web viewdid you hear the angel's message? “unto you is born a savior.” you is only...
TRANSCRIPT
Redeemer Radiates
December 2016Redeemer Lutheran Church & School 4513 Williams Road Fort Worth, TX.
76116
WEB SITE: Church–http:// www.redeemerfw.orgChurch Phone: 817-560-0030Pastor Grassley office: [email protected] Office: [email protected]
WEB SITE: School - http://school.redeemerfw.org School Phone: 817-560-0032 Day Care Phone: 817-244-3228
E Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Pastor David A. GrassleyAdministrative Assistant Melody SmithOrganist Pamela ButlerCongregational President Tyler WagnerCongregational VP <Open>Chairman, Board of Elder Duane JanssenChairman, Board of Trustees Larry RiemenschneiderChairman, Finance Board Mark HinrichsChairman, Christian Day School Randy ThomasChairman, Christian Education Debbie ThomasChairman, Mission Ministry Georgia HotalingChairman, Stewardship Rebecca AustinChairman, Fellowship Lori PenningChairman, Ushers Kyle AustinCongregational Secretary Frank RileyJanitor George “Dell” McDanielGroundskeeper/Sexton Joe Masterson
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Director & Pre-K3 Teacher Linda Pinkston Pre-K4 Teacher Sarah Pinkston
The Pastor’s Corner I say it every year, but I stand in utter amazement when I ponder what took place nine months before that first Christmas. Just think, the eternal Son of God, the Creator of the universe … Himself timeless, almighty, and omniscient … deigned to become man for us. With the conception of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary, God (in all the fullness of deity) became man (in all the fullness of humanity). Nine months later, this holy Child would be born. What a marvel!
It was to shepherds on Bethlehem's hills that an angel first proclaimed the Christmas message, saying, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Then suddenly, a multitude of angels unleashed their chorus of praise, singing, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
Did you hear the angel's message? “Unto you is born a Savior.” You is only a little word, but to us who know our sinful condition, it should make us glad.
Martin Luther once said, “To whom is God speaking through His angel -- to wood or stones? No, God speaks to people, to all people. Shall we doubt the grace of God and say, ‘Peter and Paul rejoiced that their Savior is come, but I cannot, for I am a miserable sinner and thus this dear and precious treasure is not for me?’ ‘My friend,’ Luther continues, ‘if you say He is not mine, then I say, whose is He then? Has He come to save geese and ducks and cows? See who He is! If He had come to save another creature, He would have assumed the likeness of that creature. But He has been made the Son of man!’”
The emperor of Rome, indeed, the kings of the earth go on with business-as-usual, unaware that the King of Kings will soon make His entrance. But it is into this world, a world that would know Him not, that He comes. The offspring of Mary’s womb would become the focal point of all history.
St. Luke records the incarnation of the Son of God in these familiar words:
“While they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
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Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7).
As so we sing:
O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Pastor Grassley
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ELDER OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER:
August RicconoAssistant: Troy Freiberg
GREETERS IN DECEMBER:
(If you wish to be a Greeter, please select a
date on the sign-up sheet posted in the narthex.)
FLOWERS PLACED TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN DECEMBER:
4th Ray & Betty Landy in celebration of Betty’s birthday.
18th Cary & Dixie Burkett in celebration of their 55th wedding anniversary.
25th Poinsettias
ANNIVERSARIES IN DECEMBER:
12/02 Gerald & Anne Lutterman (38)12/02 John & Nancy Moyer (27)12/12 Mark & Gina McGee (20)12/19 Gary & Dixie Burkett (55)12/19 Norman & Lisa Preston (19)12/20 Dennis & Martha Kitzmann (47)
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12/20 Larry & Tammy Riemenschneider (30)BIRTHDAYS IN DECEMBER:
12/01 Judy Pitre 12/11 Gene Zulfer12/03 Mary Pumphrey 12/16 Stephanie Gutierrez12/04 Michael Neben 12/18 Frances Graham12/06 Laura Stuck 12/22 Mark McGee12/07 Betty Landy 12/23 Curt Fischer12/07 Norman Preston 12/23 Ruth Goulet12/08 Florene Richter 12/24 Dillon Scoggins12/10 Mary Morones 12/27 Darold Klamt12/11 Brooks Heitmeier 12/31 Rick Carter
12/31 Eric Skiles
Crystal & Curtis Golden have a new address: 5708 Blue Ribbon Rd., Ft. Worth, TX 76179.
A note from Clark Penas: Thank you to all the Redeemer Families for your prayers, condolences, cards, and visits related to the death of my nephew Doug Beckman on October 25th. You are all such a Blessing for me. Clark Penas
For those of you who haven’t heard, Clark’s brother, Clint Penas, died November 11th at the age of 80 after a 2 year struggle with cancer. His burial and memorial service will be December 2nd and 3rd in Portland, Oregon.
AmazonSmile Foundation: The AmazonSmile Foundation is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop at AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation donates .05% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. So, the next time you are shopping on Amazon, why don’t you give AmazonSmile a look and select Redeemer Lutheran Church as your charity?
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Board InformationChristian Education:Tuesday Morning Bible Class will take its winter break from November 29th until after the new year.
The Ladies’ Bible Study will also take its winter break from December 6th until after the new year.
Jr. Confirmation, Adult Instruction Class and Christian Education Night are all on hiatus until after the new year, as well.
Fellowship:If you have been thinking about hosting a table for Christmas by Candlelight on December 6th, please let Lori Penning know. So far, we only have four tables reserved. Please consider hosting a table and bringing your friends. Hosts will decorate a table for 8 guests with their favorite china and Christmas decorations. You are also asked to provide an appetizer and a dessert to share at your table. Our Youth Group will be serving drinks. Brigid Connor will be playing harp for us. This is a wonderful evening. If you haven’t been to one of these, you really need to see what it is all about. Sign up today!! Invite all of your friends!
Mission Ministry:The LSSS (Upbring) Angels have arrived. We have 50 angels to select from. They are available today in the narthex. The angels need to be returned to the church by December 11th. Please see Georgia Hotaling.
Now is the time to collect cancelled stamps and donate them. Christmas cards will be coming in the mail soon. Please take a moment to remove the stamps on the envelopes, slip them in a baggie and drop them off in the Church Office.
Thank you to all who bring in their coupons to donate to our Military. The coupon box is on the table in the Church Office. You do not need to clip them, just drop them in the box and we will do the rest. Our Military families benefit greatly from this ministry. Thanks, again.
Georgia Hotaling
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Whole Person Health Ministry:We want to thank our Redeemer Congregation for supporting us at our annual pre-Thanksgiving Bake Sale Fundraiser on Sunday, November 20th. Donated funds amounted to $286.00. Thank you to all who baked for us and thanks also to the Youth Group who donated the November 20th donations to their pre-Bible Study free will offering for their breakfast offering.
Funds are used toward non-budget food items for our special events, and gifts for home, hospital and healthcare facility visits through the year by the Parish Nurses. At year’s end we return any funds not used to the AED upkeep fund. This year we returned $45 from the last fundraiser.
December Blood Pressure Screening will be on 12-18-16 in the Parish Hall following Divine Worship. Please feel welcome to come over for 5 minutes for this quick vital signs check-up.To keep stress under control during the holidays in a life that is already hurried, try cutting back this year with these suggestions:
Adjust your expectations. Instead of baking multiple cookie recipes, bake just your family favorite. Consider baking the others once a month during the rest of the year.
Recruit family members to help address Christmas cards. Or divide your list among 12 months and surprise your friends and relatives with a letter or e-mail at another time of the year.
Shop online. Wrap gifts as they arrive in the mail. Focus on devotions or singing carols around the Advent wreath. The Christmas tree and other decorations don’t have to be perfect. Enjoy the
process. Get plenty of sleep, eat fruit and vegetables, and drink lots of water. Keep meals simple, even the Christmas dinner. Enjoy relationships of those
around your table. Grace them with your calm and caring presence.
May the Prince of Peace give you a calm and joyful spirit this holiday season.(adapted: Jane Geske, Lutheran Home and Services, Arlington Heights, IL)
Donna Riccono, RN, Parish NurseFaith Community Nurse
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Stewardship:Greeters are needed. Please sign up on the Stewardship bulletin board. Thanks!
Elders:EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION: The Board of Elders is collecting donations to give our Pastor and other church employees a small Christmas bonus from the congregation. If you would like to contribute, please give your donation to any one of the church Elders. If you want to contribute by personal check, please make the check out to Redeemer Lutheran Church and write “Staff Gifts” in the Note section of the check. If you want to place your donation in the collection plate, please put it in an envelope and mark "Staff Gifts" on the outside of the envelope so it can be properly distributed. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity. – Duane Janssen, Chairman, Board of Elders
Trustees:The Trustees wish to thank Shawn Barber for repairing our boiler just in time for chillier weather! You are a true blessing, Shawn, and we appreciate you so much.
Altar Guild:It is time to order your Poinsettias! Please help us beautify the sanctuary by purchasing a Poinsettia for the chancel area. The sign-up sheet is on the Altar Guild bulletin board and the cost per plant is $10.00. Order more than one! Thanks.
Youth Group:The Youth Group will be selling angels, music boxes and Christmas tags beginning December 4th. Please support our Youth Group by picking up some of these items. They would make nice Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers! Please see Serena Freiberg for more information.
Also, please remember in your prayers: Members: Anne Allen; Bettye Baird; Elaine deTurck; Bruce & Ruth Goulet; Gerald & Francis Graham; Rosina Herrmann; Zora Johnson; Betty Landy; Ray Landy; Avery Maurer; Eva Merritt; Gene Morones; Ron Neben; Rev. Richard Nelson; Lori Penning; Judy Pitre; Charles Ruhmann; Genell Ruhmann; Bettie Schatte; John Schatte; Alan
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Schaubhut; Bill Skokan; Eric Snodgrass; Randy Thomas; Ben Wagner; Mildred Wagner; BreiAnn Zickel (Schultze); Jeanette Zulfer. Relatives of members: William Allen; Jan Anderson; Sid Anthony; Bill Baird; Kala Barnett; Janet Bliss; Susan Boudreaux; Joe Busby; Ellie Jo Carberry; Meril Christenson; John Baars Connell; Dean Crocket; Shirley English; Pat Garnet; Alan Goulet; Andrew Graham; Glen Hammett; Nick Hansen; Bob Herrmann; Ed & Sue Herrmann; Craig & Trina Hotaling; Jeanette Hutchinson; Arleen Hayek; Louetta Lewis; Noelle Littlefield; Alison McMurray; Chuck Merritt; Kevin Neville; Jim Penning; Lynda Quirey; Brian Quiriconi; Steve & Carolyn Saucedo; John Sergent; Timothy Sherman; Brian Stevens; Matthew and Shantel Schatte; Addie Thomas; David Thomas; Jacob Thomas; Stormi Thomas; Shelia Toland; Pat Wyer. Friends of members: Kelley Adams; John Allison; Brinda Briscoe; Sara Cartwright; Rebecca Cates; Elinore Cocca; Jolene Crowe; Lauren DiGiovanni; Robert Edmonds; Terry Forsyth; Clair Hoelscher; David Holmes; Kyle Hopkins; The Aaron Johnson Family; Peg Kennedy; Lisa Markham; Charlene Marroquin; Julie Miranda; Marshall Martinez; Dennis Palmer; Rev. Jerry Peterman; Linda Riojas and daughters, Zoe and Sage; Lisa Rodriguez; Russell Rose; The Tamblyn Family; Stormi Helene Welches.
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From “Martin Luther Day by Day”December 1st
“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” ROMANS 13:12
The Light of the World
The doctrine of the Law, or the first light, is the moon. It teaches our obligation to bear fruits, as a good tree should. The other light is the sun. It speaks of the new man, of a different tree, telling us that we receive the Gospel from Christ. There we hear whence and how a man becomes good, namely, through faith. Thus, the Gospel deals, not with our works but with grace and gifts, with the good that God does for us and presents to us through Christ. The Ten Commandments tell us about our duties toward God. Now, to be sure, the moon shines at night, but still it does not turn night into day. Christ, however, is the true Sun. He ushers in the morning and the day. He teaches us how to be saved and how to be delivered from death and sin. Therefore, He says: “I am the Light which illumines the whole world”; for He alone liberates from sin, death, the devil, and hell. . . . Now again the proclamation is issued that sin is condemned solely in Christ, and that we are delivered from sin without our works, boasts, or deeds but only through the death of Christ. This is the message of the Gospel. This is the light and true brilliance of the sun, which radiates through the entire world. So, Christ’s claim is just. The doctrine in itself is true; He is the Light of the world.
From Sermons on the Gospel of John, Chapters 6-8
(Luther’s Works 23:324-25)
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DECEMBER 2016
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
2710:30 AM Divine Service 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Children's Choir Practice
286:30 PM - 8:00 PM Youth Group Meeting
296:30 PM - 8:00 PM Choir Practice 7:30 PM Adult Instruction Class
3010:00 AM Quilting 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Advent Meal 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Mid- Week Advent Vesper Service
110:00 AM Grocery Bags for LSSS 7:00 PM Board Meetings
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410:30 AM Divine Service 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Children's Choir Practice
56:30 PM - 8:00 PM Youth Group Meeting
611:00 AM - 3:00 PM XYZ Group 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Christmas By Candlelight
710:00 AM Quilting 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Advent Meal 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Mid-Week Advent Vesper Service
87:00 PM Church Council Meetings
97:00 PM Braille @ St. Paul Lutheran Church
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1110:30 AM Divine Service 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Children's Choir Practice
126:30 PM - 8:00 PM Youth Group Meeting
136:30 PM - 8:00 PM Choir Practice
1410:00 AM Quilting 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Advent Meal 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Mid-Week Advent Vesper Service
15 167:00 PM Young Adults Group
1710:00 AM - 1:00 PM Gina McGee Event
1810:30 AM
196:30 PM
206:30 PM
2110:00 AM
22 23Church
24Day Care Closed
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Divine Service 11:45 AM Blood Pressure Check after Service 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Children's Choir Practice
- 8:00 PM Youth Group Meeting
- 8:00 PM Choir Practice
Quilting Office Closed
8:30 PM - 9:30 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
2510:30 AM Divine Service 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Children's Choir Practice
266:30 PM - 8:00 PM Youth Group Meeting
276:30 PM - 8:00 PM Choir Practice
2810:00 AM Quilting
29 30Church Office Closed
317:00 PM - 8:00 PM New Year's Eve Service
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