Many were instrumental this month and deserve our heartfelt thanks.
To: Everyone that volunteered this year. Service is what keeps a church going. Whether you're serving on the Council, writing newsletter articles, or running the Power Point, your service is vital to this church. Thank you for choosing to serve.
Education News
The last Confirmation class of the 2022 year is November 16th. We look forward to seeing the confirmands and their families at the Advent services
*Class resumes on January 4th.
Bible Study
The PLAN, an online Bible study tutorial is available HERE.
Wednesdays
Confirmation at 6 PM
Adult Bible Study at 7 PM.
Altar Flowers
12/04 In celebration of Micaela Eickhoff's birthday and graduation!
12/11 In celebration of Don & Linda Newman's 57th anniversary!
12/18 OPEN
12/25 Poinsettias
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Those who have signed up for flowers have two options:
You can provide your own. They must be at the church before the 8 AM service.
Sandy can get them for you for $20. (Make checks payable to Sandy Barsh.)
Flowers may be taken home after the 10:30 AM service. Please return vases to the church when flowers are done. You may contact Sandy Barsh at 913-548-9588 for questions or to fill and open date.
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It's Poinsettia Time!
If you'd like to sign up for poinsettias you have from now until December 18th to place your order. They are $10 a piece and you can make checks payable to Sandy Barsh.
Check the narthex for envelopes.
December Birthdays
12/02 Micaela Eickhoff
12/03 Declan Marsh
12/06 Robin MacClymont
12/09 Brock Varns
12/13 Steve Mynsted
12/14 Doug Strubbe
12/15 Kara Helms
12/15 Samantha McDaniel
12/16 Kalen Gregar
12/16 Heidi Wolf
12/17 Jacob Bell
12/18 Ellie Wolf
12/20 Ellen Madrid
12/27 Allison Bell
December Anniversaries
12/11 Don & Lind Newman
12/29 Steve & Kate Sweyko
In the Military
Military members and friends of our congregation include:
Colin Alexander
Dylan Ash
Jim Buckman
Garret Cline
Mark Edgar
Maurissa Glick
Megan Honeywell
Jeremy Howard
Zac Howard
Freddy Hurt
Greg Jeffrey
Tyler Jordan
James Keltner
Tom Moore
Danny Myers
Austin Nicholes
Rob O'Bannon
Garrett Rausch
Lindsey Rausch
Allison Walania
D.J. Weaver
Worship: 8 AM, 10:30 AM
& 7 PM
Sunday school at 9:15 AM.
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
10 AM- 2 PM
Please contact us if we missed your birthday or anniversary so we can update our records.
Christ Our Savior newsletter is published monthly and produced in email and print versions.
Pastor Andy Writes...
Incarnation
December 25 is Christmas day. This is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is the day when we remember a babe wrapped in swaddling cloth and laying in a manger. It is a day we remember a young mother and a faithful husband amazed at the events that surrounded the birth of a son.
Christmas is a remembrance of the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus is more than a babe in a manger. Jesus is the Word made flesh. Christmas is a time when we celebrate that God is incarnate. Incarnate literally means in the flesh. God, in Jesus, becomes man.
“Have you not heard, that my Lord Jesus died? Then let me tell you a strange story. The God of power, as He did ride In His majestic robes of glory, reserved to light; and so, one day He did descend, undressing all the way” (From “The Bag” a poem by George Herbert). God creates the world. God makes us in His image. God comes to us. He strips off His divinity and takes on our humanity.
The creator God becomes our redeemer. The one who controls the wind and waves becomes a babe wrapped in swaddling cloth. This is how God makes Himself known to us. He comes to as a babe in a manger. He is incarnate.
In the incarnation, God reveals Himself to us. God makes Himself known. God is known through His creation. He makes Himself known as He spoke through the prophets. Then finally He reveals Himself through His Son. God choses Abraham and makes him a great nation. Israel, or Jacob, had twelve sons. These became the twelve tribes of Israel. God reveals Himself through history and the prophets. God’s people failed to heed the words of God. They were disobedient. Still, God loves His people. He manifests His love for His people through the incarnation. The Word becomes flesh. God comes to us. He makes Himself known in the incarnation. Jesus is the incarnation of God.
I stood and watched as my children were born. I saw them, and I was filled with overwhelming emotion. It was a mixture of many emotions. There was a sense of awe. The miracle of new life is amazing. I felt a sense of pride for my child and my wife. There was a sense of fear and dread. I felt inadequate to be given such an amazing gift. I was confronted with mortality and immortality. This was a fragile child but one who would carry my name and genetics to another generation. All these emotions brought tears to my eyes. I was confronted with an emotion we all crave. My child was a manifestation of love.
Jesus is God incarnate. God comes to us as a babe in a manger. Jesus is God in the flesh. What comes to us in Christmas is the love of God. Jesus is God incarnate. God is love. God so loved the world that He sends His Son. We are loved.
Have Blessed Christmas Season.
Pastor Andy and Debbie Keltner
“He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears. Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world. Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.” Gregory of Nazianzus A.D. 350
THANK YOU to Stacy Grove!
For two years Stacy has served as secretary of our congregation. Stacy has served tirelessly and her attention to detail is impeccable! She has been in attendance of every council meeting. What we will miss most about Stacy is her joyful approach to life, she chooses joy.
One thing that gave Paul joy was his confidence that God would complete the good work he began in Philippians. That work was outwardly completing the tasks God had called him to, such as defending and confirming the gospel. God called Stacy to serve as secretary, I know that God is pleased with her service.
Stacy thank you so much and we will welcome you to the council anytime you would like to join. WE appreciate you greatly!
I have held many things in my hand, and
have lost them all; but whatever I have placed
in God's hands that I still possess. --Martin Luther
One of my favorite old hymns is “Built On the Rock the Church Doth Stand”. For those of you who are unfamiliar or those who haven’t read the words lately, let me share:
Built on the Rock the Church doth stand,
Even when steeples are falling;
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land,
Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distress,
Longing for rest everlasting!
On Sunday, (Nov 13th) Pastor Sweyko preached on the end times. I have read and reread the verses from Luke 21:5-28 and here’s my take: We are in the end times, wars and tumults, nation against nation, earthquakes famines and pestilence, corruption, and confusion all signal this. We are all called to be part of God’s church. It’s where we hear and learn the word of God and have the opportunity to commune and worship with fellow believers.
This is our opportunity to bear witness.
This last Sunday Pastor Andy preached again on the end times. (Matthew 24:36-44) Reminding us we do not know that day and hour when Jesus returns. We eat and drink, work and play, we gratify the desires of our flesh. But He reminds us to Wake Up! Salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. Are we ready?
God has given us everything we have out of His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. And what does He want in return?
For all of this, it is our duty to thank and praise, serve, and obey Him. So, hope to see you all several times during this Advent season! Jesus is the reason for this season!
In His Service,
Sue Flanery
The December Council Meeting/Book Club is on Thursday, December 8th at 7 PM.
