1501 Deep Lake Rd, Antioch IL 60002 BEAUIFUL BITS 847-395-9400 beautifulsaviorantioch.com BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH PASTOR’S MESSAGE One of the biblical texts for Christmas is Isaiah 7.14 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” It’s a biggy for those of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Savior. It’s a no-brainer for us that he fulfilled this promise given by God to Isaiah 700 years earlier. The one sentence is the essence of Christmas. But if we go back to the context of this announcement, to when it was given, it will seem anything but relevant or even helpful. The promise was directed to King Ahaz who was facing a devastating war. Naturally he went to the prophets of Israel for answers. Are we going to survive this? What do we have to do to get out of this mess? He was hoping God would give a practical solution. Isaiah’s answer hardly seems appropriate- “a virgin shall have a son”…..? Well thanks a lot! How is that to keep the enemy from the gates? I was expecting something a little more concrete and germane to the issue! Ahaz’ approach to the crisis facing Judah may have been not so different from the way I thought of Christmas as a child: What am I going to get? Isaiah’s word was about what God was going to do for Ahaz and Judah -but the childish way of interpreting the promise is extremely selfcentered. Our old nature wants our needs to be met, and if God is going to do that for us, we are onboard. So we tell God exactly how we want our needs met! The world’s understanding of Christmas has at least one thing right. Christmas is all about receiving. However human nature wants the receiving to be focused on pleasure, being entertained, adding things to one’s stockpile. God surprises everyone and sends a baby instead. The events surrounding his birth have been romanticized and sanitized. Our celebrations of the birth of the Christ are mostly feel-good activities. That’s why Christmas is so popular. The place we worship is full. One Christmas Eve service I played guitar and sang “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” in Immanuel Church in Tel Aviv. The church was packed with Israeli’s who had come for the beautiful music not because they wanted to worship the newborn King. Later I learned that the entire service had been broadcast over the army’s radio channel. Thousands of Israelis heard the Good News that their Messiah had come to give them real life! We who know the Babe of Bethlehem are undaunted. So we come to worship this Child who was born the normal way, born into anything but clean surroundings, to a people who (for the most) rejected him. We can’t help but revel in the thought of angel choirs, humble shepherds offering a lamb, or stargazers traveling a 1000 miles to present gifts. It’s O.K. if we do. And it’s O.K. if we make merry and get caught up in the excitement and all the additions that we now associate with Christmas. Which is why the few and simple words pointing to Christ’s birth and the telling of the story need to be repeated often so that we don’t lose the intent and power of the promise of God - just to know that God has come close - to free us from the results and power of sin to ensure that we know real life, and that all the wonder of the add-ons don’t obscure the most important message: Immanuel - God has come into our lives to make them real and whole. January 1, 2015 BEAUTIFUL BITS Beautiful bits VIEW FROM A PEW BY DIANE HANSON When we take the time to look around outside of ourselves, we see that we, as human beings, let so much of 'stuff' take over our attention, concern and energy. We humans just let 'stuff' get the better of us all the time. We can't help it! "We're only human"! We, as humans, continue to waste time being 'bothered' and 'worried' over things of which we have no control: long lines, slow traffic, rude people, detours, and a host of other annoyances that are temporary. We then wonder why we let these frustrations get the 'best of us', yet when tomorrow comes, we start all over again. In the blink of an eye, any of us could be called Home.....and then all of these little annoyances will have meant nothing. How many times do we stop and consider situations outside of ourselves? What about those family members, friends, neighbors, community members and our own congregational family members that are struggling with serious concerns that aren't so temporary? Some of us have serious health issues, including cancer and loss of limb. Some of us experience the loss of loved ones. Any of us can have journeys that aren't resolved at the end of the day, but take a long time or a lifetime to travel. There was an interview on television with a young Fox News Channel producer, Annie Goodman. Annie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at age 30. She underwent 16 rounds of chemo and 25 rounds of radiation. She said she hardly remembered her life before the cancer diagnosis, but she did remember how the trivial things in life took her attention, like missing a cab and other 'stupid' stuff. She said she decided to find ways to be happy instead. She focused on important things, like her family. She wanted to cram in as much as she could that was good and important. She showed her co-workers how she lived with joy, dignity and hope. Annie passed away the week before Christmas at the age of 33 years. Anyone would be moved by the interview that was shown with this remarkable young woman (and is online on the Fox News Channel website), and her sense of humor about a cancer that was relentless, as it kept returning. In this New Year, we must: *Be more thankful and appreciative of all of our blessings. *Show our love, support & encouragement for family, friends and neighbors. *Not let the trivialities of life get the better of us. *Be thankful for experiences, that God allows, and uses for our growth. *Realize our life has purpose beyond what we are aware. *Know that God truly has a plan for our lives. In this New Year, we must focus on the people and things that do define us and our lives. We need to feel the blessings in our lives, so our lives do matter, to us. God intends for each of our lives to matter and, in turn, make an impact on this world, in His name. Beautiful bits Who’s Who Chairman/President: Wayne Hinrichs 847-395-1766 Vice Chair/Vice President: Hal Ray 224-643-7064 Financial Secretary: Mary Petit 847-356-9242 Recording Secretary: Bev Walczak 847-395-2741 Treasurer: Judy Giamo 262-843-8888 Assitant: Glenn Keuss 847-356-5203 Elders: Mike Adams 847-445-6301 Andrew VanHoveln 414-534-5750 Bill Murry 847-746-4641 Mike Gomski 847-356-0045’ Brian Christensen 847-445-2199 Trustee Chairman: Glenn Lingle 847-973-8712 Trustee Council Rep: Judy Giaimo 262-843-8888 Trustees: Jim Robinson 847-370-6116 Harold Lucas 262-857-2988 Tony Kaluzinski 847-395-2801 Bonnie Ruttenberg 847-395-2896 Mike Petit 847-356-9242 Altar Guild: Tammy Christenson 847-445-2199 Beautiful Bits/Website: Kelly VanHoveln 414-350-9777 Office Secretaries: Betty Ruff 847-838-1308 Hal Ray 224-643-7064 Bulletins: Mike Gomski 847-356-0045 Shawn Hinrichs 847-395-1766 Helen Case 512-303-3104 Children’s Church: Linda Kesselring 847-265-4130 Compassion Committee: Mike Adams 847-445-6301 Fellowship Committee: Shawn Hinrichs 847-3951766 Fundraising Committe: Judy Wiegel 847-395-5093 LWML: Diane Hanson 847-846-5702 Music Ministry: Chris Gjelsten 847-838-3026 Brian Christensen 847-445-2199 Tabra Gomski 847-356-0045 Sunday Fellowship: Mike Adams 847-445-6301 Thrivent Committee: Bev Walczak 847-395-2741 Sunday School: Patty Robinson 847-838-6156 Teachers: Little Lambs (age 3-grade 1): Patty Robinson 847-838-6156 Disciples (grade 2-5): Kelly VanHoveln 414-350-9777 Middle & High School: Sarah Wittkamp 847-354-5518 VBS Director: Kelly VanHoveln 414-350-9777 Librarian: Mike Gomski 847-356-0045 Vine & Branches: Bonnie Ruttenberg 847-395-2896 Blood Drive: Bonnie Ruttenberg 847-395-2896 In His Service January 4 Today’s Elder –TBA Greeters – Ben & Carmencita Lingad, Isaac Reader – Ben Lingad Communion Setup – Tammy Christenson and Sue Souder Ushers – Brian & Tammy Christenson Sound Tech – Judy Adams Children’s Church – Sue Kadera Fellowship - TBA January 11 Today’s Elder – TBA Greeters – Mike & Judy Adams Reader – Mike Adams Sound Tech – Russ Kesselring Children’s Church – Jackie Hensley Fellowship – TBA January 18 Today’s Elder –TBA Greeters – Tom & Zaida Purnell Reader – Tom Purnell Communion Setup – Tammy Christenson and Sue Souder Ushers – Brian & Tammy Christenson Sound Tech – Nica Austria Children’s Church – Mary Petit Fellowship - TBA January 25 Today’s Elder – TBA Greeters – Judy Giaimo and Bev Walczak Reader – Andy Gruen Sound Tech – Kyle Hensley Children’s Church – Pastor Woita Fellowship - TBA
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