Wednesday, December 5, 2018

December 2018 Newsletter


Maria Lutheran Church Newsletter
December 2018
Mailing Address: 521 N Lincoln Ave, Hershey, NE 69143
Message Phone: 308-368-5510       Email: marialutheran.hershey@gmail.com   https://marialutheran.blogspot.com/                        https://www.facebook.com/MariaLutheranChurch/


The New Church Year Begins
Advent marks the beginning of the Church year, and is the season to prepare for the coming of Christ. Advent began December 2nd. There are 4 Sundays in Advent.  A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service will be held at 7:00 PM on December 24th

Unfortunately, the weather forced us to cancel church for the past two Sundays. On November 25th, the weather prevented our preacher, Lawrence Wendelin from traveling; on December 2nd, since many of our church members south of the Interstate were snowed in with more snow and cold expected, the service was also cancelled.  Tim Johnson had the sermon prepared, based on Luke 21: 25-36, so we are sharing part of his message here.

As we begin our Advent journey this week, our Gospel lesson from Luke may seem a little out of place.  We are preparing to celebrate his birth, but in this lesson Jesus talked about the end-of-times. 

Do you recall a few years ago when 33 miners were caught underground by a cave-in at a mine in Peru.  After a few weeks hopelessly trapped, they shared their last meal of a crumb of bread and a sip of water.  They expected to starve there, cut off from their families, and in deep despair.  But above, 10 huge drills were burrowing into the mountain to affect a rescue.  As the sound of the drills became audible to the trapped men, they could do nothing besides hope and trust in their rescue.  When our own lives seem cut off from hope, our Gospel message today tells us to turn toward our God and his Promise for our rescue.

At the end of his ministry on earth, Jesus got more direct and clear about things that would affect his followers.  It was necessary for him to bring up the negative aspects of life on this side of eternity.  Bad things will happen and people will be fearful.  It is to be expected in a fallen world.  Even the heavens--think space and time--will be affected.  Jesus then predicted his second coming, using the image from the book of Daniel.  Talk about scary!  Do we run and hide?  How do we remain faithful when these signs begin to appear?  Jesus said “Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  That is the command for us and the reason it ties to Advent. 

This is the time of year when our minds are beckoned by festive decorations and glitzy ads encouraging us to spend money.  Nothing is wrong with purchasing gifts, but it does distract us from the fact that the Kingdom of God is present here and now.  Jesus pointed out that we need to pay attention to see it.  Jesus said that all things will pass away except His Word.  It is everlasting.  In John 1 we read that Jesus is the Word, so when all things pass away, He remains.  Then Jesus finished by cautioning his followers not to be distracted by the anxieties and excesses that keep us from appreciating his presence with us.  This is the perfect description of our current holiday mania, and the state of the world in general. We were in church in Beatrice in mid-November and the pastor mentioned that it was 44 days until Christmas and we could see people visibly cringe and grimace, most likely focusing on all of the shopping, decorating and baking that needed to be done. They had lost focus of the reason for the season. The recognition of Advent allows us a “step back” to focus our faith on what is important. 
Paul told the Thessalonians that he was praying for them to receive what was “lacking” in their faith.  In the original language, he meant he was praying for repair or restoration.  Their faith was there, but needed strengthening in the right way.  In the cultural wars raging around us, our faith surely needs the same attention. We don’t need to listen to the current “wisdom” that comes from those who love to hear themselves talk.  We need to listen to the Word of God, which is Truth in the past, present, and future.  The God who saves is also the God who blesses.  Praise be to God that He provides for our Salvation and the growth of our faith. 

So this Advent, we can dedicate ourselves to moving the emphasis of the season from holiday festivities toward God’s Word.   Why accept a snack of secular Christmas, when we can have a feast--the celebration of Jesus’ birth?  Special food, and gifts shared with family is enjoyable, but the true joy of the season is the awesome, world-changing event of Christ’s birth, celebrated here in our church with our Christian brothers and sisters.  Let’s pay attention to the signs that point us to creation’s need for the Savior to bring justice and righteousness to the world.  “Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Amen.

Upcoming Events:
Maria’s Ark for Grades K-8 : Wednesdays 4:00 pm (when school is in session)
Rides available from school
Youth Group for Grades 9-12: Every Wednesday 6:30 pm (when school is in session)

Maria Council Meeting: Wednesday, December 5, 6:30 PM

Decorating the Church Soup and Sandwich Potluck: Sunday, December 9, following worship
Please bring a crockpot of soup, sandwiches, or other treats and stay to decorate the church.

Maria Women Bible Study: Wednesday, December 12, 6:30 PM
                                    Everyone is welcome to come for fellowship and Bible study.

Maria Youth Caroling with the Catholic Youth: December 19th

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
7:00 PM, December 24th

  
A Note from Wade
Mark Batterson is credited with saying, “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called”.  With that in mind, I am excited to announce that I have begun training to become a certified Parish Assistant through the North American Lutheran Church.  I have felt called to this path for a couple years, but did not feel comfortable pursuing the certification with our previous affiliation.  After lengthy discussions with my family we decided to begin this journey.
A Parish Assistant is a person who serves a congregation as needed alongside, or in the absence of, an ordained Pastor.  The training includes eight sections of emphasis, Old Testament, t New Testament, systematic theology/confessions, Church history, Homiletics, worship history/traditions, pastoral care & counseling, and spiritual life.  This program is a two-year program and is led by Pastor Jeff Cottingham from Trinity Lutheran in Gothenburg.  
When certified, I will be able to lead a congregation in much the same way an ordained Pastor would, ie. preaching, communion, baptisms, funerals, pastoral care, and weddings, etc.  This would qualify me to assume a leadership role or fill a vacancy within a congregation.
If you have any questions about this program don’t hesitate to ask me.    
                                   
God is most definitely good.   Wade Hudson

Maria Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes
November 7, 2018
Council Members Present:  Gail Martin, Turner Dorr, Kerry Frels, Peggy Brown, Tim Johnson, Terri Johnson 

Other Attendees: Wade Hudson

Gail Martin, President called meeting to order

Minutes for 10/17/18 were approved with corrections.  Turner made motion; Peggy seconded motion; motion carried.


Finance/Stewardship:
·         Peggy reported on bank accounts.  General Ledger will be presented in December for budget purposes. 
·         Tim handed out mission investment statement along with letter requesting funds to be disbursed and sent to church. 
·         Great Plains Mission District Annual meeting is on Nov 10, 2018 in Abilene, KS.  Will get packet of what was presented.
·         Still working on visitation of members in need.  Tim will get information updated at the hospital
·         Communion Training with Pastor Mike Williams will be done.  Tim will coordinate for himself, Wade and Turner
·         Discussion of possible affiliation with Paxton needs to be take place.  Need to get information on financials and scheduling prior to annual meeting.  This needs to be placed on agenda for Annual meeting in order to get congregation questions, concerns, and input. 

New Business:
·         Christmas Eve Service time was discussed.  Turner made motion to move service to 7:00 pm; Kerry Frels seconded motion; motion carried.
·         Harvest Festival – Amy Williams will play organ and Pastor Mike Williams will be guest speaker and will do communion.  Gail Martin made motion for $250 pulpit supply; Turner Dorr seconded motion; motion carried.
·         Decorating the Church for Christmas – Will have potluck soup and sandwich after worship and December 2.

Old Business:
·         Banner for the NALC is in the church
·         New Phone and answering machine is in fellowship hall
·         Letter was sent out in the newsletter for affiliation notice
·         List of members – Tim created list of current member with address, phone#, and emails

Christian Education:
·         Wade ordered stickers for the bus
·         Ark will have 22 kids going to the Newsboys concert in Grand Island
·         Confirmation – Wade Hudson and Sara Wiseman are working on curriculum that was used when Pastor Judy was here.
Building and Property:
·         Still waiting on shingles to get fixed.  Planning on doing when electric company replaces pole and the bucket truck is here.
·         Will get estimate on possibly replacing bell tower roof and trim with tin instead of shingles

Next meeting will be on December 5, 2018

Meeting Adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kerry Frels,
Secretary, Maria Lutheran Church, Hershey, NE

Communion by Lay Leaders
The Maria Council decided to have lay leaders trained to offer communion at our services. Turner Dorr, Wade Hudson, and Tim Johnson met with Pastor Mike Williams of the LCMC on Nov. 19th.  He talked about the Lutheran understanding of the sacraments and that God’s Word is what is important.
He suggested stressing the Words of Institution and the Lord’s Prayer as the focus in the communion service to remind us of Christ’s presence with us.



December Birthdays and Anniversaries*
2nd,  Michael Jorgensen, 
5th, Jeremy & Gail Martin*
7th, Bill Maassen
8th, Aidan George
14th, Tehya Eckhoff
15th, Hudson
17th, Peyton Fisher
18th, Ryan Klaasmeyer
18th, Jason & Savannah Lashley
22nd, Marguerite (Dorr) Gallegos
22nd Silas James Dorr
23rd, Bette Frels
24th, Janet Moorhead
26th, Lyric Frels
27th, Claude & Kelly Hoatson*  
28th, Bobbi Jo Brannan
31st, Mitchell & Stephanie Moorhead
31st, Shaun Weekly

Worship Leaders
Dec 9:  Lawrence Wendelin; Lessons: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 126, Phillipians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-16
Dec 16: Turner Dorr;  Lessons: Zephaniah 3:14-18a, Isaiah 12, Phillipians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
Dec 23: Lawrence Wendelin; Lessons: Micah 5:2-4, Psalm 80:1-7, Hebrews 10: 5-10, Luke 1:39-45
Christmas Eve at 7:00 PM: Tim Johnson; Lessons: Isaiah 62:10-12, Psalm 98, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:1-20
Dec 30: Lawrence Wendelin; Lessons: Jeremiah 31:10-13, Psalm 111, Hebrews 2:10-18, Luke 2:41-52

December Ushers and Readers:  Hudson Family   Communion and Altar: Tim and Terri Johnson
Cookie Volunteers needed

Contact Numbers for Prayer Chain and Concerns: Tim Johnson (308) 520-0677

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