truly free to be the true children of God, heirs in hope of eternal
life, and thus free to live that law of love, and free to share this good news
of God’s grace and love with all people everywhere. Under that law, that guideline of God’s kind
of selfless love, we, like Paul, are free to become all things to all people,
so that we might save some; that is, bring them in and under that same
grace-filled love of God in Christ Jesus. Paul reminds us that we need to do all that we
do for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that we might share in all of
its glorious blessings.
And we do have a place to do this
ministry. It is the place where you live
and work and play; it is the place where you join with others in Christian
worship and fellowship; it is the place you call home and community. This is God’s gift of place for you, and
there, by the grace of God, enjoy the doing.
GOOD NEWS!!
December
is our chance, as the church, to get the jump on the rest of the world, for
this is when we begin our NEW YEAR. As
we begin this New Year, we focus on some new scripture lessons, as we focus on
the Gospel of Mark, along with other lessons from both the Old and New
Testaments. Mark is the condensed
version of the story of Jesus; it comes at us quickly, ever using that word
“immediately.” Mark does not even bother
to give us the birth stories of Jesus, leaving that to Matthew and Luke. He
starts his story of Jesus with the ADVENT, the coming, of John the Baptist, who
will announce “the way of the Lord.” In
quick fashion, Jesus is suddenly there, along the Jordan River, being baptized
by John and blessed by God the Father, and then moving on into His public
ministry, where He proclaims His preaching theme: “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of
God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
For
the people of Jesus’ day, this TIME that has come is the fulfillment of Jewish
dreams, the TIME when God will show His special love for the Jews by breaking
the bonds of their servitude and exalting them among the nations. It is the TIME that they have been waiting
for – waiting so long that they had almost ceased to believe that it could ever
come to pass. Suddenly, God comes near
to them, among them, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, God’s Son, Savior, and
invites His people to REPENT, to open their hearts and change their minds, and
believe that God’s promises are now being fulfilled right before their
eyes. Truly this IS the good news.
Today,
we who claim Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior, as we hear those words
of Jesus, we understand that He is speaking not just to His fellow Jewish
people then, but to us now, we who are willing to listen to this good news here
and now. Yet, it is a surprising and
extraordinary thing to say – that the Kingdom of God has come near you and that
you must believe it. As this Advent
season moves on to the Christmas – Epiphany season, this good news continues to
be surprising. Suddenly, out of the
blue, a young girl in Nazareth gets the news from one of God’s own messengers
that SHE has been chosen by God to become pregnant and deliver into this world
the very Son of God, the Messiah. Who
me? Pregnant? Really?
Mary
quickly recovers and humbly agrees to her new and chosen role as God’s own servant,
and goes on to rejoice in it all. But
that shock – that of receiving good, yet unsettling, news – that shock is also
something that WE share with Mary. For
this message of Jesus is not just glad tidings of hope for a weary, war-torn,
terrorized world; it also is a calling, an invitation to turn from all our
worldly preoccupations and REPENT, open our hearts and change our minds. Something FROM us, then, is required. And the ADVENT scripture lessons go on to
tell us what that is: we need to step it up, get to work, prepare, watch, wait,
turn, open, and change.
The
NEW YEAR begins once again with these words and urgings for our new and
continuing journey through the coming months; that TIME, that ADVENT has come
once again. This ADVENT season is a time
of joy and expectation. It is a time of
HOPE amid our various world crises, it is LIGHT come into our self-created
darkness, it is a time of EXPECTATION
for One who will, once again, come among us and deliver us, and it is a time of
TRUST in the sure and certain promises of God.
God IS among us and God has NOT abandoned us. Yes, the Kingdom of God is among us, with us,
embracing us. That is GOOD NEWS, and it
reminds us that we, the faithful, have a way at looking at this troubled world
in a GOOD NEWS way that, to the non-believing world, looks rather odd and
senseless. These days the world can only
say, “Look around you. Look at this mess
we’re in, the economic mess, the natural disasters mess, the war, violence and
terrorist mess, the global-warming mess.
It’s all a big mess! Where’s the
good news in any of this?”
But
into this human, self-centered, greed-induced mess, comes Jesus Christ, God’s
Son, Savior, and announces to this whole, messed up world, “The Kingdom of God
has come near to you; REPENT, and believe in this good news.” The angel of the Lord comes to that young
girl, Mary and proclaims “Do not be afraid!”
A nervous mother listens to God’s Word and to the hopes that it
engenders in her heart. A prophet stirs
people to action, encouraging their expectation of a coming age of justice and
peace. WAKE UP PEOPLE! The NEWS will be good, even if, like the
people of Jesus’ day, we have almost ceased to believe that it could ever come
to pass. Take heart; be of good courage, for the Lord has come near to us. Dare to believe in this hope of the gospel,
and dare to share it with others. As we
have just heard from our Lord on the Day of Christ the King, continue to bring
that good news of salvation and hope to others by feeding the hungry, giving
drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the lonely, imprisoned and
oppressed, caring for the sick and lame, and welcoming the stranger.
Joy
to the world, the Lord is come!
Let
earth receive its King;
Let
ev’ry heart prepare Him room
And
heav’n and nature sing.
No
more let sin and sorrow grow
Nor
thorns infest the ground;
He
comes to make His blessings flow
Far
as the curse is found.
He
rules the world with truth and grace
And
makes the nations prove
The
glories of His righteousness
And
wonders of His love.
Pastor Malm
A NEW LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE IS AVAILABLE
Early
in 2009, Augsburg Fortress will be publishing a Lutheran Study Bible. This is timed to coincide with our ELCA
emphasis on Bible Book of Faith. The
biblical text will be the New Revised Standard Version, and will feature
introductions, notes and articles on the biblical books and texts that are
written by over sixty Lutheran pastors and teaching theologians. This can be a valuable resource for you to
experience the Bible and its message through solid background material, unique
Lutheran insights, and opportunities for faith reflection. This is a Bible that is reader-friendly,
inviting, and engaging; a study Bible for both youth and adults who want to
encounter Scripture in a fresh, new way.
During
December, we have an opportunity to order this new Study Bible for a
significant discount if we can order ten or more copies. At the discount, a hard cover version of this
Bible will sell for $22.75 each (10 copies or more). A paperback version will sell for $17.50 (ten
copies or more). If you are interested,
please let Pastor Malm know, or contact the church office (373-8479) on or
before Christmas Day, December 25th.
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
HOLY COMMUNION
January 4th
January 11th
December 7th
– Advent II
December 24th
– Christmas Eve
December 25th
– Christmas Day
December 28th
– Christmas I
“CANDLES AND
CAROLS” TO BE PRESENTED
Come and join us On Christmas Eve, December 24th
for a service of hope, peace, joy, and love, entitled “Candles & Carols”. It
will be presented by the joint HLC/TLC Choir.
This is a cantata with narration and choir anthems.
The congregation will join the choir singing familiar Christmas carols.
CONFIRMATION CLASSES
Confirmation classes in December and January will be at Oakland Lutheran and February at Trondhjem Lutheran.
In March there will be
no classes since it is
Lent. In April the classes will be at Oakland Lutheran.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The
“Big Trip”! The ELCA
Youth Gathering next July.
Where else than historical
Confirmation
Christmas Caroling for the home bound
Imax
and
PARISH TO HAVE MEN’S ADVENT
BREAKFASTS
You
are invited to parish Men’s Advent
Breakfasts held on Tuesday mornings at 7 a.m. from December 2nd through December 23rd. A breakfast of pancakes or French toast or
some other warm and tasty goodies will be served. Following the breakfast there will be a short
devotional before you head off to work or whatever you have planned for the day. Come and join the
fellowship!! Bring a friend or
neighbor!!
CHRISTMAS AT SELIAN
Paulina Natema, the pioneer Hospice
Nurse at Selian, asked if I could come by and see a patient with her this week.
Friday, the
day after Christmas, would work well.
It’s a holiday here, and I’ve no office and travel obligations until the
new year.
Besides, it’s been a tough time for Selian staff these past 2
months. In all the excitement of the
amazing opening of the
It was mid-morning and
the place was bustling in a very unusual way.
Not the ordinary holiday; what was up?
Turns out that at about
I was just in time to join Paulina
on her rounds of seeing those who were hospitalized (5 of them). She found towels, gloves, and other supplies
from her Hospice cache to help families who were still scrambling to change
from holiday to emergency mode. We met
another staff person who seemed extra happy to see me. His Christmas was extra difficult because his
mother was doing so poorly. Would
Paulina and I see her at her home?
We did, and the worry lines fell
from the man’s face, just to have “expert advice” so timely provided, and his
mother now able to continue at home for some time with only minor medical
adjustments.
Paulina took me to see her other
patient. The only name I got was “Grandmother”. She
had recently come to the attention of a community volunteer, who informed the
Hospice team. An unusual cancer had
swollen and distorted her left upper arm, draining badly and causing terrific pain. She had been seen for the first time earlier
in the week. This was a visit to check
on the wound and pain management; it was a gift to have a doctor along for an
unusual case as well, something that even Paulina had not seen in her nearly 10
years of Hospice nursing.
The Grandmother was quiet, clean,
and somewhat comfortable,
apparently, a huge change
from 4 days earlier. It took us 45
minutes to accomplish the dressing change, and soon the dark hut was filled
with interested family and neighbors, happy and curious. In fact, there was little need for medicine
adjustment as long as she kept her arm still,
sleep and conversation were now possible.
Though clearly the old woman might die very soon, all was well. As we gathered ourselves to leave, Paulina
asked her if we should simply go, or would she like us to pray for her first?
The quick and bantering reply was that if we didn’t pray, then where was the
hope? Everyone in
the hut chuckled together.
Paulina prayed. And we gratefully returned to our homes and
families to continue celebrating Emmanual, God with us.
Kristopher and Rebecca in Arusha
TRONDHJEM NEWS
DECEMBER JANUARY ASSIGNMENTS
Altar
Guild Coffee Servers Communion
Assistants
Elna Severtson January 18 – Dean & Charlotte Lukes Sheldon & Ruth Lukes
Linda Kraushaar December 2 Sunday School Steve
& Linda Kraushaar
December
14 Emil & Bev Prantner
Lectors Acolyte/Ushers Lectors
January 4 –
Reed & Cortney Thostenson January
4 – Linda Kraushaar
January 11 –
Anna Severtson January
11 – Steve Kraushaar
January 18 –
Ethan Severtson January
18 – Jill Krause
January 25 –
Madalyn Wangen January
25 – Linda Kraushaar
December 7 Linda Kraushaar December
7 Madalyn Wangen
December 14 Steve Kraushaar December
14 Cortney Thostenson & Allison
Wangen
December 21 Jill Krause December
21 Anna Severtson
December 25 Elaine Lukes December
25 Ethan Severtson
December 28 Pastor Malm December
28 Reed Thostenson
DECEMBER JANUARY BIRTHDAYS DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
January 12 –
Barb Prantner
January 13 –
Garrett Lukes
January 24 –
Emil Prantner
January 25 –
Jill Krause
January 31 – Cody HustonDecember 19 Cindy Severtson December 5 Dean & Charlotte Lukes
December 20 Andrew Reese December
13 Dick & Shirley
Kraushaar
December 20 Tracy Jahnke
MEMORIALS
GENERAL FUND
In
memory of HAZEL EVENS by M/M Roger Krause, M/M Emil Prantner, M/M Gordy
Handeland
In
memory of OBERT HALDORSON by M/M C. W. Chesrown
In memory of
CAROL MORGAN by Sue Ball
In memory of
OBERT HALDORSON by M/M Don Chapek, M/M Sheldon Lukes, M/M Nordune Haldorson,
M/M Keith Eastman, M/M Emerson J. Yess, M/M B. E. Haldorson, M/M Don Flatness,
M/M Jerry Schewe, M/M Tim Struck, Lila Esse, M/M Douglas Riskedahl, M/M Vernon
Nordaune, M/M David Prantner, Mr. Julius Hansen, Ronald Burkhow, David Hernes, M/M
Clayton Kearns
In memory of
KENNETH MUDRO by M/M Roger Krause, Barb Prantner, M/M Emil Prantner
ALTAR GUILD
In memory of
HAZEL EVENS by M/M Richard Kraushaar, Barb Prantner
In memory of
OBERT HALDORSON by M/M Richard Kraushaar
ORGAN FUND
In memory of
HAZEL EVENS by M/M Dale Lukes
MISSIONS
In memory of
HAZEL EVENS by WELCA
In memory of OBERT HALDORSON by Barb Prantner
TRONDHJEM WELCA MAKES MANY QUILTS
The Trondhjem WELCA met every Thursday morning at 9
a.m. for nine weeks to tie quilts. They
tied 84 quilts and 10 baby quilts in that time.
Some of the women work all year round making the tops for the
quilts. Some of the quilts are given to
Nursery Crisis Center in Albert Lea & Austin, Salvation Army in Albert Lea
& Austin, Red Cross, Albert Lea & Austin, Blind and Deaf in Faribault,
and some are saved for needs that may arise in the area, and the rest are sent
to World Relief.
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS …..
FOR THE TRONDHJEM
FAMILY CHRISTMAS DINNER AND SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM!!
On Saturday, December 13th
12 Noon – Pot Luck Meal
Those Trondhjem Ladies know how to put on a pot
luck meal!!!
Christmas Program to follow the meal
The Trondhjem Christmas Program is always a “HIT”
Directed by Linda Kraushaar
Always fun for young and “not-so-young”
We the people of
VISION STATEMENT
As a community of faith in Jesus
Christ, we will demonstrate care and compassion for one another and also to a
world in much need. God’s Word and the
Holy Sacraments are central to our life of faith. As we grow and are nourished by these, we
will bring the good news of God’s forgiveness, life and salvation to those around
us.
DECEMBER JANUARY ASSIGNMENTS
Altar
Guild Coffee Servers Ushers
Bev Lunde &
Gwen Hanson January 4 Dick & Gwen Hanson *Doran & Shirley Gray
January
11 Curt & Natalie Larson Clayton Peterson
January
18 Wayne & Janet Kromminga Logan & Tate Tufte
January
25 Tammy & Randy Eggum Dick Hanson
Clayton
Peterson
Marlene
Thompson December 7 Gary
& Paula Broitzman *Dave & Marlene Thompson
Stephanie
Larson December
14 Dave & Marlene Thompson Keith Iverson December
21 Steve & Kaye Tufte Vern & Pat Frydenlund
December
28 Nick & Jeanne Schermer Steve Johnson
Communion Assistants
Wayne Kromminga
and Todd Enderson
Vickie Storlie & Todd Enderson
Acolyte/Ushers Lectors Lectors
January 4 – Logan & Tate
Tufte January
4 – Phil Tennis
January 11 – Mitchell & Jay
Skaar January
11 – Pat Frydenlund
January 18 – Kadie & Kasie
Habana January
18 – Sonja Johnson
January 25 – Anna Englin &
Lindsay Nelson January
25 – Dan JohnsonDecember 7 Shelby
Eggum & Bryce Skaar December
7 Shirley Gray
December
14 Caylee Tennis & Anna Englin December 14 Dan Johnson
December
21 Mitchell & Jay Skaar December 21 Volunteer Needed
December
24 Logan & Tate Tufte December 28 Volunteer Needed
December
28 Kadie & Kasie Habana
“A MOUSE’S TALE
“……..
Is the title of the Sunday School Christmas Program
to be presented on Sunday, December 7th
at Hayward Lutheran. The program is
about the Christmas story told through the eyes of stable animals on Christmas
night.
DECEMBER JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
January 2 Janet Iverson January 3 Josh Englin
January 6 Keith Iverson January 6 David Malm
January 9 Louis Tufte January 15 Christina Learn
January 16 Sara (
January 18 Alice Englin January 18
January 19 Bryanna Hanson January 20 Dan Johnson
January 20 Andrew Ladlie January 20 Tyler Westland
January 21 Carole Eggum January 22 Katherine Barnick
January 23 Beverly Lunde January 23 Joshua VandeKamp
December 3 Linda Johnson December 20 Patricia Frydenlund
December 4 Eugene Jenson December 22 Paula
Broitzman
December 6 Vernon Lunde December 23 Brie-Ann (Woitas) Tubbs
December 10 Erwin (Red) Larson December 24 Jill
Erickson
December 12 Shirley Gray December 26 John Habana
December 14 Bernhardt Anderson December 28 Isabella
Nelson
December 14 Dawn Jenson December
29 Wayne Kromminga
December
29 Travis Jacobson
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
December 9 Vernon
& Bev Lunde
December 27 Kendall
& Lila Johnson
December 30 Paul
& Min Westland
MEMORIALS
GENERAL FUND
In memory of
OBERT HALDORSON by M/M Neal Skaar, Camilla Frydenlund
In memory of
WILFORD QUAM by M/M David Paulson
BUILDING FUND
In memory of
OBERT HALDORSON by LaVonne Williams
In memory of
WILFORD QUAM by M/M Curtis Larson
CEMETERY FUND
In memory of
ANDREW & INDIANA SANDERSON, MIKAEL & DORA CHRISOPHERSON, IRENE REYNOLDS
by M/M Harry Dunn
ALTAR GUILD
In memory of
ANDREW & INDIANA SANDERSON, MIKAEL & DORA CHRISTOPHERSON, IRENE
REYNOLDS by M/M Harry Dunn
WELCA
NEWS
PURPOSE STATEMENT
As a
community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus
Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith,
affirm our gifts, support one another in our
callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church,
the society and the world
DON’T THROW AWAY THAT OLD CELL
PHONE!!
At the Triennial Gathering in
The recycled cell phones will be
used for:
Support
programs that lift women and families out of poverty;
Help provide
lasting solutions to climate change, a major contributor to poverty worldwide:
and
Provide
A box will be provided on the shelf
to the left as you go into the Hayward Lutheran kitchen via the east door. The following are the instructions:
1.
Deactivate your phone service
2.
Turn the phone off, leaving the battery attached
3.
Place the phone in the box provided in the kitchen.
THANK YOU!!
WELCA
TO HAVE CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE
The Hayward
WELCA will have their Christmas Bake Sale and morning coffee on Saturday,
December 6th beginning at 8 a.m.
There will be a drawing at 11 a.m. for a Quilt Chest donated by Louie
Larson and a Quilt donated by Greg and Carolyn Matson. The quilt and quilt chest are displayed in
the social hall at HLC
HAYWARD
WELCA DONATES QUILTS TO GOOD EARTH VILLAGE QUILT AUCTION
On
August 17, 2008 Good Earth Village held a Quilt Auction. The Hayward WELCA donated several quilts for
the auction and they sold for a total of $545.
Diane Ladlie donated a quilt and that sold for $210. Kay Noland Smith donated some quilts and
runners and they sold for a total of $415.
The total credited to Hayward WELCA came to $1,170. Thank you to the women who made these
donations to help the work of Good Earth Village.
ALTAR
GUILD
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE FRESH FLOWERS?
Fresh flowers for the altar are
a beautiful addition to our worship service.
If you wish to furnish flowers, all you need to do is call the Altar
Guild president, Marlene Thompson (373-3895).
The Guild will purchase and display the flowers for you, and if you
wish, will put an acknowledgement in the Sunday bulletin. Cost of the flowers is usually about
$20. Your generosity and support are
greatly appreciated. Thank you.
THIS
‘N’ THAT
GOLD, COMMON SENSE AND FUR
My husband and I had been happily
(most of the time) married for five years, but hadn’t been blessed with a
baby. I decided to do some serious
praying and promised God that if He would give us a child, I would be a perfect
mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide. God answered my prayers and blessed us with a
son. The next year God blessed us with
another son. The following year, He
blessed us with yet another son. The
year after that we were blessed with a daughter.
My husband thought we’d been blessed
right into poverty. We now had four
children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything
unless I meant it. As a minister once
told me, “If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella.”
I began reading a few verses of the
Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I
didn’t want to disappoint Him.
I tried to be patient the day the
children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby
chicks. I tried to be understanding when
they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took
me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all
over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I
tried to see the humor rather than the mess.
In spite of changing over twenty-five
thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than
thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.
While I couldn’t keep my promise to
be a perfect mother, I didn’t even come close.
I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.
I knew I was missing the mark just a
little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she
wanted to bring a bar of soap along to “wash up” Jesus too.
Something was lost in the
translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son
thougth it was generous of God to give us his “last wife.”
My proudest moment came during the
children’s Christmas pageant. My
daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son
was a wise man. This was their moment to
shine. My five-year-old shepherd had
practiced his line, “We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.” But he was nervous and said, “The baby was
wrapped in wrinkled clothes.”
My four-year-old, ‘Mary’ said,
“That’s not ‘wrinkled clothes,’ silly.
That’s dirty, rotten clothes.” A
wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an
angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower in my seat
when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the
aisle crying, “Mama, Mama.” Mary grabbed
the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a
bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, “We are the
three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur.”
The congregation dissolved into
laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. “I’ve never enjoyed a Christmas program as
much as this one,” Pastor Brian laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. “For the rest of my life, I’ll never hear the
Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur.”
“My children are my pride and my joy
and my greatest blessing,” I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.
I Corinthians 13 – A Christmas
Version
If I decorate my house perfectly
with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show
love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a
beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m
just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol
in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love
to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering
angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in
the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the
child. Love sets aside the decorating to
kiss the spouse. Love is kind, though
harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy
another’s home that has coordinated Christmas China and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of
the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able
to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games
will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the
gift of love will endure.
A
VERY HAPPY AND ADVENTUROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL
As
we start the New Year, here are 21 things to remember:
1.
No one can ruin
your day without YOUR permission.
2.
Most people
will be about as happy as they decide to be.
3.
Others can stop
you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
4.
Whatever you
are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
5.
Success stops
when you do.
6.
When your ship
comes in, make sure you are willing to unload it.
7.
You will never
“have it all together.”
8.
Life is a
journey, not a destination. Enjoy the
trip!
9.
The biggest lie
on the planet: “When I get what I want,
I will be happy.”
10.
The best way to
escape your problem is to solve it.
1.
11. I’ve learned
that ultimately, takers lose and givers win.
12. Life’s precious
moments don’t have value unless they are shared.
13. If you don’t start, it’s certain
you won’t arrive.
14. We often fear the thing we want
the most
15. He or she who laughts…..lasts.
16. Yesterday was the deadline for
all complaints.
17. Look for opportunities…not
guarantees.
18. Life is what’s
coming, not what was.
19. Success is getting up one more
time.
20. Now is the most interesting time
of all.
WHO STARTED CHRISTMAS?
A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two
children. After many hours of looking at
row after row of toys, and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing
both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she
finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.
She was feeling what so many of us
feel during the holiday season time of the year – overwhelming pressure to go
to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats,
getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making
sure we don’t forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure
we respond to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened
and there was already a crowd in the car.
She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and
all the bags of stuff. When the doors
closed she couldn’t take it anymore and stated, “Whoever started this whole
Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot.”
From the back of the car everyone
heard a quiet calm voice respond, “Don’t worry; we already crucified Him.” For the rest of the trip down the elevator it
was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
Don’t forget this year to keep the
One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed,
purchase, and word. If we all did it,
just think of how different this whole world would be.
BECOMING PARTNERS IN GOD’S
WORK
~ My child, I’ve often heard your question: This
message is my answer. You’re aconcerned
about the hungry in the world, millions who are starving…and you ask, “What can
I do?” FEED ONE
~ You grieve for all the unborn children murdered
every day…and you ask: “Whata can I do?”
SAVE ONE
~ You’re haunted by the homeless poor who wander
city streets…and you asl: “What can I do?”
SHELTER ONE
~ You feel compassion for those who suffer pain,
sorrow and despair..and you ask: “What can I do?” COMFORT
one
~ Your heart goes out to the lonely, the abused and
the imprisoned…and you ask: “What can I do?”
LOVE ONE
Remember
this, My Child…two thousand years ago the world was filled with those in need,
just as it is today, and when the helpless and the hopeless called out to me
for mercy, I sent a Savior.
HOPE BEGAN WITH ONLY ONE!
PARISH
NEWS DEADLINE
The deadline for turning in articles and calendar
information for the Parish News is the 20th of each month. Thank you for your cooperation.
ADDRESS
CHANGE? If
you or someone you know has had a change of address or phone number within this
past year, please inform the Church Office as soon as possible. Thank you for your help!
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE LUTRAN AIRLINES IS NOW OPERATING
IN MINNYSOTA!
(Also serving Visconsin, Nordern Mitchigen, Nort & South
Dakota)
If
you are travelin’ soon, consider Lutran Air, the no-frills airline. You’re all in da same
boat on Lutran Air. Here flyin’ is a upliftin’ experience. Dair is no first class on any Lutran Air
flight.
Meals
are pot luck. Rows 1 thru 6 bring rolls;
7 tru 15 bring a salad; 16 thru 21 a hot dish, and 22-30 a dessert.
Basses
and tenors please sit in da rear of da aircraft.
Everyone
is responsible for his or her own baggage.
All fares are by free-will offering, and da plane will not land til da
budget is met.
Pay
attention to your flight attendant, who vill acquaint you
wit da safety system aboard dis Lutran Air. Okay, den.
Listen up!
I’m only gonna say dis vonce:
In da event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, I am frankly gonna be
real surprised and so vill Captain Olson, because ve fly right around two tousand feet, so loss of
cabin pressure would probably mean da Second Coming or something of dat nature, and
I wouldn’t bodder with doze liddle masks on da rubber tubes. You’re gonna have bigger
tings to worry about den dat. Just stuff doze back up in dair liddle holes.
Probably
da masks fell out because of turbulence which, to be honest wit you, we’re gonna have quite
a bit of at two tousand feet; sorta like driving across a
plowed field, but after awhile you get used to it.
In
da event of a water landing, I’d say forget it. Start saying da Lord’s Prayer and just
hope you get to da part about forgive us our sins as we forgive dose who sin against
us, which some people say ‘trespass against us,’ which isn’t right, but what
can you do?
Da
use of cell phones on da plane is strictly forbidden, not because day may
confuse da plane’s navigation system, which is by da pants all da way. No, it’s because cell
phones are a pain in da wazoo and if God had meant you to use a cell phone, He
wudda put your mout on da side of your head.
We
start lunch right about
Den
we’ll have da hymn sing; hymnals are in da seat pockets in front
of you. Don’t take your wit you
when you go or I am gonna be real upset and I am not kiddin!
Right now I’ll say Grace:
Come,
Lord Jesus, be our guest
And
let deze gifts to us be blessed.
Fader,
Son and Holy Ghost,
May
we land in Dulut or pretty close.
++++++++
MEMBERS OF
REMEMBER THE CONGREGATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING
POT LUCK MEAL TO FOLLOW
Reports are needed from the following people or groups:
Congregational
President
WELCA –
Secretary & Financial
Sarah & Leah Circles
Altar Guild and Altar Guild Treasurer
Sunday School
Board and Sunday School Treasurer’s
PLEASE TURN IN YOUR REPORTS TO
THE CHURCH OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
HAPPY NEW
YEAR!