December 2021 Lightshine
From the Pastor’s Desk:
“I thank my God for you every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in everyone of my prayers
for you all.” Philippians 1:3,4
“Chickadee surprise and Advent remembering.”
Dear friends in Christ,
As we prepare for Jesus coming in Advent. The God we know and love is known to surprise. No one expected a virgin to conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to God’s Son. Elizabeth and Zachariah could not have children. Then God sent the angel Gabriel to announce that they would conceive and have a baby, John the Baptist. This morning I noticed the Linda Stocks Nelson Halloween print of children trick or treating was still on display in our fireside room. The first Wednesday of Advent 2021 suggested it was time for a seasonal change. With a smile I asked Joan if I should replace it with my autographed picture of Green Bay Linebacker Ray Nitschke? She shook her head saying that “Ray” looked fine on display in one of the back bedrooms. I suggested the “Black capped chickadee in winter ” print we inherited from Joan’s mother, Flora. Then carefully hung it on the wall. Our delightful surprise arrived when as if on cue a Black capped Chickadee appeared at the bird bath just outside the back window and begin to splash around! Then another flew in and flapped its wings spraying water everywhere while a third and fourth Chickadee awaited their turn perched among the apple service berry branches above the bath. Coincidence or do you suppose they were just flying by and looked in the window and sought a better look at their portrait and laugh at our reaction to their presence? Vain don’t you think?
My mind raced to the gift giver Joan’s mother and how much she loved watching birds and delighted at their antics! Advent is full of these remembering moments when we connect an experience before us with something precious in our past. Boxes that sit in
the basement holding treasures for a year are reopened to reveal old ornaments and decorations then placed on tree branches or fireplace mantles again on display awaken a flood of memories. Each has a story to tell of the people who grace our lives.
“I tell God thank you every time I remember you with joy!” Who is on your list? They were not coincidence either but precious gifts from God. I pray may God bless your advent journey with warm remembrance of people and shared experiences of
joy. Leading you to give thanks for His grace in daily blessing and surprise.
In His love, P. Dave
Christmas not merry in Bethlehem.. Read the headline. The article reported how Biblical Bethlehem has struggled since the start of the corona virus pandemic almost two years ago. Christmas is normally peak season as Jesus traditional birth place. In pre-pandemic times thousands of pilgrims from around the world celebrated in the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Something was missing. The article spoke of the many dollars generated by Christmas. But the Christmas story and Jesus is never about capitalism and counting dollars earned. Oh, the church has bills, responsibilities to pay staff who work hard on their behalf, keep the lights and heat on, pay insurance and make that pesty monthly mortgage in addition to supporting the greater ministry of ELCA. What is missing? The people who celebrate Christmas. In his divine love God became human and entered our
world to be with us. In his 1941 inaugural address Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that we have four freedoms, the freedom of speech, freedom to worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. We pray that you will make a point this Advent/ Christmas to exercise your freedom to worship at Our Savior’s on site or at home watching on the Our Savior’s Facebook page. Enroll your children in Sunday School k-6. We spent much of the last year apart. We are vaccinated, we can wear masks and
social distance. Let’s make this a Merry Christmas together.
Prayers for Advent
We are thankful … God has looked upon us with favor and forgiven our sins. We are God’s children, the inheritors of the eternal promise and recipients of grace, As we watch and wait and offer our hearts and lives in service to people, we pray that God would prepare the way for us and strengthen us anew to follow the way of peace.
Prayers of concern for..
+ a friend who is preparing to have heart valve surgery
+ John and Arlene Niemann are moving to Orland
Park to be nearer family. We are thankful and will
miss their weekly presence, friendship and smiles.
+ a friend who needs healing.
+ friends who mourn the passing of loved ones and friends.
Prayers of comfort...
We have no abiding city on this earth, Kathleen Fincham passed away surrounded by spouse John and her boys Justin, Zach and Nick. She and John began attending Our Savior’s in Covid times. She said it was time to attend church again. She loved her family, Our Savior’s, Christmas, Santa, Harry Potter and providing a sheltering home for adoption dogs. She wore the most outrageous masks. God gave Kathi the gift of insight- she knew the right thing to say and made every person feel like they had value and were important. As a result she had many friends who valued her deeply. May God comfort John, her grandchildren, her family
and many friends. We give thanks to God for her life and celebrate the resurrection to eternal life.
Advent Worship.. “Light in the darkness”
We are meeting Wednesdays at 7 on site and on line
on the Our Savior’s face book page. Please join us as
we prepare together for Christ’s coming.
There are three opportunities to worship each
Advent weekend...
1- Saturday Worship at 5:30.
2- Sunday morning Worship at 9:30 is when we
record the “Live” broadcast of “Some Good News from Our Savior’s in Sandwich, Il.”
3- Worship at home Sunday mornings at 9:30 watching the “Live” broadcast on Facebook.
Mitten/Angel tree thanks..
We want to thank you for taking a mitten and purchasing a present for a child in need in the Sandwich School system. We have angels on the inside who see a child without a warm coat, hat or gloves to keep out the winter cold. They need a present
or a gift card. Thanks for helping them live a richer life and feel loved as you provide some of the basics all of us take for granted.
Christmas Eve worship and Broadcast at 4:30
We will celebrate Christmas together on Christmas Eve at 4:30 on site and a Facebook broadcast as families and singles gather to worship God and welcome the new born Savior offering our hymns and prayers of praise. Would you please call or
e-mail that you are coming so we can prepare enough Holy Communion and candles. We will continue to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas on Sunday at 9:30 but no service on Saturday Christmas Day so we can be with our families.
Thank you... Year end gift...
The church is made up of people of faith who are loved and empowered by God to serve. They desire to invest themselves, their time, money, skills and prayers to share the gospel of God’s love in Our Savior’s ministry. God blesses us and we give our tithes and offering in thanks from a generous spirit. Each year we are faced with and address a tough issue, 2019, the water plan, 2020 the narthex roof leaks and this year repairing the leaking clerestory windows, loose shingles and nail pops. This building is a tool that helps us better share the gospel and provides a great place to do ministry with you. As we finish 2021, we want to thank you
for your financial support of this ministry giving your tithes and offering to the general fund that pays the bills and the building fund that pays the monthly mortgage. We ask that you could pray and consider giving a generous year end gift to help us finish in the black.
Confirmation for teens meets Wednesdays 5:30.
Confirmation class for students 7th grade and older, meets Wednesdays at 5:30. We are studying the Small Catechism, the 10 commandments and applying them to living in 2021! Each student should bring a readable Bible, note book and pencil/pen.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
2465 West Sandwich Rd. , Sandwich, Il. 60548
Worship Saturday at 5:30, Sunday at 9:30
“Live” Broadcasting ”Some Good News on Our Savior’s Facebook Page Sundays at 9:30
Web page www.our-saviors.com. Send an e-mail
oursaviorssandwich@gmail.com. 815-786-6406