Pastor Joel's Mid-Week Reminders for 12/06/2011
This entry was posted on 12/7/2011 7:22 AM and is filed under Mid-Week Reminders.
'The
spirit
of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed
me; he has
sent me...to provide for those who mourn...to give them a
garland
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning...' Isaiah
61.1, 3
I
admit it. I'm addicted to olive oil. I love the stuff and
pour it
generously on everything from pizza to pasta. Oil has a
rich history
among ancient peoples, and also in the Bible. It still does
among the
peoples of the Middle East, because olive trees grow
abundantly in that
region and olive oil is a staple food.
Isaiah, in our Old Testament reading for this coming Sunday,
uses oil
in both a literal and figurative sense in the verse quoted
above. The
image of oil here is analogous to the one given in Psalm
23: "You
anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." That's a
picture of God's
love and favor, and of our joy in his generous blessings.
In the New
Testament, Jesus sends his disciples with the good news of
God's
kingdom and instructs them to anoint people with oil as a
sign of God's
healing love.
On Sunday, Dec. 11, you will have an opportunity to
receive healing
prayers for whatever deep pain or struggle you are
experiencing.
All that you tell me privately will be kept in strictest
confidence.
After the prayer, I will dip my finger in anointing oil and
make the
sign of the cross on your forehead. This oil is imbued with
the scent
of frankincense and myrrh, reminding us of the gifts that
the wise men
brought the baby Jesus. The scent will stay with you
pleasantly
throughout the day, a sensual reminder that Jesus is our
Emmanuel,
which means "God with us."
May this season, despite all its hurts and struggles, be one
of real
joy, and may you feel anointed with 'the oil of gladness' in
Christ's
coming.
MIDWEEK ADVENT
VESPERS AND
SOUP / BREAD SUPPERS: Continuing
on Wednesdays, 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." This week's focus: 'Joseph's
Gift'.
REDEEMER'S
'GIVING TREE':
Each year we
invite you to provide gifts for a local needy family. Please
see the Giving
Tree in the lobby of our church for names and
gift requests
for this
year's family. Questions: see Etta Mae Hitchcock or any
member of our
Social Ministry Team. Thanks for your compassion and
generosity!
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.
DATES
AND EVENTS TO NOTE ~
Wednesdays:
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.
