‘You know what time it is… For salvation is near…’ Romans 13.11
‘Keep awake, therefore…’ St Matthew 24.42
Tired all the time? If so, you’re probably not alone. A study from the U. of Arizona tells us that there are over 40 million Americans suffering from insomnia, and another 20 million who are suffering from the effects of insufficient sleep. Fact: sleep deprivation results in more than 200,000 motor vehicle accidents annually, and more traffic fatalities are attributed to sleepiness than to alcohol use.

St Paul and Jesus aren’t pushing caffeine use or energy drinks in the passages above. No, they’re talking about a different kind of staying awake—a spiritual alertness that has an edge of watchfulness. Without that sense of guardedness about the transitory nature of this world, we’ll be lulled into a soporific sleep-walk, numbed by life’s cares and worries into forgetting that life, and history, move toward an end known only by God. How quickly that end can come to peoples and nations and individuals! ‘Keep awake, therefore,’ Jesus warns. The children’s bedtime prayer we all know has something profound to say about all this: “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Sleep well and long, physically. Keep awake and alert, spiritually!
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT: This coming Sunday, Dec. 2, we launch into a new Church Year. Blue, the color of hope, replaces the long ‘green’ season in our chancel. The Advent Wreath appears and is blessed. We look towards Christ’s coming: at the end of time…into history with Jesus’ birth…and into our hearts and lives. There is an air of anticipation, of joyful expectation.

MIDWEEK ADVENT VESPERS will again be offered at 7pm on the Wednesdays of Advent: Dec. 5, 12, and 19. Holden Evening Prayer will be our liturgy for these special 40 minute services of worship. Each Vespers will be preceded by our well-loved Soup and Bread Suppers at 6pm. No need to worry about dinner—just come and join us for a tummy-warming selection of great soups and breads and desserts, and then stay for Vespers! Fred Gargiulo is organizing the Soup Suppers, so please contact him if you can help.

FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS: Our Natural Church Development Health Team has done a great job in gathering many of you for Focus Groups. The purpose of these meetings has been to share openly and honestly our responses to the minimum factor we’ve been working on: Loving Relationships. One more ‘catch-up’ Focus Group will be scheduled in December, probably during one of our Advent Soup and Bread suppers on Wednesday evening (see above). For those of you who have not yet participated in a Focus Group, please watch for more information on this when the date and time are set.

DATES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Dec. 1, 8am - 12 noon: Thrivent / Habitat for Humanity Build. Call office for details.
• Dec. 2: High School Youth Parent Meeting following worship.
• Dec. 2: Decorating the church for Christmas. A tasty lunch will be provided.
• Dec. 6, 6pm: Ladies Christmas Party at church. Bring a salad, bread, or dessert.
• Dec. 7, 7pm: Ladies Night Out at Anita Crawford’s. All women welcome! Bring socks for exchange.
• Dec. 9: Reception for Don and Linda Wilson, 40^th anniversary, following worship.
• All month: We encourage everyone to contribute to Union Gospel Mission by bringing the following to church and placing items in the big UGM-marked barrel: for children—new toys for Christmas, hats, gloves, socks, underwear, coats. For adult tote bags—travel sizes of plastic razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving gel, deodorant, shampoo…and tube socks. Redeemer Preschool is sponsoring this drive, and they would love for you to participate.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES: 12 noon and 7pm, Dec. 24^th. No service on Christmas Day. If you are looking for a place to worship on the 25^th, please contact our office for help.

We Wish You God's Peace and Blessing

Sandy Cooper, Secretary
Redeemer Lutheran Church
503-393-7121
4663 Lancaster Drive. NE
Salem, OR 97305
office@redeemer-lcms.org