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| Wednesday, November 26, 2008 |
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11-30-08
By Maxine Lashmet @ 10:37 AM
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Sunday School: Growing in Christ
Sunday School Superintendent: Kevin Tavender
Sunday School students studied the story of David and Jonathan today. Just as David’s and Jonathan’s brotherly love for each other reflected the love of God within their hearts, so, too, our love for others is the reflection of God’s love given to us through Christ. Parents could ask, “How did David and Jonathan demonstrate their love and care for each other? How does God demonstrate His love and care for us?”
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS STUDIES THE BOOK OF EXODUS: Pastor teaches this faith-building account of God’s grace in the Old Testament in bringing Israel out of slavery in Egypt to the promised land. This foreshadows God’s grace in Christ in bringing us from being slaves of sin to forgiven children of God with a heavenly inheritance.
Our ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Joyce McDade in memory of husband, Ray, remembering the second anniversary of his joining his Savior on November 30.
FRIDAY AM BIBLE BREAKFAST Join us on Fridays at 6:45 AM in the Conference Room. We have just started the New Testament Letter to the Colossians. Colossians focuses on Jesus, true God and Creator of all, the Son of the heavenly Father, Christ who is more than sufficient to meet all our needs! Please join us and bring a friend!
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS Three Advent Devotional Booklets are available for your Advent and Christmas preparation this year. Lutheran Hour Ministries has two titled, “Come To The Manger” and “Christmas Conversation” and Lamp (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. “Christ’s Kingdom” sent the third devotional booklet. Feel free to pick up any one or all three from the narthex bookshelf or narthex south entryway shelf. Booklets are also available in the Annex at the church office entry.
IT’S COOKIE WALK TIME
Friday, December 5, 2008
2:00-6:00 PM Salem Annex
TO ALL OF OUR BAKERS, CRAFT, AND CANDY MAKERS
The task is big, but our group is small. We are growing a little older and slower, but will try to do what is in our power. There are so many of you and so few of us. We will try to call as many as possible and hope not to cause a fuss. You have been so kind and supportive for many years. May we count on you again? You bring the goodies, we will provide the cheers. Its been more than ten (10) years since we started this tradition. Packing cookies for the shut-ins is part of the mission. The cookies and baked goods are ever so yummy and none go to waste, even the broken ones find a home on the Hospitality Table to taste. We are emphasizing homemade for this special occasion. We are so proud of our patrons #1 rating. So please be kind as you have been before and remember us with your goodies and treasurers galore. Thank You. The Ladies Guild
POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS Orders are being accepted for poinsettia’s to enhance Annie Merner Chapel for Salem’s Childrens Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 17. Call the church office (243-3419) to place an order for:
Red or White poinsettia’s.
Cost: $9.00.
The poinsettia’s will be brought to the church following the Children’s Service unless you desire to pick up your flower following the service at Annie Merner. The poinsettias will be ordered from Ashley Petals & Angels Florist. We thank you and appreciate your willingness to beautify the chapel and enhance our church sanctuary during the Advent and Christmas festival!
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS SERVICE The theme for this year’s Children’s Christmas Service, AWAY IN THE MANGER, the beloved Christmas carol, helps the children and congregation discover the gifts that flow from the manger; the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation from our heavenly Father. It's that wonderful time of the year again! Time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Our Christmas Service this year will be Wednesday, December 17, at 7:00 pm at Annie Merner Chapel, MacMurray College. All students in the congregation; Salem Day School, Sunday School, and public school, are invited to participate with singing, recitations, or jr. high, speaking parts. Please contact Mrs. Purdue, school music director, no later than Friday, December 5. Piano students will again be providing preservice music . Salem piano students not taking lessons at Salem desiring to play for the preservice music, please notify Mrs. Purdue by December 5. Lastly, after the service, help with moving poinsettias back Salem is needed. Anyone with room in their car and willing to transport the flowers is most welcome. Just meet up by the stage after the service has ended. Contact Mrs. Purdue (370-9546) or email jamesd@alumni.ic.edu. Thank You!
CHRISTMAS CANTATA - Salem’s Adult Choir is preparing for the annual Cantata in the 5:30 PM, 8:00 and 10:30 AM services on December 20 and 21. BRUCE ENGEBRECHT, choir director, invites those desiring to participate in the Christmas Choir to join them for practice on Thursday, December 4, 11, and 18 in the church balcony at 7:00 PM. All voices are needed!
PTL NEEDS YOUR HELP - Salem is again hosting the Morgan County Tournament Saturday, December 6-Saturday, December 13. This major fund raiser is looking for volunteers to man the gate, work in the concession stand, and monitoring the hallways. Call PHYLLIS NIX (370-4648) or TOMI KNUTH (320-2046) to offer your assistance. A volunteer schedule is posted in the gymnasium hallway. Two hour time slots are being scheduled. Thank you for help loyalty to Salem.
NEW ORGAN FUND - Salem Voter’s Assembly approved the purchase of a new organ for our sanctuary at the cost of about $72,000 when all funds have been collected to purchase the organ. Please consider giving to this fund. Make out your check to: Salem Lutheran Church and indicate on the check for the NEW ORGAN.
MISSION OUTREACH - Mark 11:1-10: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of a week that lives in history forever and ever. He rode into Jerusalem in peace and within the week through his death and resurrection He restored peace between God and sinners. That’s the good news that brings us a sure hope. That is also the good news that we are privileged to share with others.
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT - 1 Corinthians 1:3-9: St. Paul reminded the Corinthians that they had been made rich in all things and had not failed to receive all of God’s blessings. He then reminded the Corinthians and us that God blesses us with all good things so that we may be faithful stewards for the rest of our lives and in this way to bring praise to God and good things for others.
MARKET DAY- Reminder that Market Day orders will be delivered this week on Thursday, December 4, from 6:00 - 6:45 PM in the Annex. This is a change for this month because of a conflict with our Advent Service on Wednesday evening. Order forms for the Wednesday, January 7 delivery date will be available in the school and church office and in the church narthex. Internet orders are to be placed at www.marketday.com.. Direct your questions and phone orders to the school office (243-3419).
SALEM MILITARY SERVICEMEN Brandon Aring, Nathan Aring, Sam Dimmick, Colin Keenan, Andrew Leinberger, John Magelitz, and Brandon Navarro.
FRIENDSHIP BIBLE CLASS
Monday, December 1 6:00 PM
Story: Naaman
We can speak for Jesus.
Presenter Pastor Brechbuhl
Craft: Connie Walker
MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
Saturdays 7:00 - 8:00 am
in Salem’s Annex Conference Room.
BLOOD DONOR NEEDED - RON McDONALD is in need of two (2) pint of blood (0 negative or 0 positive) being donated to the Central IL Blood Bank for his December 19 scheduled surgery at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield. The Central IL Community Center will be at Passavant Hospital on December 9 from 11:00 AM-6:00 PM to receive blood. Call the Blood Bank at 217-753-0694 or 217-753-1530 to indicate you will be donating blood for Ron McDonald’s December 19 surgery.
GREETER COORDINATOR NEEDED CAROLYN ENGEBRECHT has been scheduling the Sunday morning greeters the past few years and is looking for a replacement. Please call the church office (243-3419) if you are able and willing to do this task. Call CAROLYN (217-997-2229) for information on how the program works or if you would like a trial basis. She is unable to schedule the January greeters.
SHOWER OF BLESSINGS - It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving. We’ve just remembered all the blessings for which we are thankful. And, now we are looking forward to Christmas and the greatest blessing ever - our Savior! Among the countless blessings received by the family of Salem are the people who serve in many capacities. We thank them, and the Lord for them. One of these blessings is our school and all who support it in any way. What a blessing to have Monika Warcup and Jan Shaughnessy for our school lunch program. They are not only wonderful cooks, but dearly love the children they serve. It has been many years since some things have been replaced in our kitchen. So the Ladies Guild has planned a kitchen shower. At the south end of the Annex you will find a Christmas tree with ornaments. Each ornament names an item which would be useful in the kitchen or a monetary donation. The monetary donations will be used to purchase some larger items. Please choose an ornament from our tree. You may take your gift to the kitchen at any time. Checks should be made payable to: “Salem Ladies Guild” with the notation “kitchen shower”. If you have any questions, Monika will answer them for you. May God continue to shower you with His blessings.
NORMA ROBINSON thanks the congregation for your prayers, visits and cards during her recent surgery.
Life Lines
Submitted by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator, Salem Lutheran
From a very early age, my parents always told me that I was really crazy about horses and begged for one until I finally got a pony at age six. I also really enjoyed watching cowboys and Indians on TV shows and as most you will probably remember, the good guys always won. But that’s not really true in real life is it? Hard working folks are often over looked for promotions and the bully in school usually gets the upper hand on the playground. I have been thinking about good guys finishing last a lot lately in relation to the recent presidential campaign. It’s not a stretch to say that most of you have figured out that I supported McCain/Palin (mostly Palin), and of course they lost. But, it wasn’t so much about the person who won or lost, but what they stand for and represent. President-elect Obama stands for unlimited abortion on demand among many other issues that go against every thing I believe in and stand for. So, what to do about it? Do we lament the choice in president or pray for him? I have to admit that praying for him was not my first choice of things I’d like to do, but God’s Word tells us we should pray for our enemies. Matthew 5:44. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. So, I have decided that I will pray that God will send the Holy Spirit to work in the heart of president-elect Obama to change his liberal stand on abortion. At the same time I will pray for his wife Michelle, that she will also come to know God’s will for life and be a positive influence on her husband. Now, this was not an immediate answer to my disappointment in the election and I’m sure there will be times that I fail to follow through with daily prayers for the Obama’s. It runs counter to our sinful human nature to pray for our enemies. From a human standpoint, genuinely praying for our enemies seems impossible. But I realize, the Bible says, “With God, nothing is impossible.” God often asks us to do things that go against our natural way of thinking and feeling. So, I hope you will join in my pledge to say a prayer for the Obama’s to see the wrong of their position on abortion and develop a heart for the unborn and turn from the evil of supporting and defending abortion. Going the extra mile to pray for our enemies may seem like a tall order—and it is. But God never asks us to do anything without supplying the strength to do it. If praying for those who persecute you seems too hard, just remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:26: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
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