Wednesday Words for December 18, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Scroll down for the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy!
Thought for the Day: Not celebrate?
Your burden is too great to bear?
Your loneliness is intensified during this Christmas season?
Your tears have no end?
Not celebrate?
You should lead the celebration!
You should run through the streets
to ring the bells and sing the loudest!
You should fling the tinsel on the tree,
and open your house to your neighbors, and call them in to dance!
For it is you above all others who know the joy of Advent.
It is unto you that a Savior is born this day,
One who comes to lift your burden from your shoulders,
One who comes to wipe the tears from your eyes.
You are not alone,
for He is born this day to you.
- Ann Weems, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”
***
Tonight at Bethany: It’s not really the longest night of the year (that happens in a few days) but tonight we will gather for a service called “The Longest Night”. This is an opportunity to gather and lift up those concerns weighing heavy on our hearts at this time of year. Are you grieving? Dealing with a medical diagnosis? Does Christmas bring up difficult memories from the past? Join us at 7 pm for a chance to give those concerns over to God. We will write our prayers on paper stars and hang them on the “Tree of Hope”, where they will remain during Christmas Eve services. All are welcome.
Sunday at Bethany: Wow—it’s already the 4th Sunday of Advent! Each week the joy and anticipation have increased. Each week, we draw closer to the day we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This week, expect the sanctuary to be awash in poinsettias. All four Advent candles will be lit, and we’ll sing those last few Advent hymns before Christmas Eve arrives.
The Bethany Adult Choir will sing for us at 8:30 am, and the Sonshine Singers will lift our spirits at 10:30 am. As a congregation, we’ll sing “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, “The Angel Gabriel, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, and “The King Shall Come”. See you on Sunday!
End-of-the-Year Giving: Each year, we rely on a generous Christmas offering to meet our budget obligations. As you consider your end of the year giving, please remember your church! All gifts are tax-deductible. Please help us end the year in a strong financial position, ready to look ahead to new ministry opportunities in 2014. You can give on Christmas Eve (5, 7, and 10:30 pm) or you can mail a check to the church:
Bethany Lutheran Church
76 W. Crystal Lake Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Thank you for your generosity!
From Hannah’s family: “The Ayares/ Sorenson family would like to thank those who helped us achieve a dream trip to Disney World for our daughter Hannah, as well as the rest of our family. Your kindness and generosity have truly touched our hearts. We feel so welcomed by the whole congregation. This unexpected outpouring from the church is appreciated beyond measure. Without you it would have been immensely difficult to see her dream come true. Peace be with you and your loved ones this holiday season, and thank you again.”
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
5 p.m. (Family Service)
Pr. Paul preaching, Sonshine singers, jingle bells for the children, and Silent Night by candlelight
7 p.m. (Traditional)
Pr. Carrie preaches, Carol Lahti on violin, Felix and Karla Malpica singing “O Holy Night”, Silent Night by candlelight
10:30 p.m. (Traditional)
Pr. Carrie preaches, Bell Canto Choir, Bethany Adult Choir, and Silent Night by candlelight
***
This Week’s Texts: 4th Sunday of Advent
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
that eagerly we may receive your promises,
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 7:10–16
10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19
1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph | like a flock;
shine forth, you that are enthroned up- | on the cherubim.
2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, | and Manasseh,
stir up your strength and | come to help us.
3Restore | us, O God;
let your face shine upon us, and we | shall be saved.
4O LORD | God of hosts,
how long will your anger fume when your | people pray? R
5You have fed them with the | bread of tears;
you have given them bowls of | tears to drink.
6You have made us the derision | of our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh | us to scorn.
7Restore us, O | God of hosts;
let your face shine upon us, and we | shall be saved.
17Let your hand be upon the one at | your right hand,
the one you have made so strong | for yourself.
18And so will we never turn a- | way from you;
give us life, that we may call up- | on your name.
19Restore us, O LORD | God of hosts;
let your face shine upon us, and we | shall be saved. R
SECOND READING Romans 1:1–7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, 6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL Matthew 1:18–25
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
