From The Pastor’s Desk:
The Gifts of Christmas
Christmas is a time for giving gifts.
When I was a child, my brother was pretty good at figuring out where the Christmas presents were hidden (I’m going to blame my brother for this, because he’s older and should have known better. I was just an innocent bystander.) So when Mom and Dad weren’t around he’d lead us on a treasure hunt around the house, and we’d try to get advance knowledge of the goodies Christmas morning would hold. Even when Mom had already wrapped the gifts, Ben was pretty good at peeling back the tape to get a glimpse of what was inside.
And yet, despite our prowess at ferreting out the hiding spots, Mom and Dad always managed to surprise us every year. There was always one gift, usually the best gift, that they must have stored off-site. So what we peeked at was usually pretty pedestrian, the things we had asked for or a new package of tube socks. But the gift that showed up at the last minute usually had a Wow! factor: a new stereo, a computer, a video game system.
One year the big gift was literally big. I remember my Dad staggering in with this box--he barely made it to the living room-- and set it down with a thud. We had no idea what it could be.
It turned out it was a weightlifting set, complete with barbells and bench press and leg lifts. The idea was that we could train for our sports at home. It was a gift intended to change us for the better (as it turned out, I wasn’t very disciplined about using the weight set, and it ended up changing me not at all.)
Christmas is a time for giving gifts. Some of those gifts are meant to change us.The greatest gift of all, of course, was the gift of God’s Son. Jesus was sent into the world on a rescue mission. When we couldn’t save ourselves, God stepped in with the gift of salvation.
This Christmas season, as we prepare to once again celebrate Jesus’ birthday, I want us to think about some of the other gifts that came when Jesus did. I want us to ask the questions: How are things different because Jesus came to earth?
More specifically: How are we different because of the incarnation?
I believe there are certain characteristics that are possible for us to possess only because Jesus came down from heaven to earth. There are certain winsome traits that are evident because of the gift of Jesus. So I want to invite you to join us on Sunday Mornings during advent as we talk about what Christmas creates in us. We’ll consider: Hope, Compassion, Generosity, Servanthood, Joy and Gratefulness. (No need for peeking, I’ll tell you right up front what the gifts are.)
December Birthdays:
December 1 - Robert Wix
December 2 - Gary Abbas
December 4 - David Thorne, Troy Ulrich
December 6 - Linde Fleshner
December 8 - Kooper Coake
December 9 - Ben McConaughy
December 10 - Hartley Ulfers
December 13 - Colby Wix
December 16 - Bev Harms
December 18 - Greta Cordes
December 21 - Louis Merritt
December 23 - Kelly Henrichs
December 25 - Lennox Ulfers
December Anniversaries
December 2 - Dalen & Bridget Meyer
December 10 - Ron & Sue Negan
December 12 - Sam & Ami Cordes
December 16 - Ethan & Shelby Ulfers
December Sound/Projector Schedule:
December 7 - Tim Junker
December 14 - TBD
December 21 - Matt Eberline
December 28 - Ryan Fleshner
Video Operator Schedule:
December 7 - James Seehusen
December 14 - Michael Shafer
December 21 - Lucas Junker
December 28 - Jodi Bangasser
December Praise Team Schedule:
December 7 - Praise Team 1 (Denise)
December 14 - Praise Team 2 (Ruth)
December 21 - Praise Team 3 (Greta/Kelly)
December 28 - Praise Team 4 (Denise)