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MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 1
PASTOR’S PAGE by Pastor Scott Peterson
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being,
and he sustains all things by his powerful word. --Hebrews 1:1-3a
Dear Friends of the Incarnate Messiah,
DO YOU HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND? My closest high school friend and I still make sure we are together for at least a few days each year--in good years, a few more days. When we talk together, noth-ing is out of bounds. We are so free in what we say that, at times, we offend each other. When that happens, we quickly ask for forgiveness, lest the lack of forgiveness break the relationship we both cherish and need. But most of the time, it is not that complex. We are together in the simple, liberating freedom of being in each other's presence.
CAN YOU IMAGINE GOD BEING A FRIEND LIKE THAT TO YOU? Some people have been close friends with God. Exodus 33:11 reads, "The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." Wowser!!! Here is another one: The prophet Isaiah wrote that God Himself said, "Abraham, my friend" (Isaiah 41:8). God?!! A friend like that?!! It is a staggering thought. But actually, God has many friends like that.
"YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND YOU," Jesus told His disciples. He continued, "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…" (John 15:14-16a)
GET IT? Jesus is God. Jesus said to His disciples, "You are my friends…" And YOU are one of His disciples. So that means YOU are a friend of God. Think of that! You are a friend of God. Really!
WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR FRIEND GOD, WHAT DO YOU TALK ABOUT? When God and I talk, it is often about the strange, angry world these days. We are saddened by all the self-inflicted wounds and the deter-mined rebellion from God's love--which God intends for all. To be honest, the things God tells me bleed over into what I preach. When we talk, I do not always hear very well, but thankfully God is patient and repeats Himself. God gave us His message in a written word, yet His word says, "Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) Or, to quote a friend of God named Martin Luther, "The church is a mouth house, not a book house."
ADVENT BEGINS A NEW CHURCH YEAR FOR THE FRIENDS OF GOD. This year, MLC will have Advent mid-week services of worship on Wednesdays, December 6, 13, and 20 at 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. The evening services will have Holden Evening Prayer for liturgy. At Noon we will have readings from God's Word, music, and preaching. In these Wednesday Advent services, we will listen to three prophets--three friends of God: Moses, Isaiah, and John the Baptist will help prepare the way for us to celebrate the com-ing of our Lord Jesus.
So grateful for our Lord and for our partnership in the gospel,
Pastor Scott Peterson
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Dec 3 ELW Setting 8 Dec 10 LBW Setting 1 w/LS Dec 17 LBW Setting 1 Dec 24 Lessons & Carols Dec 31 WOV Service of Word & Prayer
NOVEMBER SERVICES OF WORSHIP LBW = Lutheran Book of Worship | WOV = With One Voice ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship | LS = Lord’s Supper
Advent Mid-Week Services Noon & 7:00 p.m.
December 6, 13 & 20 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Sunday, Dec. 24 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Advent offerings will support replacing the roof at the Jesus Tadeo Flores School and the Kids to Love’s Davidson Farm for Girls.
Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Dec 3 LBW Setting 1 w/LS Dec 10 WOV Service of Word & Prayer Dec 17 Bread of Life 1 w/LS Dec 24 Lessons & Carols Dec 31 WOV Service of Word & Prayer
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 2
OUTREACH
LIFE PASSAGES Births
Paul and Anita Zomkowski announce the birth of their son Andrew and Kristin Gipner announce the birth of their daughter
John and Mary Burke announce the birth of their grandson
Deaths
Jacquie Fry's mother Lola Behrens passed away .
Joe Stuart’s sister Sue Brannon passed away.
John Spinas passed away.
(Content Redacted)
Contact Claire Strand if you would like to
announce significant transitions in the life of our community of faith, including birth, death, Baptism, gradu-
ation, Confirmation, job change, relocation,
engagement, marriage, or any other
life passage!
Claire Strand Director of Outreach [email protected]
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: “I Used to Play” Workshop by Larry Frakes
THIS MONTH
PANTRY ITEM
Pasta & Sauce
____
KIT MINISTRY
Dark Hand Towels
The “I Used to Play” Workshop Ministry started when I decided to check an item off my bucket list. I had always wanted to learn to play the trum-pet! Once I did, I intended to join Messiah’s Instrumental Ensemble, which didn’t have any trumpets at the time. This seemed like a reasonable goal for me since I was an instrumental music major in college, where I learned to play anything from ophicleide to zither well enough to teach six graders to play and join a band.
I went looking for materials to help me learn to play trumpet. I explored a range of band method books -- some went too slow, while others went too fast. Finally, I found a series of books called “I Used to Play” for trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, and so on. The trumpet book went at just the right pace for me!
What happened next? It occurred to me that there were lots of folks who used to play an instrument until families and careers got in the way, and they forgot how to play, kind of like me on my major instrument, the clarinet. A workshop ministry to help them find instruments and start playing again seemed like a good idea. So far, we have started a brass quartet, which brought a new trumpet player into the church and encouraged a couple more to polish up their talents. With the arrival of more trumpet players, I started learn-ing to play trombone. We have also restarted some woodwind players, and all these folks play in the Instrumental Ensemble now.
What’s ahead for the “I Used to Play” Group?
The group is looking forward to the possibilities of the future. If we could find a couple of saxophone players (or people who play other instruments who
(Continued on page 8)
A workshop ministry to
help them find
instruments and start
playing again seemed
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 3
MUSIC NOTES Ring and Sing On Sunday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m., the MLC sanctuary will be filled with sounds of hand bells, hand chimes, “Tinkerbells,” instruments, and voices. The Ring and Sing Concert, now in its 19th year, promises an evening of Christmas joy, including the ever-popular “Hand Chime Audience Participation” time. Recep-tion following. Free will offering supports the Madison Public Library.
The Sanctuary Piano Gifts and dedicated funds total over $21.5K! We are now actively pursuing a piano! Contacts have been made to the Southeastern Synod, area tuners and rebuilders, piano dealers, and musicians. Visits to regional stores and studios will start soon. As the search proceeds, you will be apprised of developments. Thank you for your gifts to Messiah’s music ministry!
Lessons & Carols On Dec. 24, in addition to candlelight services of worship on Christmas Eve in the evening hours, Lessons & Car-ols services will be in the morning. Come worship our Messiah at MLC.
Talent Show! Music, drama, dancing, comedy, visu-al art? What performance talents do you want to share? A Talent Show is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27
th!
Contact Lois Graff for more infor-mation or to sign up. MLC’s Senior Youth will be serving a Spaghetti Supper preceding the show as a fundraiser.
Hymn of the Month:
“Fling Wide the Door” The text of this Advent hymn inspired by Psalm 24 was written by Georg Weis-sel (composed by Johann Freylinghausen) in the early 17
th century.
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 24:7
In the last century, the hymn was translated by Gracia Grindal, a professor at Luther Seminary. According to Hymnary, “Following an interest in the connec-tion between theology, culture, and hymnody, Grindal has originated two spe-cial series at Luther Seminary: ‘Singing the Faith’ services on Reformation Sun-day using themes from Luther's Catechism; and song fests featuring a variety of hymn and song traditions from the Swedish, 1992; Norwegian, 1993; Dan-ish, 1994; German, 1995; Finnish, 1996; to the African-American in 1999, and Icelandic in 2000. Each festival includes the music of a Lutheran college choir and features the particular tradition of such colleges as St. Olaf, Augsburg, Lu-ther, Augustana, Gustavus, etc.”
Lois Graff Director of Music Ministries [email protected]
MESSIAH MUSICIANS
Musical opportunities available for all ages from Pre-K to Adult!!
Cherub Choir
Pre-K-1st grade
Seraph Choir 2nd-6th grade
Guitar with Ric 7th-12th grade
Notabella 9th grade-Adult
Instrumental Ensemble
7th grade-Adult
Adult Choir 9th grade-Adult
I Used to Play 9th grade-Adult
Contemporary Ensemble
Jeffrey Flanniken gave a musical commen-
tary at the Samford String Quartet concert
held on Nov 5th. The next Music at
Messiah concert is May 20, 2018.
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 4
MLC YOUTH
The Junior Youth (grades 6-8) have been having a great time
gathering the evenings of each 2nd and 4th Sunday. This month we contin-ued building our group through fellowship and also participated in a Senior Youth activity to help us understand some statistics and facts about persons experiencing homelessness. We went skating with the Senior Youth on Nov. 24, and we hope to have some great pictures from that in next month’s news-letter!
Senior Youth meet every Sunday from 6-7:30 p.m. unless otherwise an-nounced.
YOUTH CALENDAR ONLINE mlutheran.org/missions-and-outreach/youth-ministries/
OR CLICK HERE
The Senior Youth (grades 9-12) are working our way through some
awesome curriculum provided by the ELCA for the National Youth Gathering next summer. We are up to 18 participants for our summer trip and are super excited. We are exploring themes that will affect how we experience our time in Houston this summer. We also had an awesome time at the bonfire on Nov. 19. Thanks to the Ryan family for hosting.
The Senior Youth Advent Breakfast will be Dec. 3 start-
ing at 9:30 a.m. Please come out and support our summer trip to Houston, TX for the National Youth Gathering. You can also pick up your wreath order that same day! See you there for some great food and fellowship.
Sara Galyon Director of Youth and Christian Education Ministries [email protected]
& EDUCATION MINISTRIES
The MOEs (Messiah Older Elementary)
had an awesome time bowling at the Madison Bowling Center this past month. We always have an awesome time when-ever this group of 3-5th graders get to-gether for fellowship.
This month we will have a multi-generational Game Day with pizza pro-vided on December 10 from 4-6:30.
Afterwards, those who would like to at-tend the Ring and Sing Con-cert can come sit with us and enjoy that as well!
MOEs is open to all kiddos in 3rd through 5th grades. Join us! Meetings are as scheduled.
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 5
The 2nd Annual Tacky Christmas Party and As Seen On TV Gift Swap will be Saturday Dec. 16! 3-5 p.m. Parish Hall@ ML
Bring out your awesomely tacky holiday outfits and bring your wrapped Bass-o-Matic or Ped Eggs! We’ll cap it off by all going out to dinner somewhere in our handsome attire. POC: Kristin & Andrew Gipner
COMFORTERS The Comforters will meet on December 5
th and
12th
at 9:00. After the holidays, the Comforters will resume meeting on Tuesday , Jan. 2, 2018.
Questions? Contact Annette Joens
Messiah’s Sunday School classes will present their Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 17th at 9:45 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Rehearsals for the
pageant will be held each Sunday during the Sunday School hour (9:30-10:30).
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Cookie Exchange Dec. 2! There’s been a change of location. The fun will take place in the Parish Hall from 2 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. All cookie bakers are wel-come. Please bake extra cookies so we can box them up for MLC’s college freshmen to have in time for finals. POC Sonja Pedersen??
WINTER-WOOLIES,
Lunches for Learning Pop-Up Sale
Sunday, December 10th in Fellowship Hall
Between & After Services of Worship
Christmas (for sure) and winter weather (maybe) are right around the corner. In case you were busy and didn't get a chance to make it to the MLC L4L sale in October, we've got you covered - literally! The crafters will have an inventory of scarves, cowls, hats, etc. just in time for winter weather and gifting. The Winter Woolies sale will also have a display of some amazing handmade Christmas ornaments. So while you are making your list and checking it twice, take advantage of a shopping op-portunity with an added bonus - all proceeds bene-fit our Lunches for Learning mission!
ORNAMENTS FOR SALE
SALVATION ARMY ‘ANGEL TREE’ ANGELS
REMINDER! The unwrapped gifts are due back to Messiah by Noon on December 10th
POC: Claire Strand
“MOE GAMES, MOE FUN! ” MULTI-GENERATIONAL GAME NIGHT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 - 4 to 6:30 PM This month’s MOES (Messiah Older Elementary Stu-dents) meeting will be a game night with pizza pro-vided. All members and friends are invited to match
wits with Messiah’s 3rd through 5th Graders. RSVP at Welcome Center.
POC Sara Galyon ([email protected])
After the games, plan to stay for the annual Ring and Sing Concert which starts at 6:30 p.m.
O.W.L.S DECEMBER GATHERING!
Older Wiser LutheranS will meet
Sunday, December 17 1:00 p.m.
at Terranova’s Restaurant. POC Jan Murphy
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 6
Above/Left: MLC’s Wheelchair Ramp Team conducts their 28th ramp build to help a homeowner who could no longer safely enter or exit their home. This build had a new feature– a porta-ble toilet! In a humorous twist, the team had to break a padlock off with power tools to use it! For one of our own, and in remem-brance of one of our own, Jeff Graff. The CASA guys got together with Thrivent and built Lois Graff a new deck for MLC’s Director of Music, Lois Graff, on November 18, (Jeff’s birthday).
Left/Below: Left: Pastor Scott Peterson and Lunches for Learning
Executive Director Phil Dodson pose following an update to mem-
bers on Nov 5th. Below: Yes! I do accept credit cards. LWR Kit
Ministry leader Rhonda Gaede readies herself for the Kit Ministry
bake sale on Nov 12. Diane Davis put together an “Iron Bowl” ba-
by layette kit challenge for dollar donations. Which team
brought in the most donations?
Alabama! Roll Tide!
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 7
CHURCH
COUNCIL
Executive Committee
President: Pastor Scott Peterson [email protected]
Vice President: Mark Thompson [email protected]
Treasurer: Marcie Emerson [email protected]
Secretary: Greg Kilby [email protected]
Council Representatives
Worship and Music: Terry Frakes [email protected]
Outreach: John Shriver [email protected]
Stewardship: Heather Neely [email protected]
Education and Youth: Janell Zesinger [email protected]
Fellowship: Sonja Pedersen [email protected]
Property: Pete Woods [email protected]
Finance: Andrew Gipner [email protected]
Youth Representative: Bridie Ryan [email protected]
COUNCIL NOTES Jeanette Beamer, Church Council Secretary [email protected]
The Church Council met on Nov. 9, 2017. Here are a couple of highlights from the meeting: The Council has approved a new youth driving policy for the church. This is important for the church to protect our youth and for insurance purposes. Thanks to Dan Byers, Sara Galyon, and Mark Thompson for their efforts on this policy! Information will be provided to parents. Claire and Katrina Strand will represent Messiah at the upcoming Lunches for Learning (L4L) Graduation. Thanks to the congregation for your generous support of this mission. There are few changes on the council: Greg Kilby was ap-pointed by the Council to complete the current term as Treasurer. Thanks to Marcie Emerson for her time and efforts over the past months. Jeanette Beamer was ap-pointed to complete the current term as the Council Sec-retary. Welcome back to Council, Jeanette. The next regular Council meeting is Thursday, December 14th, at 7:00 p.m. If you wish to attend, please do! Coun-cil meetings are open to all, and you are welcome!
Did we miss something? Please call the office at 256-721-0041. Thank you!
~ WOMEN’S BOOK & SOCIAL CLUB ~
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL at MELTING POT
Monday, December 11th at 6:30 p.m.
RSVP to Devonee Woods
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 8
PRAYER FAMILIES Please lift these MLC households in your daily prayers this month. On Sundays, pray for the group or organization listed. Contact Claire Strand to learn more about Messiah’s Prayer Ministry.
Did we miss something? Please call the office at 256-721-0041. Thank you!
would like to pick up a saxophone double) and a cou-ple more brass players, we could start up a stage band. We could play and eventually improvise on the hymn tunes we sing on Sundays.
So give the “I Used to Play” Workshop a try and invite from the surrounding community. The IUTP Work-shop is also an outreach ministry. We meet at the church at 7 p.m. on all but the 2nd Thursday of the month. Just listen for the sound of my trombone and follow it!
I would like to thank Claire for giving me a chance to ap-peal to those whose kids are grown, who may be retired, or who just remember the camaraderie of playing in the band and regret losing their skills!
- Larry Frakes
(Continued from page 2)
MLC GIVING MALL 2017 Give to others in need in our community
and world through Messiah’s Giving Mall!
Along with gifts from the ELCA Good Gifts, you can also
choose to designate a gift to any one of a long list of local
and global missions or MLC outreach activities and teams.
2017 Good Gift Order Forms & Giving Mall Cards
will be in the Narthex at the “Mission Control” donation
shelf starting in December!
It’s a perfect present to give someone who says they
have everything and don’t need a thing!
Content Redacted
MESSIAH MESSENGER - DECEMBER 2017 PAGE 9
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
2-4 p.m. Cookie Exchange Parish Hall 6 pm Youth Set up for Breakfast
3 New Member Sunday * 8:30 am Worship: LBW Setting 1 w/LS 9—10:45 a.m. Advent Breakfast 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 11:00 am Worship * ELW Setting 8 12:15 p.m. Instrumental Ensemble 6:00 Jr. Sr. Youth Party
4 5 9:00 am
Comforters
6 Noon Advent Worship 5:00 p.m. Confirmation 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Café 6:00 p.m. Pastor's Class 6:00 p.m. Cherub Choir 6:00 p.m. Seraph Choir 6:00 p.m. Guitar with Ric 7:00 p.m. Advent Service of Worship 7:45 p.m. Adult Choir
7 8:30 a.m.
Morning Study
Group
7:00 pm I Used to Play Instrumental Workshop
8
7:00 pm Bridge Club
9
10
8:30 am Worship: WOV Service Word & Prayer 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages L4L Pop Up Market 11:00 am Worship: LBW Setting 1 w/LS 4:00 pm MOES Game night w/ Pizza 6:30 pm Ring & Sing
11 6:30 p.m. Womens
Book Club
Christmas Social
Melting Pot
6:30 p.m.
12 9:00 am
Comforters
6:00 pm
Men of Messiah
Christmas Social
13 Noon Advent Worship 5:00 p.m. Confirmation 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Café 6:00 p.m. Pastor's Class 6:00 p.m. Cherub Choir 6:00 p.m. Seraph Choir 6:00 p.m. Guitar with Ric 7:00 p.m. Advent Service of Worship 7:45 p.m. Adult Choir
14
8:30 a.m.
Morning Study
Group
7:00 pm Council Meeting
15
16 3:00 p.m.
YALL TACKY
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Parish Hall
17 8:30 am Worship: WOV Bread of Life w/LS 9:45 am Sunday School Christmas Program 11:00 am Worship: LBW Setting 1 12:15 p.m. Instrumental Ensemble 1:00 OWLS @Terranovas 5:00 - 6:30 pm Jr. Youth 6:00 - 7:30 pm Sr. Youth
18
19
20
Noon Advent Worship No Classes, Wed Night Café or Choirs tonight 7:00 p.m. Advent Service of Worship
21
7:00 pm I Used to Play Instrumental Workshop
22
23
24 Christmas Eve 8:30 am Worship: Lessons & Carols 9:45 a.m. No Sunday School for Pre-K - 12. 11:00 am Worship: Lessons & Carols 5:00 & 7:00 Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship with Lord’s Supper
25 MERRY
CHRISTMAS
26
27
No Classes, Wed Night Café or Choirs tonight.
28 7:00 pm I Used to Play Instrumental Workshop
29
30
31 8:30 am Worship: WOV Service of Word & Prayer
9:45 a.m. No Sunday School for Pre-K - 12.
11:00 am Worship: WOV Service of Word & Prayer
Looking Ahead…
Spaghetti Dinner / Talent Show January 27th, 2018
Lent begins Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Easter Sunday - April 1st, 2018
Messenger MESSIAH LUTHERAN
Messiah Lutheran Church 7740 Highway 72 West Madison, Alabama 35758 Return Service Requested
Non-Profit
Organization US Postage
PAID Huntsville, AL
Permit No. 454
Messiah Lutheran Church (ELCA) is located at 7740 Highway 72 West, just east of Hughes Road. Sunday Services of Worship are at 8:30 am and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m. A nursery attendant and Children’s Church is provided. All are welcome. Our website is www.mlutheran.org. Church office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 pm, staffed by our Office
Managers. The Pastor is Rev. Scott Peterson. The Church telephone is (256) 721-0041. Email: [email protected]. Newsletter submissions may be sent to Rebecca Mast at [email protected]
Submissions are typically due the 3rd Sunday of every month! Submit photos to [email protected]
Contact Information Messiah Lutheran Church
7740 Highway 72 West Madison, AL 35758 Phone: (256) 721-0041
Office Hours: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Monday – Friday Staff
Rev. Scott Peterson……………………………….………..………...Pastor Devonee Woods, Meredith Kilby…….….…….Office Managers
Claire Strand………………....…...Director of Outreach Ministries Lois Graff……………………….………..Director of Music Ministries
Sara Galyon………..Director of Youth & Education Ministries Randall Fields………………..…..…….………….Adult Choir Director
Meredith Kilby… ………………………...Communications Director Judy Sylvester………………….………….…...……Nursery Attendant
Find up-to-date information at www.mlutheran.org
The monthly newsletter and calendar for Messiah Lutheran Church (ELCA) Madison, Alabama
December 2017 Volume 30, Issue 12
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
1 Pastor’s Page | Services of Worship
2 Life Passages | Ministry Spotlight
3 Music Notes
4 Sr. Youth & Education
5 Month in Pictures
6 News Flashes
7 Council Notes | December Birthdays
8 Ministry Cont’d | Prayer Names
9 December Calendar
10 Contact Information
