Amazing Light
The difference in the seasons of the year are quite evident in our church sanctuary. In the winter months there is a lower angle of the sun which produces a brilliant blast of sunlight in the late afternoons. The building is bathed in a bright light for a short period of time. It is something to see.
We will be celebrating another “bright light” when we gather for worship on Sunday, January 3. The festival of Epiphany will be our focus for the day. Epiphany is normally on January 6 but in the church, sometimes festivals are “transferred” to the closest Sunday for inclusion in our worship.
Why do we make the effort to celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord? Not only do we hear the wonderful story of the Magi coming to worship the newborn King, Jesus, but we also learn that the Good News of salvation is not just for a select few (the Jews) but this message is for all people, including the Gentiles (which means us).
The Wise Men were led by a brilliant star in their travels to come and see Jesus. The Lord provided the means for these individuals to see God’s plan in action. The bright light of the star was their guide.
Today, you and I are led by God’s amazing light of His Word and Sacraments in our walk with Him. Because of His amazing light we see ourselves as we truly are—sinners in need of a Savior. Because of His amazing light we see God’s Son as our Savior. Because of His amazing light we believe that God has loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us and give us life forever with Him in heaven.
That bright light I mentioned earlier in our sanctuary is in evidence for only a few minutes and only when the sun is shining. The amazing light of Epiphany shines every
day, every hour, every minute until Jesus Christ returns again on the Day of Judgment. This amazing light will never burn out or grow dim. We can trust our Lord to be shining in our lives always.
We thank God for His amazing light—it has made all the difference in our lives!
Pastor Herring
Stewardship Moment –
The Steward’s Joyful Duty
The Christian steward has been entrusted by God with gifts to be used in responsible and joyful service for the building up of the Body of Christ. The Apostle Peter commanded, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”Why is it important for us to use our gifts? Peter answers, “In order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ”(1 Peter 4:10-11). How wonderful is God Who has so created and endowed us with varying gifts put things together in such a way that we become interdependent! This was God’s plan for the church. Collectively we form the Body of Christ where each part functions as part of the greater whole. 1n 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul the Apostle, expounds on this whole idea. He reminds us that just as each physical organ or body part has its own importance and offers a unique contribution to the whole body, so does each disciple have gifts that are different, yet equal, and indispensable to the functioning of the Body of Christ, the Church.
Scripture exhorts us as stewards to use our gifts according to how we have been blessed. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness”(Rom. 12:6-8). By God’s grace, we are empowered to use our gifts to help teach, encourage, serve, and lead others.
What a gracious God we have Who so bountifully blesses us and enables us to be faithful caretakers of His gifts!
Pastor Herring
On the twelfth day of Christmas…
We hear this song many times prior to Christmas. But just what are these 12 days? On the Church calendar, the Christmas season is December 25th to Epiphany on January 6th. If you count the days between you will find twelve days. These are the traditional twelve days of Christmas.
At one time, Epiphany was the more major holiday in the Church. Christmas was more solemn and more dedicated to worship. Epiphany was a time of more joy and, remembering the gifts of the Magi, the time to exchange gifts. In some place in the world Epiphany is still the time of gifts.
Now I am not trying to put down current practices nor to start something new. I would like you ask you to have a greater appreciation of Epiphany.
Epiphany comes from the Greek and refers to the revealing of glory. In this case, revealing that Jesus is the Christ, God’s only Son. First he is revealed to the Magi and then through the Epiphany season we see Jesus revealed to the world as who and what he truly is. This can help us to share that revelation with others.
This year, we are using the first Sunday in January to remember and celebrate Epiphany. We pray you will use the time to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to get the most of this time. God has great blessings for believers in every time and season of the church year. Enjoy them all!
Poinsettias
At
Grace
Ken & Bernie Haydon
Pastor & Barbara Herring
Tom & Dianna Mancuso
Norma Rix
Joe & Sherry Steichen
Phil & Kathy Stephens
Thank you to those who shared a poinsettia with us for this season. I know I missed some donors but these were the names I had on the list. I did not see most people bringing in the poinsettias and I apologize to those whom I missed. [editor]
Thank You!
I wish to thank the congregation for the generous gift. Your prayers, caring support and encouragement are greatly appreciated. God’s blessings to all of you in the New Year.
Norma Achord
Thank You!
We offer our thanks to everyone at Grace for their love, support, prayers and gifts given this Christmas season and throughout the entire year. You have made a difference in our lives and we cannot think of another place we would rather be than right here in Holiday Island with all of you! May the Lord continue to bless you in the New Year.
Pastor and Barbara Herring
Thank You!
We have experienced another wonderful year here at Grace with all our fine fellow believers. We greatly appreciate well-wishes, cards and gifts we have received and we thank you all.
We especially wish to thank the congregation for the gift given us. But the greatest gift of all has been your love and support. We pray God you may all enjoy a blessed new year and rejoice in the blessings God provides.
Rev. Ken and Bernie
Christmas Decorations
This year the Men’s Fellowship, the Ladies’ guild and the Council went together to buy a new Christmas tree. This one is slimmer than the previous and fits our location better. Thank you all! The Men’s Fellowship set up decorations again this year and will take them down after Epiphany.
Not everyone was willing to go up the ladder to put up the star – I wasn’t. Dean drew the short straw and got the privilege. No, really he volunteered and we much appreciate his effort. This made for a great topping to the tree!
Annual Report
Yes, it is time that we need to be thinking about the Annual Report again. We would like to have as many reports as possible from boards and organizations as this provides everyone with and overview of what has happened as well as providing information for new-comers. It also provides an historical record for the future.
Sign-Up Sheets
We have several things for you to check or sign up on. There are sheets for the Lutheran Witness. We want all who are interested to get this and we are ordering it in bulk to save some money and they will be placed in your mail box. Also check the membership list to see that our information is correct.
Installation
We are planning for the installation of the 2016 Council and Officers on January 10th. This will be part of our Sunday service. Our thanks go to those who have served during 2015 and those who have agreed to serve during 2016. Please keep these people in your prayers: Dean Bennett, Bruce Bleser, Charlotte Bonner, Kenneth Haydon, Robert Herring, David Hoeck, Sheldon Knuth, Dianna Mancuso, Thomas Mancuso, Delores Weiss and David Behle (outgoing).
Thoughts
From
The
Board
Of Elders
Speculation
Around Christmas time you frequently hear a song which begins: “We three kings of orient are…” Already there are three errors or misleading ideas here when compared to Scripture. These are based, as are many ideas, on human curiosity and speculation.
First the misleading. This deals with the word ‘orient’ which we usually understand to mean China or vicinity. In fact one of the Magi is frequently pictured as coming from that area. Now the meaning behind ‘orient’ is indeed ‘east’ but in this case it seems to mean Mesopotamia which is east of Judea.
Those coming from the east are not kings but called “Magi” which is a word from the area of Mesopotamia which referred to advisors or confidents of the king or ruler. Thus the term ‘Wisemen’ is justified as describes their duties, although not their counties of origin.
There is no mention of the number of Magi but because three gifts are named, the speculation is that there were three. This extends to assigning names – also not given in Matthew – to the supposed three. Some tales say the three are from Europe, Africa and China. Talk about adding information.
Most crèches, plays and pictures picture the Magi with the shepherds at the stable on the first night. Matthew says the Magi entered the house where Joseph, May and Jesus were staying. Also art work often shows – and I have used the picture – three men on camels following a star. The star is noted, but since these were men of importance and came from a great distance, it seems foolish to think they were traveling alone with no servants or security personnel. Isn’t that speculation too? More in a minute.
Some of these images are seeking to convey not facts but are used as symbols of some part of the story. This is fine as long as we remember what is factual.
This same applies to speculation. Human nature often wants more detail than we find in a story, especially one is Scripture. When speculation does not contradict Scripture and is based on historical information and/or sound logic, it can have a place and be meaningful in helping us to understand God’s message. Actually I think we can find more meaning by sorting out what is given us in Scripture, what is idle and fanciful speculation, and what is sound reasoning regarding the time and place of the event.
This story of the coming of the Magi is the heart of the Epiphany celebration in the Church. (see Epiphany elsewhere in this newsletter) Therefore we need to look at the meaning and importance of this celebration.
At the heart of the Christmas message is the proclamation by the angel: “Unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” This is supreme good news, but we really need to consider who the ‘you’ in the message refers to. This was a major issue in the early Church as to who was eligible for the salvation Jesus brings.
While this message was proclaimed to the shepherds, was it to them alone? It was spoken to then. Was it to the people of the City of David only? The Savior was to come from the line of David. Was it to Jews only? After all it was promised that the Savior would come from the Jews and to the Jews.
One thing that seems absolutely clear in this story is that the Magi were not Jews. This has been the Church’s interpretation through the centuries. This story makes it clear that this was to be the Savior for all who would believe.
Yes, they said they came seeking the one “born king of the Jews.” But note why they came. They came to worship him. When they found the child, guided by God of course, Matthew says they worshiped him. They believed! This faith may have been simple but by our standards, but it was faith.
Matthew writes, based on his style, terminology and topics, to Jews and converts to Judaism. I consider this significant in seeing how Matthew, himself Jewish, writing to a “Jewish” audience, stresses the inclusion of Gentiles. They realized the significance of Jesus and wanted – note: wanted – to worship him. Their attitude seems to be much better than so many of the people in our society today.
But we also remember that we really are probably all of ‘gentile’ origin – meaning not Jewish. The Savior born that night, whose birth we celebrate, is our Savior also. This is a cause of great joy.
When sin entered the world, all the world was infected. Scripture tells us that we have all sinned and no one can claim innocence or perfection. God saw this condition and sent the Savior the world needed. He did not keep this a secret. Like the Magi, those who are willing to seek him can find him guided by the Holy Spirit. Today, God’s “star” is Holy Scripture. Follow the star and you too can find and worship the Savior in spirit and in truth.
January
Birthdays
Peggy Messick1
Paula Sell11
Kayden Eckman16
Mike Tharp24
Dianna Mancuso29
Emily Eckman30
January
Anniversaries
Lyle and Charlotte Bonner9
Sheldon & Lee Knuth11
Robert & Barbara Herring25
Coming Events
January 6th – Epiphany
January 10th – Installation of 2016 Officers
January 11th – Men’s Fellowship
January 12th – Elders and Council
January 19th – Circuit Conference
January 19th – Ladies’ Guild
February 7th – Transfiguration Sunday
February 10th – Ash Wednesday
March 20th – Palm Sunday
March 24th – Maundy Thursday
March 27th - Easter
While we were decorating, we looked out the window at another of god’s wonders!