Pastor Joel's Mid-Week Reminders for 11/28/2011
This entry was posted on 11/30/2011 6:24 AM and is filed under Mid-Week Reminders.
'He will
feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs
in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother
sheep.' Isaiah
40.11
I
understand the dynamics of Black Friday, that day after
Thanksgiving
when shoppers eager to get the best prices on merchandise
rush into
stores that open as early as 4am. It's a huge day of profit
for
retailers (it helps them finish the year 'in the black').
But
sometimes people become so selfish as to injure others in
the
stampede. For example, a woman in Los Angeles used pepper
spray on 11
people to keep them away while she pawed through a crate of
X-box video
games. Really???
Granted, that is an extreme example of selfishness. But the
Christmas
shopping season can get violent and hurtful, especially when
getting a
good price means we literally run over people to grab a
purchase. In
contrast, the prophet Isaiah speaks of God in the image of a
gentle
shepherd in the verse above. The lambs and the mother ewes get special
kindness.
Advent and the increased shopping that goes along with this
season
provide us with daily opportunities to be selfless,
to notice
the needs of others while we attend politely to our own
needs. I
always feel special sympathy for moms shepherding their
little ones
around a busy store. So let's do the good thing, the right
thing, the
loving thing: be ready to help moms struggling with full
carts and
wandering kids (such as letting them go through the
check-out line
ahead of you)...or those in wheelchairs and those pushing
them...or the
elderly with canes and walkers...or harried and overworked
clerks who
may just need a smile and an encouraging word.
It's the way our gentle God is with us. Let's pay it
forward.
THANK
YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
And congratulations to our three little turkeys--Amanda
Kelvin,
Shae and Troy Skiles--as together they gathered $1,106 from
all of us
so that 36 needy families can receive big Christmas food boxes
from
Redeemer! The funds collected will be graciously matched by
Thrivent
Financial. What generous and giving hearts you have shown
once again
this year in sharing God's love for people in a tangible way.
DO YOU HAVE A COLORED WRIST
BAND FROM
MARION POLK FOOD SHARE? If
so, wear it
on this coming Sunday, Dec. 4. I will be wearing mine
and will be
emphasizing our food ministry in worship.
MIDWEEK ADVENT
VESPERS AND
SOUP / BREAD SUPPERS: Beginning
Nov 30 and continuing on Dec. 7
and 14, our popular Midweek
Advent
Vespers will be offered at 7pm,
using the Holden
Evening Prayer liturgy. Preceding our worship, we gather
at 6pm for a Soup and Bread
and Dessert supper.
A Sign Up Sheet has been posted, and we ask for your help
with hosting
these suppers. My preaching theme for this year's Midweek
Worship will
be "Gifts for Our Souls."
REDEEMER'S
'GIVING TREE':
Each year we
invite you to provide gifts for foster kids. Please see the
Giving
Tree in the lobby of our church for names and gift requests
for this
year's kids. Questions: see Etta Mae Hitchcock. Thanks for
helping
these kids see God's shining face!
10
MOST WANTED FOODS FOR MARION POLK FOOD SHARE:
Thank you
all so much for continuing to bring food for the growing
numbers of
hungry people in our Salem area!. Please remember to focus
your
purchases on the 10 most basic
foods MPFS asks for: soup...chili...mac
and
cheese...cereal...peanut
butter...tuna...canned fruit...canned
vegetables...pasta sauce...pasta. Bring your
food items to
worship with you and place them in the red wagon by our
worship area.
Also, thanks for your contributions to our own small food
pantry, under
the direction of Kathy Lisle. There is a separate and clearly
labeled
green bin for the same foods for our food pantry. Needed
especially
right now: TUNA.
REMINDER: All
Officers, Ministry
Team chairpersons, and committee chairpersons need to
submit their 2011
Annual Reports by the end of December. Please
email them to Pat
Haneberg, who will edit and publish them for our Jan 15
Annual
Congregational Meeting.
BRIEF SPECIAL
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING THIS SUNDAY
FOLLOWING WORSHIP: Immediately
after worship we will elect Redeemer's delegates to
the Northwest District LCMS Convention in June. In
addition, we will
put forward nominations for District
President, regional VP, and Circuit Counselor.
DATES
AND EVENTS TO NOTE ~
Wednesdays:
Nov 30, Dec 7 and 14....6pm:
Soup
Suppers and 7pm:
Midweek
Advent Vespers
Sunday,
Dec 11..........Worship with
opportunity
for healing prayers
Sunday, Dec
18..........Sunday School
Christmas Program during
worship
Saturday,
Dec 24........Christmas Eve:
12
noon and 7pm worship
Sunday,
Dec. 25.........Christmas
Day: 10am
Festival Worship
Sunday,
Jan.
15.........Annual
Congregational
Meeting with lunch
**Please
see
the weekly bulletin, Spirit Call, and
master
calendar for a complete listing of dates and events.
