Peace Lutheran Church

First Sunday-Food Sunday

Christmas is a happy time, but can also be a stressful time for those who do not have enough food to feed their family.  It is a time when we can share with others the abundant blessings that God has given to us.  Items for a Christmas meal can be donated to Love, Inc. food pantry this month – canned meat, boxed potatoes, canned sweet potatoes, canned vegetables, crackers, cookies, canned fruit and fruit juice, baking products: pie filling, pie crust mix, sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, flour, oil, extracts, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices, chocolate chips.  Also include canned hearty soups, beef stew, chili, hash, Spam, packages of dried beans, macaroni & cheese, pasta & sauce, condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, olives), jelly.  How about some hot cereal – oatmeal, instant or regular.  Something to warm up an adult or child on Christmas morning.

Non-food items needed: diapers (size 4 or 5), feminine hygiene products, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste,toothbrushes, hand soap, bars of soap, toilet paper, dish detergent, laundry detergent, shampoo.

(Note: Items underlined are especially needed at this time.)

Want to donate something not on the list?  Please bring whatever items you can.  Make sure to check the expiration dates – items must not be past the expiration date.  All items collected Sunday, December 6 will be taken to Love, Inc. food pantry on Monday, December 7. Thank you again for all your generous donations.

Over the past 11 months Peace Lutheran Church families have donated 1,611 items to the Love, Inc. food pantry.  It’s a lot of food and other items, but the need continues to grow.  In August 2009 the food pantry served 410 families, compared to 320 familes in August 2008, a 22% jump in participants.  One week in November there were 100 families that came in for food.  There were 600 families that received a box of food for Thanksgiving dinner.

Free Audiobook Download of the Month The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

From the Christian audiobook site:

Sin, forgiveness, grace…not only do these themes abound in Scripture, but also in one of the most important Western novels ever penned. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky has long been viewed as one of the best novels in world literature and now it’s the free download for December, only from christianaudio.

The book probes the possible roles of four brothers in the unresolved murder of their father, Fyodor Karamazov. At the same time, it carefully explores the personalities and inclinations of the brothers whom together represent the full spectrum of human nature-the continuum of faith and doubt.
This abridged version maintains the Christian themes and is expertly narrated by the widely-recognized Simon Vance. His presentations of all the characters invite you into the story and challenge the listener to thoughtful reflection.

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) writes with a passion and keen insight of biblical grace like no other modern novelist. His works Crime and Punishment and The Idiot testify to his great skill. The Brothers Karamazov has been hailed by readers for over a century as one of the finest achievements in all of western literature.
Add the download format of The Brothers Karamazov to your cart and enter the coupon code DEC2009 when prompted during checkout.

Discount Price for November: $0.00
Download List Price: $16.98
Coupon Code: DEC2009

Click HERE to go to the site

Away in a Manger, but Not in a Barn

To find out more about the birthplace of Jesus please check out the links found in this article from the Logos bible software blog

In the Nov.–Dec. issue of Bible Study Magazine, Gary A. Byers, archeologist of near eastern sites and contributing member of the Associates for Biblical Research, makes such a case for interpreting Christ’s very birth place. In an article entitled Away in a Manger, but Not in a Barn, Byers challenges our traditional preconceptions about inns, inn-keepers, and where exactly one would find a manger in the first century. It is very likely, according to Byers, that Jesus wasn’t born alone in a barn, but in the downstairs living quarters of a home where the animals would have been kept at night.

Click HERE to read the article in PDF format.

Wasn’t Jesus just another great religious teacher?

Wasn’t Jesus just another great religous teacher? from A Passion for Life on Vimeo.

Give thanks… for CONFLICT???

As usual, Paul [in Philippians 4:2-9 [show]Philippians 4:2-9 [2]I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. [3]Yes, I ask you also, true companion,(1) help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. [4]Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. [5]Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6]do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7]And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [8]Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9]What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (ESV) Footnotes 1. [4:3] Or 'loyal Syzygus'; Greek 'true yokefellow'
] urges us to be God-centered in our approach to conflict. Moreover, he wants us to be joyfully God-centered. Realizing we may skip over this point, Paul repeats it: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" What on earth is there to rejoice about when you are involved in a dispute? If you open your eyes and think about God’s lavish goodness to you, here is the kind of worship you could offer to him, even in the midst of the worst conflict!

O Lord, you are so amazingly good to me! You sent your only Son to die for my sins, including those I have committed in this conflict. Because of Jesus I am forgiven, and my name is written in the Book of Life! You do not treat me as I deserve, but you are patient, kind, gentle, and forgiving with me. Please help me to do the same to others.

In your great mercy, you are also kind to my opponent. Although he has wronged me repeatedly, you hold out your forgiveness to him as you do to me. Even if he and I never reconcile in this life, which I still hope we will, you have already done the work to reconcile us forever in heaven. This conflict is so insignificant compared to the wonderful hope we have in you!

This conflict is so small compared to the many other things you are watching over at this moment, yet you still want to walk beside me as I seek to resolve it. Why would you stoop down to pay such attention to me? It is too wonderful for me to understand. You are extravagant in your gifts to me. You offer me the comfort of your Spirit, the wisdom of your Word, and the support of your church. Forgive me for neglecting these powerful treasures until now, and help me to use them to please and honor you.

I rejoice that these same resources are available to my opponent. Please enable us to draw on them together so that we see our own sins, remember the gospel, find common ground in the light of your truth, come to one mind with you and each other, and restore peace and unity between us.

Finally, Lord, I rejoice that this conflict has not happened by accident. You are sovereign and good, so I know that you are working through this situation for your glory and my good. No matter what my opponent does, you are working to conform me to the likeness of your Son. Please help me cooperate with you in every possible way and give you glory for what you have done and are doing.

Adapted from  The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) pp. 84-85.

PeaceMeal is a publication of Peacemaker^® Ministries. Copyright 2009. Reprinted with permission. To sign up for this free weekly email publication, go to the Peacemaker Ministries website at www.Peacemaker.net.

Many thanks for help on the new railing!

We want to thank Greg and Teresa Forseth, Mike Tolliver, and David Vojta for their work installing the new railing for the rear entrance. This will make the trip down the sidewalk much safer!

Make Christ the source, the centre, and the circumference of all thy soul’s range of delight

Many saints are content to live like men in coal mines, who see not the sun; they eat dust like the serpent when they might taste the ambrosial meat of angels; they are content to wear the miner’s garb when they might put on king’s robes; tears mar their faces when they might anoint them with celestial oil. Satisfied I am that many a believer pines in a dungeon when he might walk on the palace roof, and view the goodly land and Lebanon. Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition! Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ, thy soul’s Husband. Make him the source, the centre, and the circumference of all thy soul’s range of delight.

Excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and evening ..November 23 – evening

G.K. Chesterton on Thanksgiving

Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude; everything passed on with grace.

You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

Support members of the military

From Theresa Forseth..

If you go to this web site,  www.LetsSayThanks.com   you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in  Iraq . You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!    It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?    Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.

This takes just 10 seconds and it’s a wonderful way to say thank you.    Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do.  We can never say enough thank you’s. 

Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

Join us as we visit the Bethlehem Market Place – Dec 12th

On Sat., Dec. 12 we will go to the Bethlehem Market Place. We will meet for a pot-luck brunch (sign-up sheet on Social Corner board in the narthex) at 10:30. Then we will leave church just after 11:00 to head to Elmbrook church for the noon tour. We have purchased 50 tickets and have 36 spoken for as of 11/22. Please sign up in the narthex  if you are interested in joining us.

Giving thanks for everyday miracles – Martin Luther

Psalm 111 [show]Psalm 111 [111:1](1) Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. [2]Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. [3]Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. [4]He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. [5]He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. [6]He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. [7]The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; [8]they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. [9]He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! [10]The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Footnotes 1. [111:1] This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.  (2)  Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.  (3)  Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.  (4)  He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.  (5)  He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.  (6)  He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.  (7)  The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;  (8)  they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.  (9)  He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!  (10)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

This is the first object of praise, also among Christians. They exalt and thank God for all the works He has created, praising Him as the only Creator and Master of everything in heaven and earth, not simply because He has created it but also because He has created it for our use and benefit. The sun and moon must shine for us day and night; the sky must give us rain, clouds, shade, and dew; the earth must give us all kinds of growing things and animals; the waters must give us fish and countless necessities; the air must supply birds as well as our breath; fire must warm us and give us countless benefits. And who can enumerate everything? It cannot be otherwise or better expressed than in these short words: “Great are the works of the Lord.” And it cannot be sufficiently proclaimed to all eternity, even though the leaves and grass were all tongues. For who can praise or even comprehend this work alone that He created our body and soul out of nothing and daily keeps us alive and protects us against so many devils and so much danger to our life?

Here the psalmist indicates how few are the righteous who consider or see these works of the Lord. They neither praise nor give thanks, not even when they say: “Great are the works of the Lord.” They are used to them and saturated with them, like an old house with smoke. They use them and root around in them like a hog in a bag of feed. They say: “Oh, is that such a great thing that the sun shines, or fire warms, or water gives fish, or the earth yields grain, or a cow calves, or a woman bears children, or a hen lays eggs? That happens every day!” My dear Mr. Simpleton, is it a small thing just because it happens every day? If the sun did not shine for ten days, then it would be a great thing. If there were no fire on earth except at one place, then, I think, it would be more precious than all the gold and silver in the world. If there were only one well in all the world, then I imagine that a drop of water would be worth more than a hundred thousand gulden, and in comparison beer and wine would be so much garbage. Or, if God were to make all women and children out of a bone, as He did Eve, and there were only one who could bear children, I am sure that all the world, all kings and lords, would worship her as a goddess. But now that every woman is fertile, it is nothing. If a magician could make an eye that would live or that would be able to see one cubit, great God, he would be a lord on earth! Yes, whoever could make a real leaf or a blossom on a tree would be above God and would have a world of admiration, praise, and thanks.

But it is a discouraging thing that men are so damnably ungrateful and blind. God showers upon them such great and rich miracles, and they do not consider even one of them or thank Him for it! But if some clown shows up who can walk a tightrope or who has monkeys to display, him they admire, praise, and exalt. Therefore the psalmist says here that the works of God are great, but only in the eyes of the upright. There they are studied with pleasure. For the upright think about those works, consider them, admire them with pleasure, so that they must gratefully say: “Surely, this is an excellent, great, beautiful, and glorious work!”

Martin Luther, (1999). Vol. 13: Luther’s works, vol. 13 : Selected Psalms II (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther’s Works. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.

The Gospel… Old vs. New

Kevin DeYoung has posted a wonderful reflection on the Gospel and how it is so often distorted in our age. DeYoung writes:

Paul’s approach with non-Christians in Athens is instructive for us (Acts 17:16-34).  First, Paul is provoked that the city is so full of idols (16).  His preaching is not guided by his disappointment with other Christians, but by his anger over unbelief.  Next, he gets permission to speak (19-20). Paul did not berate people. He spoke to those who were willing to listen.  But then look at what he does.  He makes some cultural connection (22-23, 28), but from there he shows the contrast between the Athenian understanding of God and the way God really is (24-29). His message is not about a way of life, but about worshiping the true God in the right way.  After that, he urges repentance (30), warns of judgment (31), and talks about Jesus’ resurrection (31).

The result is that some mocked (32). Who in the world mocks the New Gospel? There is nothing not to like.  There is no scandal in a message about lame Christians, a loving God, changing the world, and how most of us are most likely not going to hell.  This message will never be mocked, but Paul’s Mars Hill sermon was. And keep in mind, this teaching in Athens was only an entre into the Christian message.  This was just the beginning, after which some wanted to hear him again (32).  Paul said more in his opening salvo than some Christians ever dare to say. We may not be able to say everything Paul said at Athens all at once, but we certainly must not give the impression in our “pre-evangelism” that repentance, judgment, the necessity of faith, the importance of right belief, the centrality of the cross and the resurrection, the sinfulness of sin and the fallenness of man–the stuff that some suggest will be our actual evangelism–are outdated relics of a mean-spirited, hurtful Christianity.

PLEASE read the entire post HERE.

DeYoung has written several books, two of which …. Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Just Do Something …. I will be recommending in my year end book review.

Worship Schedule for Sunday November 29, 2009 – The First Sunday in Advent

Lessons
Jeremiah 33:14-16 [show]Jeremiah 33:14-16 [14]"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. [15]In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. [16]In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 [show]1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 [9]For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, [10]as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? [11]Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, [12]and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, [13]so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (ESV)

Luke 21:25-36 [show]Luke 21:25-36 [25]"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26]people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27]And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28]Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." [29]And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. [30]As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. [31]So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32]Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. [33]Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [34]"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. [35]For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. [36]But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (ESV)

8:00 AM Service
Communion Assistants: Bev Stobber and Jenny Voss
Ushers: The Hobach Family
Reader: Evan Weichman

10:30 AM Service 
Ushers: Paul Rowntree and Chris Bennet
Offering Counter: Bill Goulding

A Prayer of Gratitude

From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

O My God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, for sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

How do I know God exists?

How do I know God exists? from A Passion for Life on Vimeo.