Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH24155 Griswold Road, South Lyon, MI 48178
248-437-8810Fax: 248-437-7708
www.crossofchristlutheran.org Email: [email protected] Like us on FACEBOOK at: www.facebook.com/crossofchristsouthlyon
D E C E M B E R, 2 0 1 9
Sunday Worship: 10 a.m.Holy Communion is celebrated on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.
Sunday School: 10 a.m. – 3 years old through fifth grade Adult Bible Study: Sundays 9:00 a.m.
Youth Bible Study: 10 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)
Mid-Week Advent Worship: Candlelight Christmas Eve Wednesdays, Worship Service Dec. 4, 11 & 18 5:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. With Holy Communion
Dear Beloved Members and Friends,
.A blessed Advent season to you and your family!
Chris & I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Bethlehem on Wednesday, February 27, earlier this year. We toured the Church of the Nativity, which is built on the location of Jesus’ birthplace. We walked down to the Grotto where the holy family spent the first Christmas Eve and Day. I knelt down and touched the star on the area where Jesus was born. Our group sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night.” We drove to and toured the Shepherd’s Field. We sang “Silent, Night” in the church there. The church and the singing of the beloved Christmas carol were beautiful.
PASTOR’S LETTER Continued
You need not go to the Holy Land to feel close to Jesus. Our sanctuary is the holy land where Christ is truly present for you. You get to kneel with brothers and sisters in Christ at the altar.
An angel of the Lord proclaimed the good news of great joy to shepherds near Bethlehem. The shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem keeping watch over their flocks at night. They watched to protect their sheep from wolves and other wild animals.
An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel said to the shepherds, “fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy to all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 10, 11). The Gospel must always begin with “fear not,” for it removes sin and fear. This baby humbly lying in a manger is the Savior of the world.
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is good news of great joy because a Savior has been born to you. Jesus became a baby in a stable to save you from your sins and from hell. Savior refers to the mighty act of rescue and the condition of safety that follows. Christ saved you from your sins by taking them away on the cross. The shepherds came to see the Lamb of God Who took away your sins and the sin of the world. Jesus saved you from hell by going through it for you on the cross. Christ rose triumphantly from death and left the stone tomb empty. You are saved by faith in our risen Lord Jesus.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. In Christ, you are forgiven, you are put right with God. All is well. Jesus’ birth is good news of great joy for you and for all people. Merry Christmas!Sincerely Yours in Christ,Pastor Terry Nelson____________________________________________________________________________ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. All are welcome to join us as we view and study the DVD NOAH – The Man, The Ark, the Flood. In Genesis 6 we find Noah in his golden years times ten, “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time,” with orders from God to embark on a one-of-a-kind engineering project. His task is plain enough: build a seaworthy vessel large enough to accommodate “two of all living creatures, male and female.” And the reason for this divine mandate? God is putting an end to all people, “for the earth is filled with violence because of them.”All are welcome to join in at any time!
C H R I S T I A N E D U C A T I O N
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
SUNDAY SCHOOL classes are held at 10 a.m. for children three years old through fifth grade. Children are dismissed to their classes from the worship service after the opening hymn.
SUNDAY SCHOOL/ Christmas Program Practice is being held during the normal Sunday School class time.
Children’s Christmas Program
Presented by the Sunday School ChildrenSunday, December 15th – 10 a.m.
Regular attendance at Sunday School is encouraged to help prepare. A DRESS REHEARSAL will be held on Sunday, December 8 th , after worship . Pizza will be provided. Contact Becky Kreipke with questions (248-719-3115) – [email protected].
YOUTH BIBLE STUDY SCHEDULE: Youth in grades 6 – 12 normally meet during the worship service on the first and third Sundays of the month. They are dismissed to their classes after the opening hymn. This month the Youth Bible Studies will be held on December 1 & 8, due to the Children’s Christmas Program on the 15th.
CONFIRMATION instruction, for young people in 7th and 8th grades, is held Thursdays, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in having your child join the class, call or email Pastor Nelson.
CROSS OF CHRIST CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL
The preschool children and staff are looking forward to all of the special days in celebration of our Lord and Savior’s birth. Preschool classes will be off for Christmas Break December 23 through January 3. We offer a play-based program for three and four year olds, with age appropriate academics. CONGREGATIONALMEETING
A Quarterly CONGREGATIONAL meeting will be held on Sunday, December 22, after worship to consider approval of the 2020 Budget. All members are encouraged to attend.
TOUR OF THE SOUTH LYON“CHRISTMAS HOUSE”
216 Lake Street – (Ten Mile)SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15th,Between 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
No Admission Fee, Free-will Donation to ACTIVE
FAITH .HELP NEEDED
USHERS NEEDEDWe are in need of additional Ushers. Ushers serve on a team of four, once every three or four weeks. See Pastor Nelson if you can help out.
Sign-up NeededDates are open in December to sign up to place flowers on the altar to celebrate special events or in memory of loved ones. Sign up on the Flower Chart in the fellowship hallway. Cost is $30 per vase. (Designate your check “Altar Flowers” and place in the offering plate.) Flowers are taken home after the worship service.____________________________________________________________________________ALTAR FLOWERS
Look for the 2020 FLOWER CHART to be posted in December (in the hallway near the kitchen). Flowers may be purchased for $30 per vase, in celebration of special events or in memory of loved ones, and taken home after the worship services. Checks are made out to “Cross of Christ” – designated “Altar Flowers” and placed in the offering plate.
Learn more about Thrivent products by contacting our congregation’s representative,Eric VanHevel, FIC, at [email protected] or 734-385-7435.
Thank you for choosing Cross of Christ Lutheran Church or Preschool as your designation for CHOICE DOLLARS! If you have Thrivent products and would like to designate dollars, go to:Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
P R E P A R I N G F O R C H R I S T M A S
CHURCH DECORATING
Saturday, November 30th – 9 a.m. Help is needed (both men and women) to put up our Christmas tree and decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas season. We usually complete the task in an hour or two. Hope you can attend!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Thank you to all who participated in the OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD shoebox collection. . About twenty boxes were delivered to the shipping site on November 22.
POINSETTIAS
Sign up on the Information Board to place Poinsettias on the altar for Christmas services (or contact the church office.)
Sign up to purchase POINSETTIA plants for the church sanctuary for Christmas week. The beautiful three-stem plants are available for $16.50 each and may be taken home after the Christmas Eve worship service. Cash or checks made payable to “Cross of Christ” may be placed in the offering plate, designated “Poinsettias.” Twelve plants have been ordered.AMAZON.COM FUNDRAISER
As the Holidays approach, we wanted to remind you that we have an Amazon Smile Link setup, so that a portion of your Amazon shopping can benefit Cross of Christ Preschool. Every little bit helps, so if you haven’t tried this yet, it’s very easy. Just use this link to get to Amazon, and then anytime afterwards, go to smile.amazon.com. (You only have to register one time.)Thanks, and have a blessed Christmas Season!
smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7302355
2020 CALENDARS
WE THANK Phillips Funeral Home of South Lyon for the beautiful 2020 Scenic calendars. Calendars are available on the Gathering Hall table to take home.
2020 OFFERING ENVELOPES
Pick up your 2020 Offering ENVELOPES on the table in the entryway Gathering Hall.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
It Was so Simple
What Christian ever tires of hearing the Christmas story? First we hear about the Angel Gabriel. He was a busy guy, delivering messages from God. He must have enjoyed this task, though, because he was bringing good news. To Mary he said, “You’re going to have a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.” To Joseph, who understandably was a little unsure of how to proceed with Mary, Gabriel said, “Don’t worry Joseph. This is God’s doing. Mary’s going to have God’s Son.” Simple, right? Just follow God’s plan.
Then there’s a decree from Caesar Augustus. He had no idea he was just a pawn in God’s hands. As the powerful ruler he was, he issued a decree: “Everybody has to go to his hometown to be registered for the census.” And everybody went, including Joseph and Mary. Even though Mary’s pregnancy was quite advanced, she went on that arduous trip. Why not? She was in God’s hands, too, although far from a pawn. She was God’s channel. Through her God would bring to earth the greatest gift ever received.
Just in time, the innkeeper said they could stay in his barn – just in time for the birth. No hospital and no neonatal unit – God brought His Son into this world.
Some poor shepherds were out in the fields that night, just like most nights. But it wasn’t like most nights, for the night sky filled with light as angels appeared and “the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9). Those shepherds looked and listened, and then they acted. “Let’s go see what God’s been doing in Bethlehem,” they said to each other, and they went. And they believed, and they told others what they had seen and heard and now believed.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Not complicated like the world is today? Not exactly true. The world was complicated then, too. Political intrigue abounded; wars were being fought; the greedy still coveted more and more; some people then, as now, were too busy to see the angels or hear their message. But not everyone! Then as now, some will put aside the hustle and clamor. We’ll slow down and listen for angels’ wings, and we’ll hear the message of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). We’ll take time to peek into the manger and worship God’s Son and we’ll eagerly “[make] known the saying that [has] been told [us] concerning this Child” (Luke 2:17).
CHRISTMAS IS THE GIFT-GIVING SEASON. WE THANK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOR JESUS WHO IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. [Mary] shall bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
December, 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the wonderful name of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year because we get the opportunity to celebrate the wondrous gift of God’s Son, Jesus. Because of God’s gift to us on the very first Christmas, Christmas has become a gift-giving season. With so many people to give gifts to such as sons and daughters, moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, etc., it is difficult to find the right gift for everyone. God has no such problems. He knows exactly what each person needs. In fact, He knows our needs better than we know them, and He knew them before we were even born. The timing of His most indescribable gift was perfect. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). In Him, and in none other, is our salvation. Jesus, Who came to us as a Baby in a manger, communicates God’s saving love for us. He brings us life, salvation, and true joy.
How do we respond to what God has given us? Certainly, we don’t shop on Amazon or go to the malls to buy gifts for Jesus. The best gift we can possibly give Jesus is to show Him our
love by faithfully and obediently doing what He asks of us. God is pleased when we allow Him to work through and in us as vessels of His love to others. We
remain His vessel when we stay focused on the best gift, the gift of Jesus.
May we all keep Christ as the heart of our Christmas and make Jesus the reason for our joy. God’s blessings on your Christmas worship and celebration with loved ones.
I would like to thank all of you for the commitment you demonstrated to the Lord through your offerings in 2019. Your generosity has enabled us to meet our obligations and give beyond ourselves in missions and ministries outside our church. On behalf of our church staff and the many others you have supported this year, I say, “Thank You.”
Have a blessed Christmas,
Pastor Terry Nelson
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1 Jessica Wood 2 Michael Bugar
Joshua Petsch 3 James Morrison Jr. 4 Robert Martin 5 Rose Eldridge
Deirdre Gerke 7 JoAnn Nims 8 Abigail Hackbardt 9 William Pratt10 Austin Lanam
Kenneth Miller13 Joann Stolz16 Arlene Krause19 Jillian Hudson21 Matthew Nelson28 Patricia Hicks
Matthew Wood31 Jordyn Nelson
DECEMBERANNIVERSARIES
1 Bill & Earlene Reinwand 5 Steven & Stephanie Petsch
Let the church office know of any dates missing or incorrect.
__________________________________EMAIL ADDRESSES
If you’d like to be added to our email list, contact [email protected]. To check out upcoming events, go to our web site at www.crossofchristlutheran.org. The monthly calendar and newsletter are available each month online.
Like Us on FACEBOOK at: www.facebook.com/crossofchristsouth
lyon
MEMORIALS
+ + In memory of Bob & Karin Wolski, a gift has been given by Annie Nichols.
+ + In memory of Kay Fisher, a gift has been given by Annie Nichols.
+ + In memory of Bob Wolski, a gift has been given to Debt Reduction by Charlie & Rose Eldridge.
+ + In memory of Bob & Karin Wolski, a gift has been given by Shelley Besler.
*************************************************
Remember Active Faith with nonperishable food items during this holiday season. (A donation box is located at the front entryway.)9
GOD GAVE US THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE WHEN HE GAVE US HIS SON. BECAUSE GOD GAVE HIS BEST, WE WANT TO GIVE.
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Email: [email protected] Office: 248-437-8810 Fax: 248-437-7708 Web: www.crossofchristlutheran.org www.facebook.com/crossofchristsouthlyon
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 9:00 am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP 10:00am Sunday School/ Program Rehearsal10:00am Youth Bible Study
2 3 412:30pm Advent WORSHIP
5
4:00-5:30pm Confirmation
6 7
8 9:00 am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP +10:00am Sunday School/ Program Rehearsal10:00am Youth Bible Study11:00am Program Dress Rehearsal & Pizza
9 10 1112:30pm Advent WORSHIP
124:00-5:30pm Confirmation
13 14
1510:00am WORSHIP Children’s Christmas Program No Sunday School or Adult Bible Study4:30pm House Tour______________________22 10:00am WORSHIP + 4:00pm Rehab Service11:00am Congregation Meeting______________________29
10:00am WORSHIP +
16
___________________23
___________________30
176pm Church Council
_____________24
ChristmasEve
5:00pm Candlelight WORSHIP +_____________31
1812:30pm Advent WORSHIP
________________25
Christmas Day
193:00pm Abbey Park Service
4:00-5:30pm Confirmation__________________ 26
20
______________27
21
______________28
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
