EVENTS

15th Father’s Day 22nd -26th VBS 28th Men’s Fishing Day

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D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 ”Sharing God’s Love Story

to Inspire the Imagination and Faith”

“A Hymn of the Nativity”

In a manger the Lord of the universe

reclined for the sake of the universe,

Behold O Bethlehem, David the King

clothes himself in fine white linen.

The Lord of David and Son of David hid

His glory in swaddling clothes.

His swaddling clothes gave

A robe of glory to human beings.

On this day our Lord exchanged

Radiance for shame, as the Humble One.

For Adam exchanged truth for evil

as a rebel. The Gracious One took pity;

Because the Gracious One saw that the

human race was poor and humble

He made feast days as treasure houses.

On this feast let everyone garland

the door to their heart.

May the Holy Spirit desire to enter in

to dwell and sanctify.

On this feast the openings in the curtains

are joyous, and the holy ones rejoice in the

holy Temple, and a voice thunders and the

Messiah rejoices in His feast.

On the birth of the Son, the king,

Glory to His Name. Praise to You,

O Son of David, King of glory.

~ St. Ephrem 3rd Century

A Community of Faith A Call to Mission A Commitment to Serve

Sunday Worship

10AM Worship Service

2 PM CTK-Sudanese Service

December CtK Happenings

12/4 Sue & Fr. Joe’s

Open House

12/15 Book Discussion:

Joy to the World

12/18 Christmas Cookie

Give-Away

12/ 20 Salvation

Army Bell Ringing

12/22 Cup of Coffee

Blessing @ Clark Corners

Christmas is….. “a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the

year to remind us that we're here for something else

besides ourselves." ~ Eric Sevareid

Christmas is more than a date on a

calendar. Christmas is a defining moment

that transcends just a few hours of festive

activities. The mystery and miracle of the

nativity, of the Virgin born child, the

Messiah’s first arrival captures our hearts

and imaginations, inspiring us to see

beyond the curvature of earthly reality

and unveils life’s destinies.

Christmas touches our minds, bodies, and

souls like no other event. Christmas is

about our memories. Like an old photo

album as the 25th approaches we tend to

relive celebrations of the past. We linger

in living rooms of our childhood and

years gone by, recalling special moments

of love and laughter. Traditions have

created well-worn familiar patterns that

create larger than life experiences. Yes,

Christmas is as much about yesterday as

today.

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Christmas Eve 5 PM Carols, Candlelight

Communion Christmas Eve Service 5 PM

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Christmas is about humanness. There is a physical response to Christmas. The smells and tastes evoke strong

emotional feelings. The fragrance of fresh cut pine trees alight with dazzling colors reflecting off shiny glass globes

inspires awe and wonder. The bright colors open our eyes to the gloriousness of life. Scented candles and fresh

baked treats evoke feelings of welcome and anticipation. The sounds of bells, carols, and songs of the season

breathe life into the ordinary. Spoken words, “Merry Christmas” and “Christ is born today!” imparts grace filled

goodwill and hope. Christmas is also about touch, as hugs and embraces are much more acceptable in the sharing

of love and friendship.

Christmas is about our souls. Deep within each of us God has created a unique capacity to connect with the eternal,

the spiritual, God Himself. As we celebrate in Word and song, the voices of heaven come to us and speak peace

and great joy. During this season of busyness, moments of pause and reflection quiet our hearts and allow us to

listen deeply within our spirits to the truth and purpose of life. The mystery and miracle of Christmas inspires a

“what if” that opens our hearts to possibilities beyond this life of earthly routine. Christmas offers us a glimpse into

a reality that lifts life to higher purposes and values, releasing the capacity to experience and give love. The heart of

God is most clearly seen in the life of the heaven-born Son celebrated by celestial choirs, star-struck shepherds, and

seeking spiritual wise men. But most of all, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we can also say, “Did not our

hearts burn within us?” as we too ponder the wonders of God’s gift of Christmas—A Savior born to us, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Christmas touches us on all levels as God gives peace, joy, love and life through His Son!

Celebrate the real story of Christmas ~GOD’s love-sent Son, our Savior, Immanuel. Grace, Fr. Joe

"Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever." ~ Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954)

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” ~ Philemon 25

How did people in eighteenth-century prepare for Christmas? By David DeSimone

The Christmas season is foreshadowed by the four-week season of

Advent. Advent is the beginning of the Christian liturgical year and is

considered to be a separate season from Christmas. For most devout

Anglicans, the season of Advent was a penitential time of reflection,

anticipation, and expectation for the coming of Christ. This spiritual

preparation was reflected most clearly in the liturgy and prayers of the

church during Advent. The daily and Sunday readings from the Book of

Common Prayer are highlighted by the two great heralds of Christ-- the

prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist. Fasting, the consumption of only one

full meal (often meatless) during the day, was recommended as another

form of self-examination in preparation for Christmas. The Advent

season emphasized the timeless dialogue between darkness and light, evil and good. Perhaps at a time of the year

when daylight is at an ebb, the joy of the expectation of the holiday became even greater for people of the past.

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heavenly Father.

and then allow them to be used in and through you as an offering of faith and praise might just be the perfect gift to our

heavenly Father.

Sunday, December 4th Noon to 2 PM Sue & Fr Joe’s Annual

Our Address: 13808 Myrtle Drive, DeWitt.

(2 miles north of the church off of Clark Rd. by the south High School

Entrance, Panther Dr.)

Sunday, Dec. 18th Annual Christmas Cookie Give-Away.

We need bakers and givers to provide 3-5 dozen Christmas cookies. We will be packaging them in decorative

cellophane bags as gifts. We hope you will take one or more and give it away as a blessing to a neighbor or friend.

Tuesday , Dec. 20th Salvation Army Bell-Ringing. We will be serving our community by volunteering to ring the

bell at the red kettle by J.C. Penney’s in the Lansing Mall from 10 AM- 8 PM. We need hourly ringers. Sign up at

CtK and help those in need.

Thursday, Dec. 22nd Cup of Coffee Blessing at Clark Corners. We will be sharing Biggby

specialty coffee and Christmas treats with the workers here in our complex. Come and share a

smile and warm drink from 9-10:30 AM.

Humor Me…..

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Finance Note This month you will be receiving a 2017 pledge card. Please return all cards to the

church by the end of December. Our annual meeting will be Sunday, January 29th

What do you call an elf that sings?

Answer: A wrapper.

What do you call people who afraid of Santa

Claus?

Answer: Claustrophobic

What’s the difference between the Christmas

alphabet and the ordinary alphabet?

Answer: The Christmas alphabet has Noel

.

What did Adam say to his wife on the day before

Christmas? Answer: It's Christmas, Eve!

You two quit or I’m turning this caravan around and we are going home!

Christmas Threads Christmas tapestry, Nativity pageantry

Carols singing, Bells ringing

Voices from the past, Memories that outlast

Intruding uninvited, Spiritual united

Stories handed down, Traditions abound

Ancient faith, Intuitive braith

Creation’s glory, Man’s story

Image shaped, Sin draped

Fig leaf shame, Finger pointing blame

Darkness seeps, mankind weeps

Lost life, Blinded sight

Soul searching, Hunger thirsting

History unbroken, Prophecies spoken

Ahaz Isaiah proclaimed, Immanuel son named

Virgin conceived, Sign unbelieved

Centuries past, Days at last

Betrothed waiting, Gabriel stating

Divinity humanity, Incarnate infinity

Pregnant in time, Womb bound divine

Roman census, Jerusalem senseless

Bethlehem Crèche-born, Creation adorn

Silent night, Advent bright

Radiance lighted, Angels flighted

Past, present, future unfold, Shepherds, Star-gazers behold

Redeeming re-story, God’s Christmas glory

Heavenly choirs sing, A heaven sent King

Voices from the past, Truth still lasts

Stories read, God’s Christmas thread

Jmlaker 2016

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Pondering Christmas --Inspiring Imagination

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“JOIN the JOURNEY”

This Christmas we will sing songs about Christ

searchers, the Wiseman from the east. Who are

they? Journeymen, magi, scholars who had read

ancient Jewish sacred texts brought by exiles

almost 500 years before. As they poured over

these prophecies a stirring within them gave

courage to leave and see for themselves. They

traveled at great cost. They even brought gifts.

And after searching and ultimately finding the

Christ child, they were prompted by the Holy

Spirit to leave discreetly another way. How did

this journey start? They felt the promptings of

God to know more. And in fact, God tells us

He guided them supernaturally by the light of a

star. God invited them and led them to worship

Him. That’s where we all begin, being

prompted by a desire to know more about the

One prophecies foretell will come. As they

began their journey they didn’t have all the

answers, and in fact their search wasn’t for a

Savior, but the King of the Jews. We don’t know

the final outcome of their spiritual journey and

its impact upon their souls. Yet, we do know

they began the journey. This Christmas and

everyday God is inviting people to journey

towards Him, with Him, to know Him, and

worship Him.

Thank YOU! In the last few weeks we were able to bless two families

with gifts totaling almost $3,000. We also shared over 1,000 boxes of

popcorn with parade watchers at the Lansing Festival of Lights parade.

Thanks for all who helped in serving, giving joy, and blessing others.

The CtK church family also donated food items to fill 10 boxes with all of the holiday trimmings for Thanksgiving.

The large boxes, including the turkeys and even pumpkin pie fixings were donated to the Lett’s Community Center

for distribution.

Thank you to all who came out to help decorate for Advent.

The tree looks great and will be even more spectacular when

it is finally lit on Christmas Eve. Our tables and fellowship

area is holiday festive. Our sanctuary is robed in majestic

purple reminding us of Advent-- a time of preparation,

contemplation, anticipation, leading to our celebration.

CtK Bullet Points 2016

Please be in prayer as we prepare a direct mail card to be sent to over 5,700 homes in the DeWitt, Bath, and St John Communities. Target mailing date 12/15. Share in the Christmas mystery, wonder, and joy of God’s love

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Rector: Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Mlaker 517-881-5725 email: revjmlaker@gmail.com

Rev. Samuel Makuach: 517-515-2326 email: samakuach@gmail.com

CTK Church Office : 1161 East Clark Rd, DeWitt, MI 48820 Web page: www.CTKAchurch.org

Awakening the imagination to God’s story of transforming Lore

Here’s my current list of top 10

“bumper-snickers.”

I get enough exercise just pushing

my luck.

Change is inevitable, except from

a vending machine.

Time is what keeps everything from

happening at once.

No Radio—already stolen!

Don’t be God’s weakest link!

Where there is a will I want to be

in it!

3 Kinds of people—those who count

& those who can’t

The gene pool could use a little

chlorine.

Forget about world peace—visualize

using your turn signal.

John 1:14 (ESV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Author of life now life offers His love

Father sent, Christ incarnate from above.

In a world of his own making,

Now an infant bright eyed waking. Having no beginning or end to be found,

Virgin born, fleshed in life eternity bound.

Deity humanity swaddling clothed in sight

Cradle enthroned in glories light

Majesty mysterium, Crèche adorn

we too celebrante our Savior born

jmlaker 2013

~Jmlaker 2013

DECEMBER 24th @ 5PM Carols, Candles & Communion

www.CTKAchurch.org

Coming In J a n u a r y

Home Blessings Annual Meeting

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