Wednesday Words for December 5, 2012
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“God is coming! God is coming!
All the element we swim in, this existence,
Echoes ahead the advent. God is coming! Can't you feel it?”
--Walter Wangerin Jr., "The Signs of the Times" in The Manger Is Empty
***
In our prayers: John Michaels, Bill Kohl, Dorothy Heisler, Millie Karger, Jennifer Reuskens and family, all of our members who struggle with cancer, all those who are grieving this holiday season, soldiers and others who will not be able to be with family this Christmas.
Tonight at Bethany: It’s time for Advent Midweek Worship! Come at 7 pm for Holden Evening Prayer, featuring a special message about St. Nicholas Day (celebrated in many countries on December 6th). Hint: wear shoes you can easily remove (and socks you won’t be embarrassed to show off!)
There are no confirmation classes until after Christmas.
Tomorrow at Bethany: Theology on Tap at Duke’s Alehouse, Thursday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Paul says the topic is “Christian Ethics.” But if that sounds boring—never fear! The discussion will really be about what our role is supposed to be as Christians in the world. All are welcome to join this casual evening of drinks and conversation!
Sunday at Bethany: For the 2nd Sunday of Advent, the focus will be “Paving the Path to Peace.” What are the obstacles to peace in our lives, in our community, and in our world? Pastor Paul will be preaching, and the Sonshine Singers (kids’ choir) will be providing the special music.
Caroling: At 3:45 p.m. the F.A.S.T. (Fellowship and Service Team) will meet at the church and will proceed to a nursing home to brighten the day of the residents. If the weather cooperates, they will also sing to our neighbors in the area by the church. No singing talents required!
A Prayer for St. Nicholas Day, December 6: Almighty God, who in your love gave to your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Learn more about the REAL Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) here: St. Nicholas Center
The Congregational Potluck is coming! Please remember to sign up on the board outside Luther Hall. This Sunday (December 9th) is the last day to indicate that you are coming and what dish you will bring to share. The dinner is Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m.
Coming Soon: We will have a special “Guest” preacher for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 16th—our very own Felix Malpica! Felix is a child of Bethany who is in his final year of seminary at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a grateful recipient of scholarship funds from the Bethany Mission Endowment Fund this year. Please plan to attend worship to hear how that seminary education has paid off!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Bethany Sunday School Christmas Program! This year’s program is called “A Tree-mendous Gift”. You can hear the Christmas story and hear the kids sing on Sunday, December 16th at 4:00 p.m. Come one, come all!
This Week’s Texts: The 2nd Sunday of Advent
Malachi 3:1-4
3See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Luke 1:68-79
(no psalm this week. Instead, the “Song of Zechariah”)
68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Philippians 1:3-11
3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Luke 3:1-6
3In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
