Waiting for Christmas
As I have mentioned before, I am a CHRISTMAS PERSON. For me, anticipation for Christmas starts right at the beginning of the year. These wonderful beginning days of Christmas. For some reason, I do not feel as if this makes the wait longer, although I am not always the most patient person.
How do you feel about Christmas? Are you patient when you are waiting for something? The Bible is full of examples of people and situations, where waiting comes to the surface as an important teaching tool. In the kingdom of God, waiting is an important part of our journey as we prepare for the next phase of our work. This is also very normal in our day-to-day responsibilities. If we are to accomplish our objective, we need schooling and introduction to do this great task. This is often this waiting period.
Thinking the right way and God’s time table for us do not usually match up with our own plans. This means that we do not know what our next step is and how to go about doing it. We have to wait for God to prepare us through the Holy Spirit. This happens when we feel as if nothing is happening, and we grow impatient.
As Christians our main focus in life is faith in Jesus and waiting for His return. How long is this wait? What Jesus has done for us in terms of saving and freeing us has only partially been realized. We are waiting for the fulfilment of this promise and for this reason the next to last phrase in the Bible is; Come, Lord Jesus.
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Have a blessed Christmas!
Pastor Sami
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November seems to have gone away quickly. The daylight is shorter and perhaps has an effect on our minds.
The good news is that our snowbirds are able to come from Finland and Canada. Therefore, we are finally getting back to semi-normal conditions. It has been almost two years ago that they had to return back to the homeland.
The politicians and leaders of the world think that they are controlling the world. They are wrong. Our God is in control and He will take care of His own children.
I will not watch the news as I become irritated with the lies and fears that are spread through the media. The word of God is the only truth and it will comfort you.
Thanksgiving is a family event and we were blessed to spend it with our children and grandchildren.
We were also blessed with a visit from our church leaders from Finland, Mauri Vihko, Director of Ministry to Finns abroad and Hannu Suihkonen, secretary general of the Finnish Seaman Church. These two organizations will merge in 2025 when Mauri Vihko retires and Hannu Suihkonen takes over.
It was nice to meet them and spend some time talking about the future of their support for our church as well. On their first night here, pastor Sami and I took them to a steak restaurant and afterwards gave them a short sight-seeing tour of Palm Beach.
They also visited my consulate office with pastor Sami and we continued our talks.
As a congregation we are thankful for our volunteers, pastor Sami and music director Michael for everything that they do.
I gave Mauri and Hannu a copy of my book the American Dream, so they could have some reading for the trip home and see what my work is like.
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Have a blessed Christmas!
Arja ja Peter
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We warmly thank all those who have remembered and supported our congregation through their gifts. We are living through economically challenging times, and we need your prayers as well as financial support, so that our work can continue year round.
May God blesse you and your gift!
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Christmas Peace!
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth, who he loves”, is announced by the angels in the Christmas Gospel. This declaration by the angels came to the midst of a restless world. There were disagreements, wars and battles already back then.
Even though our current situation sees the effects of war being less than that of a hundred years ago, unfortunately this Christmas there are many who fear for their lives in the middle of war zones. I especially pray for the internal struggle and civil war arising in Ethiopia.
Even though we can live in deep peace in Finland, many feel that we do not have peace within our own country. I myself am concerned about what kind of conversation that is happening in our communities. Peace on social media platforms seems very fay away. I hope that peace will come upon those that feel that it is ok to treat people badly.
In order to achieve more peace, we need peace-builders and peace makers, in our own circles, homes, schools, work places. You can be that peace keeper this Christmas. Peace within our own circle of friends is built through small words and gestures. Thank you and I’m sorry are the most important peace keeping words a person can use.
In places where Jesus, the child of Christmas, is the central focus, this is where peace is built. In the Bible, Jesus is not called a prince for nothing. Jesus can change the heart of a person and bring peace within. This peace is not merely a peace of mind, but it is something deeper. It is peace brought by the love of God.
I wish everyone in Florida who celebrate Christmas, peace for the season. May Jesus, the prince of peace bless your Christmas
From Oulu, this Advent Season 2021
Jukka Keskitalo
Bishop
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1. Which of Noah's sons' decendant was Abraham?
Shem / Ham / Japhet
2. Who was Abraham's wife?
Rebecca / Esther / Sarai
3. Which of the following afflicted Abraham's wife?
Blindness/ Infertility/ Haemophilia
4. God asked Abraham to preach God's message to Canaan / leave his homeland and go to a foreign land / prepare for a seven year famine.
5. Abraham brought his family to Egypt to escape the Canaanites / to escape Babylonian soldiers/ to escape hunger.
6. Why did Abraham think he would be killed in Egypt?
Egyptians feared that Abraham wanted to be their leader./ Egyptians did not accept Abraham's God./ Egyptian men wanted to take his wife from him.
7. Why did God make Pharaoh's court ill?
Pharaoh had taken Abraham's wife for himself. / Pharaoh did not listen to Abraham's warnings. / Pharaoh tried to kill Abraham.
8. Traveling through different teritories, Abraham glorified God
by carving statues to him/ by writing psalms to him/ by building altars to him.
9. Who was Lot?
Abraham's brother's son/ Abraham's sister's husband / Abraham's brother
10. Why did Abraham and Lot seperate from each other?
Lot's herd slowed down Abraham's travels. / There was not enough living space for both families. / There was a quarrel between the two men.
OIKEAT VASTAUKSET UUTISKIRJEEN LOPUSSA. 😊
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Another month has come to an end and now we are starting to look forward to 2022. In November we made dream catchers, totem poles and teepees, played drums and learned about different Native Americans tribes. We also made and enjoyed eating Native American Fry Bread. The month ended with us counting our many blessings, making pine cone “turkeys”, and eating pumpkin pie. |
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We start December off with Gingerbread Man week. We’ll read many different versions of the story (and create our own versions), decorate gingerbread men, design gingerbread man traps and of course eat gingerbread man cookies. The rest of the month will be all about Christmas. We will be rehearsing Christmas songs, gluing and glittering tree ornaments, making nativity scenes and learning about Baby Jesus…and of course there will be some fun with Santa, elves and reindeer! |
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Our students will sing in church on Sunday, December 12th at the combined service. We look forward to seeing you there and we think you will enjoy their singing and jingling! |
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The school received a fund raising grant from Thrivent. We purchased pots and soil and the children have been busy planting and transplanting. We have a large supply of Florida native plants (tropical sage, beach verbena, dune sunflower, etc.) ready to sell! These natives are perfect in yards or planters and will attract butterflies and bees. If you are interested in purchasing a plant for yourself or for a gift, please come by the school in the next 3 weeks, Monday through Friday (9:00am-5:00pm) or on Saturday, December 18th (10:00am- 2:00pm). All profits will be used to make school yard repairs.
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The school will be closed for Christmas break- December 20th through December 31st. We will be back on Monday, January 3rd.
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From all the students and staff of the Preschool- Have a Blessed Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year!
Pirjo Komonen Campitelli
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Sometimes our birhtday lists are not up to date. If you notice someone's name missing, please notify us. THANK YOU! |
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This Christmas is a time to be thankful. Thankful for everything that we have and thankful for the family and friends that we have around us. When we get into that busy mode during the holidays we quite often forget, or at least I do, that we should be thankful. Thanking God for everything He has given us.
We have already seen some of our congregation returning to Florida and our church is beginning to fill up again. We have small groups meeting and some great concerts and events to look forward to. We are having our annual Christmas concert on Wednesday, December 15, at 6 pm, please join us in person to see some great performers. Our Finnish Christmas carols concert will be held on Sunday, December 19th at 3 pm, don’t miss this one! These are just two of the many great things happening this month. Life is slowly getting back to normal at our congregation. Another reason to be thankful.
The music at church during the month of November was excellent thanks to our team of volunteers. We were joined by guest musicians Eino Grön and Lilli Theisen, who performed for us. In addition to our singers on both Finnish and English sides, we have had Pirjo playing violin with us on several occasions. We welcomed back Paavo after his injury, and he is once again playing at our coffee socials. We are thankful and blessed to have you all!
As you can see, we have a lot of things to be thankful for her at St. Andrew’s. I look forward to seeing you all at church as soon as possible.
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Have a Blessed Christmas!
Michael
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PIRJO-LEENA KOSKISEN COLUMN |
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We recently celebrated Thanksgiving and this time of year always bring many thoughts into my mind, especially this year when we were finally able to get together with a larger group, with caution, but anyways. There is a reason to be thankful – in addition to everything else. The human mind so easily gets used to all the good things we have, we take them for granted – and we really understand the value of them when they are taken away from us.
Fall season in Finland is dark and even gloomy. I have thought it would be a good idea to celebrate Thanksgiving in Finland also, to bring together families and friends to reminisce all the reasons to be thankful for. There is always something to be grateful for! I have noticed that Finland has also adapted the idea of Black Friday, so why not then Thanksgiving!
After Thanksgiving it’s time for the First Advent Sunday and we start waiting for Christmas. In Finland candles are lit in almost every household. Independence Day of Finland happens to be on December 6, at the time when daylight time is at the shortest. In Finland, my old school, the Turku Lyceum for Girls had a custom to light two candles on every window in the red brick school building for two hours on the night of Independence Day. Every room had two girls sitting for candle light watch. It looked awesome from the outside, very festive. Maybe they still have that custom…
Now it’s a time to start waiting for the arrival of our Savior and Lord, Jesus. We celebrate the victory of the light in spiritual meaning and gradually in our visible world also. Indeed, we have a reason to be thankful of light while living in Florida!
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I wish you all a very Blessed Christmas Time!
Pirjo-Leena
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On November 7th we celebrated All Saints Sunday Mass and lit candles in memory of passed loved ones. |
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On November 16, we had a women's afternoon group at the church office. There was 8 women present for coffee, discussion and Bible reading.
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On November 17 we had a men's night in the fellowship hall. There was 9 men there to enjoy mash potatoes and sausage gravy made by the Ettanen's. |
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Thursday, November 18 was the highlight for pastor and music director. A wonderful, small church crowd who are eager to praise and sing! |
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On Friday, November 26, we held two warm Thanksgiving/ Advent services for our loved residents at the rest home. We had services on the rest and nursing home sides. |
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On November 28, the first Sunday of Advent, we had Pastor Mauri Vihko from the church of Finland as our guest. Pastor Viihko was pastor at St. Andrew's 30 years ago. |
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1. Abraham was Noah's son, Shem's decendant. There was ten generations between them. From Shem were born the Shemin people, to which the Jews also belong. Languages attributed to the Shemin's are Arabic and Hebrew.
2. Abraham's wife was Sarai or Sara Abraham's name was originally Abram, but God renamed them both promising them children. At this time Sara was 90 years old and Abraham was 99.
3. Sara could not have children. But through the promise of God she became pregnant and Isaac was born.
4. "God commanded Abraham to leave his homeland Haran and "go to a land where I will lead you." Haran (named after Abraham's brother) ancestory came from Babylonia-Urista. Abraham left with his family and his cattle on a 400 mile trek towards the land of Canaan.
5. Abraham escaped Egypt with his family and went to Canaan to avoid drought and famine.
6. Abraham thought that he could be killed in Egypt because of his beautiful wife. For this reason, Abraham lied and said Sara was his sister. Sara ended up in Pharaoh's harem and Pharaoh treated Abraham very well and gave him plenty of cattle and servants.
7. God made Pharaoh's court ill because Pharaoh had knowingly taken Abraham's wife for himself. Knowing of his lie, Pharaoh spoke to Abraham sternly and sent his famliy out of the country.
8. Traveling through different lands, Abraham glorified God by building sacrifice altars. It is written in Genesis that Abraham built four altars. The altars were built to show his obedience to serve and worship God. In Abraham's time these altars were used to sacrifice cattle and birds.
9. Lot was Abraham's dead brothers' Haran's son. We remember Lot best because of his wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt, because she looked at the burning cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
10. Abraham and Lot parted ways after returning from Egypt, because there was not enough land for both of their herds. (and for this reason their shepherds began quarelling). Lot took his flock towards the east, the lowlands of the river Jordan, and ended up in Sodom. Abraham remained in Canaan.
YOUR RESULTS
0-2 correct = Wipe the dust from your Bilble, open it and come to Bilble study.
3-5 correct = Not bad, continue reading and come to Bible study.
6-8 correct = Nice job! Dive a little deeper and come to Bible study.
9-10 correct = Come to Bible study and be a teacher!🤩
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CLICK HERE TO GET TO OUR FINNISH
PARTNERS WEBSITES:
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St. Andrew's Lutheran Church | (561) 582-0554 | 928 South E Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460 | www.standrewsfl.com |
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