December 31, 2017
THANK YOU FROM THE STAFF Pastor Besel and the whole staff here at Holy Trinity want to thank you for all the cards, gifts and glad tidings that we have received this Christmas season. We appreciate your support and want to wish each of you a Happy New Year.
NEW CONNECTIONS CLASS AND KNOWING GOD CLASS STARTING Pastor Besel is starting a new session of his “Knowing God” class. It will begin on Thursday, January 18, at 6:30 PM in Classroom 1. It will meet on Thursday evenings for about 10 weeks. We will look at what the Bible says about who God is and then look at the Bible from Genesis to Revelation to see what God does. Special focus will be on the Trinity, Creation, the Fall, the Covenant, and End Times. A new “Connections Class” will begin on Sunday morning, January 28, during the Sunday School hour (probably in half of Classroom 1). This class is for new members, for people who want to join the congregation, for members who want to review the very basics of our faith, and for people who want to know more about Lutherans. Through this class, we connect with each other, with God, and with the congregation. We will look at God’s Grace, the Means of Grace (God’s Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper), and the Church. You can find details and sign up for either class on the bulletin board in the hallway outside pastor’s office.
THE LUTHERAN HOUR Today on KURM (790 AM) at 12:30 P.M. & The Bott Radio Network at 8 A.M. on 89.3 F.M Speaker: “Children of Promise” Our identity as God’s children encourages us to live in His grace, to embrace the freedom Jesus won, and to resist the ways of the world that strive to keep us captive. (Galatians 4:4-7)
HOLY TRINITY BIBLE STUDIES
Sunday
9:30-10:30 A.M. Pam Pickett is leading a study of Acts in Classroom 1 (not meeting today)
9:30-10:30 A.M Women’s Bible Study entitled The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Study is led by Libby Garner and meets in the Conference Room.
9:30-10:30 A.M Dave Lehenbauer
leads a study for the men in Classroom 2 on 1st Peter.
Monday 2nd & 4th Mondays at 2:00pm. – Led by Vern Schaefer Rotating Hostesses: Herb & Shirley Bernthal, Spike & Dolores Hermes, Joe & Barbara Raleigh, Maxine Reihman & Betty Jensen
Tuesday 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 2:00pm Pastor Bernthal’s Bible Study.
NOTE For January only, Pastor Bernthal will hold his Bible Study at 2:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays (January 9 and 23).
FEED MY SHEEP is next Sunday. We invite you to bring a food item or monetary donation so we can buy food from the Food Bank. We thank you for supporting our Food Pantry.
OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2018 have been placed at the Giving Center in the Narthex. Pick yours up today. If you can’t find yours or if you are a regular attender and want envelopes, see Dean Eisma or the church office.
THE LUTHERAN WITNESS Yearly subscriptions to the Lutheran Witness run from April 1 through March 31. If you are currently a subscriber, it is time to renew your subscription. Cost per subscription is $15.00. Current subscribers need to let the church office know if you want to continue or cancel your current subscription. Also, let us know if you would like to be added to the list of subscribers.
CRAFT DAY Do you need some time to just sit, relax and craft? Saturday, Jan. 13th from 2-9pm we will be hosting a crafting event in the Life Center. Bring whatever you want to work on...scrapbooking, knitting, paper crafting or painting, you name it! Everyone will get their own 6ft table to work on. Bring a snack to share, drinks will be provided. Come and go as your schedule allows. Mission Crafts table will be set up if anyone wants to help make Scripture books. Happy Crafting!
CHRISTMAS WITH SINGLES
It was noted that many of our church families shared their activities with single members in our congregation. A warm THANK YOU for being what a "church family" is.
LIFE QUOTES: “Our failures won’t undermine the Lord’s reign. Others; successes can’t overthrow it. This world will go on as long a God wills and will then give way to new creation. In Jesus we are guaranteed inclusion in it, as well as having the privilege of participating in His activity—not to assert superiority but to save our opponents from the devil’s deceptions and our neighbors from final destruction. Let’s exercise our majesty enthusiastically!” Rev. Michael W. Salemink, executive director of Lutherans For Life– If you wish to support Lutherans for Life, go to their web site: www.lutherans for life.org
Christmas Carol History
For many people, Christmas is just one night or one day. The truth is that the Holy Christian Church has celebrated Christ’s birth for the twelve days between Christmas (December 25) and Epiphany (January 6). Usually when we think of the Twelve Days of Christmas, we think of the song by that name. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially that partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.
1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
5. The Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history lesson for today and now you know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol!
THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY
December 31, 2017 through January 6, 2018
SUNDAY
Communion 8:00 A.M.
Bible Study/Sunday School 9:30 A.M.
Handbell Choir 9:30 A.M.
Communion 10:45 A.M.
MONDAY –NEW YEAR’S DAY
Office Closed
WEDNESDAY
Staff Meeting 12:00 P.M.
News and Notes Due 12:00 P.M.
ESL (Classroom 1) 6:30 P.M.
Choir Rehearsal 6:30 P.M.
Praise Group Rehearsal 7:30 P.M.
THURSDAY
Youth Ministry Team Meeting 5:30 P.M.
FRIDAY
Assemble Bulletin 1:00 P.M.
Card Group 6:30 P.M.
NEXT SUNDAY FEED MY SHEEP
Communion 8:00 A.M.
Bible Study/Sunday School 9:30 A.M.
Handbell Choir 9:30 A.M.
Communion 10:45 A.M.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS:
Circuit Church: Faith, Bentonville – Pray for God’s continued blessing on faithful Word and Sacrament ministry and intentional discipleship.
Church Ministry: Journeymen: Pray that God will speak to the hearts of the men of our church leading them to a journey to real, biblical manhood together. And that Christ will become the standard for their faith and life.
Pray also for our Military: Especially remember, Timothy Gibson, son of Harry and Ann Gibson, serving in the U.S. Navy.