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From the Pastor….

The greatest gift of Christmas: “Us.”

Please don’t think I am suggesting the Ten Commandments are wrong, but the focus is on the individual, even though they im-pact the community. “Thou shall not” mean I am not supposed to do something. It leaves me in the driver’s seat as I look out for my ultimate good and as a consequence, the good of the community.

The baby in the manger, Immanuel, “God with us,” changes the perspective. God is no longer standing over us, but beside us, em-bedded in our midst, one of “us.” It is a powerful call to move from “me” to “we,” and that “we” includes everyone. The news was first shared with the shepherds, those who lived on the mar-gins, who occupied one of the lower ranks on the social ladder. The baby was born to an unwed mother, engaged, yes, but still out of the “acceptable” social order. And the birthplace was not in an antiseptically clean technologically equipped facility, but ra-ther in the last place available at the height of a travel season. “Us” became infinitely bigger that night.

“Us” is significant because it is the essence of the Gospel mes-sage, the alternate narrative that defines life for those who dare to live with Jesus Christ as their Lord. Most social orders across time have focused on the personal lifestyle improvement of the individual. The Jesus life focuses on the care and inclusion and provision for all. Individual lifestyle starts from the perspective of scarcity, and motivates to acquire and store up individual re-sources. The Jesus life, on the other hand, starts with the assump-tion that God’s provision is abundant enough to meet everyone’s needs. It motivates a stewardship that recognizes blessing is to be used to bless others.

(continued)

Message From The Pastor’s Desk

18

Thank you for your compassionate cooperation in helping us bring Mom home. Your willingness to be of assistance was a soothing reminder of God’s love. Special thanks to Tom Brant who answered the call, to Pastor Chip Borgstadt who helped with the cere-mony, to Verna who coordinated it.

The Helen Monke Family

Dear Bev & Ladies of Naomi Circle,

Thank you so much for coming to the nursing home & celebrating my birthday with me. It was very much appreciated.

Elaine Herre & Family

I want to thank Pastor Chip for his visits while I was at Lakeside Hospital having knee surgery. Also for his visits during my stay at Dunklau Gardens after surgery. Also thank you to Bernitta Wheelock for de-livering the beautiful altar flowers given by the Carpenters in memory of Verla Reed. Also thank you to everyone who sent Get Well Cards.

Janice Spes

I would like to thank Doug & Kathy Hartmann and Barry & Diane Wilson for the beautiful red roses from the church altar last Sunday and their families. Also to Cindy Sandeen for delivering them and the visit. They are still looking very nice. Thank you to all they brightened my day. Norma Reker

I hope you all have had a very Happy Holiday. I thank you for all your prayers and visits. To Pastor Chip for your visits and bringing me communion. To JoAnn Miller for bringing me communion. Thank you to Rev. Dr. Sam Payne for the altar flowers and Bernitta Wheelock for bringing them and the mice visit we had. Thank you to Alberta Sick for bringing me the newsletter and visits.

Alyce Hartung, Room 218 Dunklau Gardens

Dear Salem Family, Thank you for the Christmas wishes and gift. It is an honor and blessing to serve with you.

Pastor Chip

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The church year starts with Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas. It is a season of growing anticipation, so we start simple and add banners and decorations each week. We want the anticipation to build as we get clos-er to Christmas. It reminds us of our ances-tors in the faith waiting for the promised messiah with greater expectation as the years passed.

Christmas is a short season, with just Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and maybe two Sundays. This is a time when we celebrate the birth of the messiah and the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a savior. Our celebration is concentrated so we go all out—with banners and decorations in full.

Epiphany and the season after it is shorter this year. Its length is based on the start of Lent, which depends on Easter. This year during the season of Epiphany we are going to focus on “God sightings” as it is a season when Jesus is seen doing the work of the kingdom. Our decorations are more moderate since our focus is on what God is doing and we want few distractions. The end of the season brings Transfiguration, a Sunday of great celebration. The sanctuary is bathed in white as a reminder of the light of the transfigured Christ on the mountain.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. We start fully decorated in the sanctuary and each week remove some of the banners and decoration. Lent is a season of reflection and growing focus on the cross of Christ. We want to model this focus for our lives by simplifying the worship space.

Passion/Palm Sunday begins Holy Week with a festive mood that quickly turns somber. Our hosannas become silent as we see the drama of the arrest, trial and crucifixion. We tell the whole story on this Sunday, even though it is repeated during the Holy Week observances of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Maundy Thursday celebrates Jesus’ last night with his disciples and comes (continued)

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Worship and Music

January 2018

The world we live in has changed. Gone are the days when every-one was a Christian who went to church. In fact, the time we are living in currently has been identified as the Post-Christian Era.” What does that mean for Salem Lutheran Church? It means that we must change, too. We can all agree that change is unpleasant. We’d all really prefer that things just stay the same. However, that is no longer an op-tion. The church must change, or it will not survive, let alone flourish. It is evident that these cultural trends have affected Sa-lem, as attendance at worship, financial giving, and participation in programs has continuously, and drastically, declined. The ELCA website proclaims “We Are Church.” “We are what God has made us – people whom God has created by grace to live in union with Jesus Christ and has prepared to live faithful, fruit-ful lives by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:8-10). In Jesus Christ, God has reconciled us to God and to each other. As we gather around word and sacraments, this life in Christ is what defines, shapes and guides us as a community of faith, the church.” It is time to take a look at the way in which we gather around the word and sacraments. How we worship. Why we worship. The leadership of the Church Council has proposed that Salem have one worship service each Sunday. The Worship and Music Committee has been asked to study the issue, including the style of the service and the time of the service, and make a proposal, which will then be voted on at the annual meeting on January 28, 2018. (continued)

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God Sightings” During the season of Epiphany, we are inviting Salem disciples to share their “God Sightings.” Wikipedia defines Epiphany this way: An epiphany is an experi-ence of sudden and striking realization. Generally the term is used to describe scientific breakthrough,

religious or philosophical discoveries, but it can apply in any situation in which an enlightening realization allows a problem or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspec-tive. In the church, Epiphany is an experience of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Here’s what to look for in this season of “God sightings.” Anytime you have an answer to prayer, or something happens that seems too good to be “just coinci-dence” you might have experienced a God Sighting. It can also be a new understanding of God’s quiet work in the background of daily life. We invite you to take a picture if you can of the place where you experienced this epiphany or God sighting and send it to PastorBorgstadt@gmail.com. Please include your name and a sentence or two explaining your God sighting so we can share it with the congregation during worship. We will all be blessed as we increase our watch for God at work in us, with us and through us in our daily lives.

Spiritual Direction Mini-Retreat in Preparation for Starting the Call Process

A Nebraska Synod’s Seeking the Spirit Within Spiritual Director will be at Salem on Sunday, January

21st to help us come together in a spiritual direction experience between services. This will help us as we begin working on the call process by equipping us with ways to pray, to listen to each other and to the Spirit, and to gather wisdom from the many people at Salem. Please mark your calendars and be part of this special opportunity.

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January 16 Joey Knoell

January 18 Carrie Stenger

January 19 Taylor Knipp

January 20 Cindy Sandeen

January 21 Emily Miller

January 25 Logan Boyles DeAnn Reese Zackery Vogt

January 26 Christopher Dowd

Emma Reker

January 27 Dolores Dunker

Leola Miller Joan Sales

Lacie Siems Corben Tabbert

January 29 Andrea Carpenter

January 30 Charles Miller

January 31 Cheryl Baines

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Care Corps Meal— December was served by Janet Kletke, Judy

Brant, and Joyce Siems. Ham, green beans, salads, milk, juice, and

desserts were provided. Thanks for financial support go to Bonnie

Rathke and Ramona Hasek. Food was provided by Helen Lannin,

Barb Fanning, Joyce Klinetobe, Barb Snodgrass, Judy Brant, Joyce

Siems, Cindy Gustafson, Cindy Sandeen, Jeanette Steinmates,

and Marilyn Ackerman. The Table also provided some of the des-

sert. The church council will be in charge of the January meal on

the second Tuesday.

You are welcome to join us at any or all Bible Studies. Come and make it part of your spiritual practice. • Men’s Bible Study-Book of Genesis-Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. in

the Common Grounds. • Narrative Bible Study-Friday afternoons at 12:00 p.m. in the

Lounge. • Muffins & Messages-Book of Exodus-Saturday mornings at 10:00

a.m. in the Common Grounds • Revelation Bible Study-Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Lounge. • Companions In Christ-First Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. held

at Cindy Gustafson’s Home, 2410 E 1st St.

LINCOLN LUTHERAN CHOIR SPRING CONCERT SEASON RETREAT: Sunday, January 14th, Trinity Lutheran Church, 724 S 12th St, 2-5PM CONCERTS: April 8, TBA APRIL 15th, Grace Lutheran Church, Lincoln, 3PM CONTACT : Sandie Anderson, 402-489-3948 or lincolnlutheranchoir@gmail.com

Lincoln Lutheran Choir welcomes new and returning members to the Spring Concert Season! Rehearsals begin with a retreat on Sunday, January 14th, 2-5pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 724 S. 12th St. Brett Epperson, the choir’s artistic director and conductor, has pre-pared a musical program to celebrate 40 years of the Lincoln Luther-an choir including musical favorites past and present.

Former choir members and new members are always welcome! Come sing with us and join our Christian musical journey!

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January 18 Jeremiah Leeding

January 19

Jacob Johannesen Kathy Miller

Teleri Stamper

January 20

Maureen Carpenter Delilah Morris Malee Zardo

January 22

Shelly Hansen Terry McClain Joel Schuett

Beverly Vance

January 23

Peggy Hansen

January 24

Lynn Albright Desirae Leonard

January 25 Elaine Grothusen

January 27

Paxton Remington

January 28

Danielle Crough Delores Doty

January 29

Kirstyn Dunn Melissa Godfrey

Lester Parde Ted Schafersman

January 30

Gary Kremlacek Robert L. Olson

Neil Schilke Millie Tank

January 31

Don Godfrey Nancy Wright

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Wedding Anniversaries

January 2018

Jon and Debra Tank—January 10, 1987-31 years

Jeff and Sheryl Kuhr—January 11, 1997-21 years

Ronald and Sharon Mueller—January 28,1995-23 years

Derwin and Patricia Anderson—January 29, 2000-18 years

If we accidentally missed your anniversary this month,

please let us know(402-721-6158) so that we can

correct/update our computer records.