From the Pastor:

Happy New Year to all of you!

   I have been thinking a bit about who we are and how we see ourselves and what strengths do we want to build on to help Congregational United Church of Christ live into its vision. These have come up not only as a result of my own ponderings about setting priorities, etc. but also through conversations with various people. Seemingly unrelated conversations about administrative structure of church ministries, about music, and about providing hospitality at the church have all had my juices flowing about just how do we see ourselves and how do we want to see ourselves. I invite each of you to take some time to reflect on what we do well, what we don’t do well, how we could do tasks (e.g. meetings) differently. How do you see God calling us to live out God’s extravagant welcome? Please, as you have ideas, thoughts, comments, questions, random tangents, etc., share them! I would love it if you would share them with me. If not, please share them with each other so that all ideas are considered. Each person has a perspective and experience to share!

Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany to you!

   In keeping with what was shared from the Illinois Conference- UCC Annual Meeting last June, i.e the need for congregations to develop “biblical literacy”, I have been trying to increase “liturgical literacy”. I am hoping to give some grounding for what the various church seasons mean, what we are reading (and why, sometimes) in the lectionary, etc.

It seems natural to think of Christmas as the greater feast in the church, if for no other reason than it is the greater one in our culture. But in many ways, in terms of history, and in terms of story, Epiphany is the greater moment of celebration. Epiphany is part of the mystery of Christmas. We celebrate not only that God becomes flesh (the Incarnation of Christmas) but also that Jesus, as the Son of God gathers the whole of humanity into himself. God becomes revealed and fully available to all who want God.

     So as we follow the flow from the season of Advent to Christmas to Epiphany, we are invited to do the following:

   Advent invites us to watch and wait and nourish the Spirit within and among us ~ and prepare a place of the coming of Christ. 

     Christmas invites us to wonder and rejoice alongside the shepherds and all who first experienced the birth of Christ cannot fully comprehend. Christmas invites us to birth Christ within us.

Epiphany invites us to awaken and grow the birth of Christ in us. Light continues to be a dominant metaphor as the light of Christ shines – in Jesus and in us who follow. As we grow this presence of Christ within us, we become greater disciples of Jesus and grow in holiness. Some traditions talk about this process as rebirth, discipleship, or sanctification.

God’s light, in the world and in us, is constantly challenged by forces within us and within our world.      The whole idea of a self-giving love can be anathema to us on any given day. That is one reason we come together to worship – liturgy (free or structured) - because worship is designed to empower us with God’s love and God’s wisdom so that we can continue to love no matter what.

All in all, that’s a tall order. With God’s help, we can recognize the light and shine it in our lives.

God’s peace to you.

Pastor Lynn

UPCOMING READINGS IN WORSHIP

Please consider reading the texts before worship, in order to enhance your experience of worship.

December 4, 2011

2^nd Sunday of Advent (Peace)

Isaiah 40:1-11                                

Mark 1:1-8

December 11, 2011

3^rd Sunday of Advent (Joy)

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11      

John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 11, 2011

Blue Christmas (5:00)

Various readings –

Contemporary and from Scripture

December 18, 2011

4^th Sunday in Advent (Love)

2 Samuel 7:1-11

Luke 1:26-38                  Luke 1:47-55

December 18, 2011

Christmas Cantata 7:00

Various scripture messages set to music

December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve (7:00)

Festival of Lessons and Carols

December 25, 2011

Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7-10                 John 1:1-14                    

Sundays with the Children

About 2 months ago, the children's class began a project to raise money for Heifer International.   They asked you for donations  to raise $20 for a starter flock of chickens, $30 for a gift of honeybees, and $120 for a pig.  They made Papier-mâché holders decorated to represent a bee, pig and chicken and later, made posters  to encourage donations.  Thanks to your generous giving, the coins and checks have been counted and with the last money given through a generous benefactor, enough money has been raised to pay for bees, chicks and not just  half a pig, but the whole hog!!!  The money is being sent at Thanksgiving to bring happiness to families supported through Heifer International.  Great job, kids!!! Great job, congregation!!! 

The Children's Sunday Class just finished a 2 month study of Helping Hungry People, a children's curriculum provided through Bread for the World.  The teacher for October, led the class in looking at our community, Haiti, and Africa.  They made pass ports and flew to other places to find out what it is like near and far and how hunger is universal.  Bible stories were shared including Jesus using the little boy's loaves and fish to feed many.  During November the teacher continued the theme by traveling through India by train and sharing the need to ask for help. Students wrote letters to our state representative and senators asking for help in providing money to feed hungry people.  We urge you to also write letters or send e-mails to our people in Washington to help feed hungry people everywhere.  Information to help you write a letter can be found at www.bread.org.  Also, if you would like to find out more about the Heifer Project, go to www.heifer.org