Pr. Scott
Grorud 11-27-14
“Beware of Blessings!”
Thanksgiving Services
Join us for Thanksgiving Services:
Wednesday, Nov. 26th at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27th at 10:00 a.m.
Both Services will include the
celebration of Holy Communion!
COME – GIVE THANKS!
Holiday = Holy Day
Believe it or not, the “holiday season” is about to begin. Most often, that phrase refers to “Christmas time,” basically Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. It tends to elicit groans at the thought of Christmas displays going up and tacky recordings of Christmas carols playing in stores already by mid-October, as the merciless commercialization of a central Christian holiday keeps expanding.
In a broader and more blessed way, though, this truly is the beginning of the “holiday season.” The word “holiday” is an abbreviation of “holy day,” and was originally applied to saints’ days and other Christian festivals. Starting at the end of October, the Christian calendar is filled with a series of wonderful holy-days that are all well worth celebrating. Consider the line-up (with 2013 dates):
- Reformation Sunday (Oct. 27) — Thanking God for raising up the Reformers to restore the truth of the Gospel.
- All Saints’ Day (Nov. 3) — Giving thanks for all the devout Christian witnesses who kept the faith through the generations.
- Christ the King Sunday (Nov. 24) — Celebrating Christ’s reign as Lord of heaven and earth.
- Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28) — A national holiday that is technically not on the church calendar, but a key time to recognize with gratitude that God is the source of all our blessings.
- Advent (Sundays and Wednesdays, Nov. 27—Dec. 22) — Preparing for Christ’s coming at Christmas and his coming again in glory.
- Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25) — Celebrating the Incarnation of God’s Son to redeem the world from sin and death. [Christmas challenge: Deepen your experience of the holiday by worshiping on both days this year!]
- Epiphany Day (Jan. 6) — The visit of the Wise Men, revealing Jesus as king of all people.
The holy-days continue on through Lent, Easter and Pentecost, but not with the same frequency as the next two months. This really is the holiday season, so look beyond the ads and displays, the lights and the parties, the pressure to find “the perfect gift.” Let these holidays be holy days for you, lifting up the awesome power and goodness of God’s salvation in Christ Jesus.
Grace and peace,
November Hunger Appeal
Through food and financial contributions, we thankfully give food to the hungry. Here’s what you can do!
Give Funds:
Financial contributions to fight hunger can be given in the Mission Offering envelope and the Thanksgiving envelope. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000 in offerings specifically for world hunger during November.
How offerings will be allocated:
- 60% Lutheran World Relief leads the way in stewarding resources to provide food for those in refugee camps, but also in helping people in desperate situations be able to feed themselves. Read our spotlight on LWR’s work.
- 25% A total of $2,500 given to Common Cup Ministries will help our church fully sponsor a Second Harvest food distribution in our community. Read more…
- 10% Filling the boat with food donations for the McLeod County Food Shelf is crucial. In addition, our financial contributions will allow leaders of this effort to purchase much needed special items.
- 5% Funds given to Food for Kidz in Stewart, Minnesota, will give meaningful support for this international distribution of nutritious food.
We’ll be lifting up the November Hunger Appeal, and the organizations it will support, throughout the month. Look for more information in the days to come.
Give Food:
Food contributions can be given through our “Fill the Boat” campaign. During the month of November, the Congregational Life Ministry Team is asking everyone to participate in the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Look for the boat located in the southeast entrance (Door 2), and bring your items to share with others in our community. All food collected will be brought to the McLeod County Food Shelf in time for Thanksgiving. Update: The food has been dropped off, and weighed in at 676 lbs. That’s 130 lbs more than we gave last year at this time! THANK YOU to all who donated food!
