A Congregation in Mission, Community and Service …pilgrimkenmorelcms.org/2016_December_News.pdfA...
Transcript of A Congregation in Mission, Community and Service …pilgrimkenmorelcms.org/2016_December_News.pdfA...
PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH
44 CHAPEL ROAD – KENMORE, NY 14217
(716) 875-5485
A Congregation in Mission, Community and Service
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS DECEMBER 2016
PASTOR: Rev. Ben Eder SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:00 AM
EDITOR: Mary Werth TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY: 9:30 AM
ASSOC. EDITOR: WORSHIP: 10:00 AM
Truth Incarnate
The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to
talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so
fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.
—J.I. Packer
Jesus is the Word
To say that Jesus is the Word is another way of saying he is God speaking to us. While we struggle with
our clumsy words, God needs only one Word to perfectly communicate the depth and mystery, the passion and
the overwhelming grace of who he is. By that Word, Light became a living being. Manna became man. Wisdom
became a person. In him, Life came to life; all that God is came to us in that One Final Word we call Jesus.
—Michael Card, Immanuel: Reflections on the Life of Christ
• “Because of his boundless love, Jesus became what we are that he might make us to be what
he is.”
—Irenaeus, third-century Christian apologist
• “The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ.”
—Thomas Merton
• “The Word must come in human form, in God’s redemptive plan. A Babe takes every heart by
storm, but who will heed the Man?”
—Fred Pratt Green, “The Word Became Flesh”
SUNDAY SERVER SCHEDULE
DECEMBER 2016
DATE Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 25
READER Wes Wiers Carolyn Alessi
Mary Werth
USHERS Peggy Clark
* George Alessi
Naomi George
* Harvey Caldow
Mike Weurch
* Dianne Weurch
Colvina Colvin
* Tyrone Bryant
*
COMMUNION ASSISTANT
Jack Hambridge
George Alessi
Frank Alessi
Jim O’Brien
NURSERY Amber Trimmer
Ruth & Gabby
O’Brien
Linda Eder Gary Smith
Pilgrim hosted the first of the midweek Advent services on Wednesday, November 30th.
Dinner started at 6 pm, followed by the hymn sing at 7:15 pm and the service at 7:30 pm. The
rest of the schedule is as follows:
December 7th – at Holy Cross in Clarence
December 14th – at St. Luke in Cheektowaga
Paul Holway Dec. 2
George Alessi Dec. 4
Sarah Hinterberger Dec. 7
David Porter Dec. 16
Greg Jakubowski Dec. 28
Advent traditions
“The way you celebrate Christmas can be a gift in itself,” said Fred Rogers, “handing on
traditions that will give your child a feeling of continuity, comfort and joy in all the Christmases
to come.” In American homes, common Advent traditions include wreaths, calendars and logs.
Did you know about these European traditions?
• In Normandy, children used to set fires in fields during Advent. The flames killed caterpillar
eggs and drove away rodents. The tradition reflected good conquering evil, just as God’s perfect
Son rescues us from sin.
• On December 13, Scandinavian countries honor Saint Lucy (or Lucia), a third-century martyr
who, according to legend, brought food to people in the catacombs during winter. For light —
and to be able to carry as much food as possible — she wore a wreath of candles on her head.
On St. Lucy’s Day, the oldest daughter gets up early and brings sweet rolls to family members.
The tradition reminds Christians that Jesus is a gift of light and love for our dark world.
ESTHER CIRCLE
Our next meeting will be on Monday, December 12th, at 6:30 p.m. After a brief meeting, we will have our annual Christmas cookie exchange. All are welcome to attend. Please bring at least 3 dozen cookies (without nuts) to exchange. We will also pack “cookie tins” for our shut-ins.
There will be no Esther Circle fellowship hour this month as it falls on Christmas Day. Meetings will not be held in January or February. Our next business meeting will be on March 13, 2017.
Keep sending in your Dash’s tapes, canceled stamps, and pennies. Have a blessed Christmas season.
The monthly Community Dinner will be held on Friday, Dec. 2nd, from 5 to 7 p.m. The
menu is baked ham with orange marmalade glaze, oven-roasted sweet potatoes and fresh
green beans with almonds served with salad and assorted desserts and beverages. These
dinners are sponsored in part by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Come and join us
for good food and fellowship.
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Where’s your security?
When A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted in 1965, religious references were unheard of
on television. Yet the show’s climax features the Christmas story verbatim. As Linus begins
reciting Luke 2, he’s clutching his ever-present blue blanket. Yet, as pastor Jason Soroski points
out, Linus drops it right as he utters the words “fear not” (Luke 2:10).
Soroski believes the timing is intentional and that “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz
sends a simple, brilliant message. “The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears,” Soroski
writes. It “frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves. The birth of
Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to
trust and cling to him instead.”
CALLED HOME
On November 23rd, Roger Watkins went home to be with Jesus. He was active in
service to Pilgrim for many years in groups or on various committees. He will be greatly
missed.
(I would like to write more about him, so I am asking all who knew him well to send me
any memories or background facts so I can write an article for the January 2017 newsletter.
– Mary Werth)
For the dark times
Lighthouses are now a popular decorating theme for living rooms, calendars, cards, screen savers, towels and
more. Many images are infused with shimmering light to symbolize Christian faith and hope.
Yet the purpose of a lighthouse isn’t to look pretty against a sunny sky — although it does — but to illumine a
ship’s way beneath heavy, dark clouds or a moonless night. Indeed, the lighthouse itself doesn’t even light up
until its surroundings grow dark!
Surely Jesus loves to share our joys, and we praise his glory during life’s bright times. But God’s primary
purpose for coming to live among us was to save us from the storm of sin; to illumine our path through the
darkness of death, in all its forms; to be the light guiding all people safely home. Jesus’ light shines for us day
and night, rain or shine, to bless us with faith and hope.
CHRISTMAS
As shepherds watched their flock by night
There was a star so glorious – bright;
In mystery they followed through
To seek if what they’d heard was true.
They traced the star through many days
They found a babe. They offered praise!
For Whom this star did condescend
Was truly man’s best, truest Friend.
And now we celebrate the day
Where shepherds led their sheep astray;
The Stranger in the wheaten sod
Was truly there! – the Son of God.
As Jesus in the manger lay
Sweet Mary raised her hands to pray;
The star shone brighter that dark night
To tell the world that all is right.
12/17/2008 Doris V. Neumann
During this Holy Christmas season, I wondered if anyone would like to purchase my mom’s book about
the Lord’s Prayer, entitled, “God’s Rainbow of Promise”. It’s an uplifting gift to give to friends and family.
Please let me know and I will get you a copy. The cost is $14.00. You can call me at 835-9075 and I can return
your call if I’m not able to answer. Thank you.
I wish everyone a Blessed Christmas!
Marilyn Schneck
Christmas transformation
The earth has grown old with its burden of care,
but at Christmas it always is young,
the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair,
and its soul full of music breaks the air,
when the song of angels is sung.
—Phillips Brooks
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE JANUARY 2017
NEWSLETTER IS DECEMBER 26TH, 2016.