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December Shalom 2007
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for the in the inn.
– Luke 2:7
Anyone who knows me very well, knows I usually get a little bit grumpy this time of the year. Each year, it seems, I have less patience with the world around me starting its “Christmas” celebrations earlier and earlier. In fact, the end-of-the-year buying frenzy that is encouraged seems to have less and less to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. I would prefer that the retail world would leave the name “Christmas” to those of us who truly want to celebrate the birth of the Christ, and come up with a different name for the buying frenzy. I have suggested “Consumer-mas” as an apt title.
In the best of worlds, we would understand that the reason we give gifts to one another at this time of year is to remind each other of the amazing gift which God gave to the world on that first Christmas. But, if that were the case, we would model our gift giving after that first gift. Our gifts would be simple, quiet and sacrificial. Instead, a lot of the gifting I seen encouraged relates to getting the best, the biggest and the newest thing on the market. (At the OU game the other day I overheard one guy tell another that giving someone a 42” TV was an insult. “It's gotta be a 52”” he said emphatically.)
But, I don't want to just rail on the ills of consumer-mas.
I had conversation with someone the other day that made a lot of sense to me. She was talking about “alternative gifts”. Things that, I think, better capture the reason Christians give gifts during this time of year.
Here are just a few gift-giving ideas that can help us escape from consumer-mas and get back to celebrating Christ-mas:
The gift of time. This came out of the conversation I had. Give someone a bit of your precious time. Give an afternoon together. Offer to do a task, or help with a project, or go dancing. We are all so busy these days, what could be more precious than time? Give at least the amount of time you would have spent shopping for some trinket that would end up in a garage sale.
The gift of service. Cook for someone. Clean their garage. Do their dishes for a month. Find some task that they need doing and then do it.
Make a craft. Homemade gifts can be precious, even if they are not pretty. If you have a skill in woodworking or knitting, use that to create something meaningful for those closest to you. If you don't have a skill, there are all sorts of kits available.
Make a donation. Many charitable and non-profit organizations have gifting programs. You can sponsor a child in someone's name, or an animal. You can gift an organization that cares for the poor. You could give a gift to a scholarship fund at the person's alma mater. The possibilities are endless.
Use your imagination!
Just remember, find ways to give of yourself this Christmas season. That, after all, is what God did on that first Christmas.
Whatever you do to celebrate the season, don't forget to make time to worship the one whose birth defines this holy time.
Peace,
Pastor Mike
The Year of Matthew – In a three year cycle, our Gospel lessons focus on either the Gospel of Mark, Matthew or Luke. The Gospel of John is used in all three years. This year we will be reading Matthew's story of Jesus. Matthew highlights the Jewish origin and identity of Jesus and his first followers more than the other Gospels. In Matthew, Jesus is presented as a new Moses, as one who comes to both teach and fulfill the Torah (instruction) of God. In Matthew, Jesus is preeminently the Messiah (“anointed one”) who fulfills all the promises made through the prophets of old.
Advent II – December 9, 2007 - Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12; Both services will feature a liturgy of lessons and carols. Hear the Christmas story told in word and in song.
Advent III – December 16, 2007 - Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11; Sermon Title: The Last Prophet; John the Baptist was the last prophet of the old covenant and the first to proclaim the new.
Advent IV – December 23, 2007 - Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25; Sermon Title: Naming the Baby; Joseph didn't understand everything that was happening with Mary, but, in faith, he does what the angel commands.
Christmas I – December 30, 2007 - Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18. Matthew 2:13-23; From the moment he was born, Jesus was a challenge to power. When King Herod hears of Jesus' birth, he immediately tries to destroy him.
The Epiphany of our Lord – January 6, 2008 - Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12, Sermon Title: Wisdom for the World; The world's wise come to pay homage to the one who embodies wisdom for the world.
Hopefully, you are still reading your bibles! To read your bible in a year, means reading approximately three chapters a day. Here is a schedule for the second four weeks:
|
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
|
Sunday |
Genesis 1-3 |
Genesis 19-21 |
Genesis 37-38 |
Exodus 3-6 |
|
Monday |
Genesis 4-5 |
Genesis 22-24 |
Genesis 39-41 |
Exodus 7-9 |
|
Tuesday |
Genesis 6-9 |
Genesis 25-28 |
Genesis 42-45 |
Exodus 10-12 |
|
Wednesday |
Genesis 10-11 |
Genesis 28-30 |
Genesis 46-48 |
Exodus 13-15 |
|
Thursday |
Genesis 12-15 |
Genesis 31-33 |
Genesis 49-50 |
Exodus 16-19 |
|
Friday |
Genesis 16-18 |
Genesis 34-36 |
Exodus 1-2 |
Exodus 20-23 |
|
Saturday |
Sunday's Texts |
Sunday's Texts |
Sunday's Texts |
Sunday's Texts |
If you missed it, the first month's readings can be found in the November edition of the Shalom.
SOUL
University Lutheran's group for college students and other young adults.
The next SOUL FOOD will be Sunday, December 9 (note the change from last month) immediately following late service. SOUL FOOD is a time for fellowship, fun and food at a local restaurant. College students and other young adults are invited to go out on SOUL! The group picks up the tab! Plan on coming… …and bring a friend!
The last Taizé service of the semester will be Tuesday, December 4. As always, dinner is at 6 PM and the prayer service begins at 6:44 PM. Taizé Tuesdays will resume on January 15!
This semester's midnight pancake feed begins at 11 PM on Monday, December 10 and ends around 1 AM on Tuesday, December 11. Home made, from scratch pancakes will be served hot off the griddle, along with sausage and maybe some fruit (new this semester). A great final's week study break! Bring all your friends! We want to pack the place!
A sign-up for helpers will be out in the narthex of the church on December 2!
The University Lutheran Student Center (the house south of the church) is open for students to study from 7-10 PM, Monday-Thursday. There are tables and sofas, free WI-FI, and pop and munchies in the kitchen! The perfect study environment! A peer minister is always on duty to help you log on to the WI-FI!
Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with your family and friends! This year's celebration will stretch through Advent and into the Christmas season:
Sunday, December
9
8:30 & 11 AM Lessons and Carols Services – A reading of the Christmas story, along with favorite carols, anthems and contemporary music will be featured at both services
Saturday, December
15
5:30 PM Potluck and Christmas Caroling – Bring a dish to share and then join your friends in bringing Christmas to our sick and shut-in members.
Sunday, December
16
10 AM Sunday School Christmas Program – Our children will tell the story of Jesus' birth in their own wonderful way. See the nativity through the eyes of our youngest members.
Monday, December
24
5:00 PM Children's Crèche Service – Children of all ages are invited to sing carols, and hear the story of Jesus' birth as we set the characters one by one in the manger.
7:00 PM Contemporary Candlelight Service – A candlelight service featuring University Lutheran's Contemporary Band.
11:00 PM
Traditional Candlelight Service – A service of traditional
carols
with the University Lutheran Choir.
Annual reports from all University Lutheran committees and organizations are due in the church office by Friday, December 21. Thanks!
The University Lutheran Church and Student Center Congregation Council has called the Annual Meeting of the congregation for Sunday, January 27 starting at 2 PM. All voting members are encouraged to attend! We will hear updates on the mission and ministry of our congregation and vote on a Mission Plan (budget) for 2008. Come and get excited about all the good things happening in our community of faith! Annual Reports will be available for all voting members starting on Sunday, January 13.
All the men of the congregation are invited to a morning of prayer, conversation and fellowship on Saturday, December 8 from 7:00 – 8:30 AM. We will begin the morning with a breakfast of egg casserole, fruit, muffins, juice and coffee. That will be followed by a bible study led by Pastor Mike and then conversation about the future of men's ministry here at University Lutheran. Please RSVP to Pastor Mike by sending him an email (pastormike@ulcsc.org) giving the church office a call, or signing up in the narthex by Friday, December 7.
Deadlines? Lifelines!
‘Tis the season to “run around ragged”, as my mother would say. We all have deadlines for the end of the semester, Christmas break, that one last project that needs to be finished up before the end of the year, getting ready for family to come into town, or to leave ourselves. All these and many more deadlines can leave us feeling, well, dead. So worn down and worn out that by the time we get to Christmas, we don't have the energy to celebrate! We wait expectantly, anxiously, for Christmas to arrive with all of it's lights and music and food and love but when we finally drag our feet out of bed that much anticipated day, we are just as excited to get back in bed.
This year, instead of expending all your energy and excitement just to get to the holidays, spend your energy in the spirit of the holiday. Set aside time to do those things we cherish the Christmas season for; bake some cookies, drink some cider, light a fire, play a family game, just sit and watch the (hypothetical) snow fall. Rest securely in the knowledge that God sent his son some 2000 years ago for you to have life and would make the same decision today and everyday, for you.
Christmas Presence,
December 5th and 12th
This year we will again have 2 Wednesday evening bible studies that serve a duel purpose. Because we spend much of our Sunday School time in December getting ready for the Christmas program, we don't get a lot of time to teach on Advent and the Christmas story so for the children, this will be a fun time to learn. We also make it available as a gift to our hard working parents. Drop your kids off, do some shopping, go on a date, whatever. Friends and non ULCSC members are also welcome. We will take anyone from birth to Middle School. There is a flyer available to hand out
For this program to work we will need some help. If you are an adult without small kids and would like to prepare a meal, help us supervise for an evening, help teach/entertain the kids or help us to organize this event, contact Chris Lee.
Calendar
12/5 Christmas Presence, 6-8pm
12/9 Christmas Program rehearsal, during Sunday school time
12/12 Christmas Presence, 6-8pm
12/15 Christmas Program rehearsal,
12/16 Christmas Program, 10am, between services
12/24 Children's Crèche program, 5pm
Prayer List – December 2, 2007
Please keep
the
following in your prayers:
Members who are homebound: Herb Kuhlman, Dave Alvis, Paul Brinker, Kathy Maytubby, and Dorothy Thompson.
Members who are sick and recovering: Kirstin Schwandt, Tamara Swenson, and Janet Hansen
Members who are hospitalized: John Lindsey.
Friends and family members who are sick and recovering:
James West, Son of Len and Andy West
Aneice Rodrigues, Friend of Cathy Cook
Orville Thomas, Friend of Carrie Atherton
Taiyoko Payton, Friend of Doug and Gwen Gransberg
Ari Williams, Friend of Roger and Debbie Bain
Anna White, Mother of Richard White
Dora Cox, Friend of Jerry Black
Ella Ann Olson, Mother of Cathy Cook
Michelle Black, Daughter of Jerry Black
Elsie Eaton, Friend of Eva McGinnis
Lony Birkert, Friend of Ingrid Robbins
Gloria Longcrier, Mother-in-law of Sandra Longcrier
Bob Rogers, One of our Football “parkers”
Virginia Bain, Mother of Roger Bain
Cindy Rose, Sister-in-law of Gwen Gransberg
Sue Ledsford, Friend of Donna Shaw
Those in the military who serve in harms way, including: Justin Smalley, John Huston, Welby Richardson, Billy Loving, Jeff Jorgenson, Joshua Bell, Jason Kahne, John Stroud, Scott Peters, Otto Perez, and Will Watson.
Missionaries of the church, especially: David and Alicia Brondos, in Mexico, Sally and Tom Roach in Tanzania, and Herb Hafermann in Tanzania.
For those who grieve the death of a loved one, especially the family and friends of: Verla Winegardner, Mother of Duane Winegardner
December Birthdays
1 - Zachariah Alley, McAlester
Bruce Snyder, Sr., Etters, PA
T.J. Somers
2 - Lon Ocker, Odessa, TX
4 - Wilhelmine Folks, Norman
5 - Grace Klumpp, Norman
8 - Diane Hardersen, Casper, WY
9 - Donna Reynolds, Highland Park, MI
10 - Holly Lantagne, Brookings, SD
Michael Metseff
17 - Jane Abraham, Madelia, MN
20 - Cooper Gunnels, Norman
LaVon Scanlan, Milwaukee, WI
Fred Schmidt, Fairborn, OH
Arlis Scott, Aberdeen, SD
21 - Ethan Abraham, OKC
25 - Kathy Dunlop, El Paso
26 - Justin Heersink
30 - Bill Johnston, Concord, MA
December Anniversaries
10 - Debbie and Alfred Downey, Norman
16 - Randa Shehab and Steven Gunnels, Norman
20 - Sammie and Sam Olkinetzky, OKC
28 - Meg and Fred Carr, Beverly, MA
Statistics -
October
2007
Worship Attendance
|
Sunday |
10-7-07 |
10-14-07 |
10-21-07 |
10-28-07 |
|
Average |
|
8:30 |
65 |
75 |
55 |
60 |
|
64 |
|
11:00 |
90 |
91 |
85 |
106 |
|
93 |
|
2007 |
155 |
166 |
140 |
166 |
|
157 |