Greetings From Pastor Lyn
Letter for the week of November 27, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving!
On Sunday, I preached on “surprises” and mentioned the unpleasant surprise of having my email hacked last week. Picking up the pieces from that surprise is a work in progress. Well, wouldn’t you know it, one day after I ordered a new laptop (because the old one has been acting up for a long time & sales are good right now) – the old one decided to just die. Surprise! At least it didn’t happen in the middle of a Zoom meeting! So another work in progress & project for Thanksgiving Day while football plays in the background….fingers crossed!
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS: Prayers of comfort for Lori & Brian Skustad and family. Nick Berlin, Lori’s father passed away November 22nd, after a long illness.
Prayers for Alexandra Tisdel’s brother-in-law’s family members in San Diego – his brother Allen & wife Angie and their 3 children have all tested positive for COVID-19; and prayers of comfort for his brother Jim who is in the last stages and on a ventilator.
Prayers for recovery & healing of chemical burns for Nicolas Rubatino, Lois Silva’s nephew in Seattle.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The service at 9:30 has 5 spots available and the 10:30 has 10 spots open as of Wednesday. Please call me after Wednesday afternoon. Please remember the office is closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday, December 2nd, “Love Our Kids” donated items from Emanuel’s congregation and Rebecca circle will be delivered. They will then be assembled and ready to comfort foster children on their first night of being in foster care. (items included nightlights, stuffed animals, flashlights and quilts!) Once again, Emanuel has responded to a big need in the community! Thank you everyone!
Sunday, December 6th will be our Food for Faith collection day. Mike & Rose will have their trunk open and ready for donations to be taken to Interfaith Ministry (soon to be known under a new brand name – Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus.
Kristine Kraft would like to remind everyone that walnuts are available in the narthex. Pick up a bag and donated to WELCA. Women of the ELCA generously support a variety of ELC ministry and beyond. Cracking walnuts would be a great family activity on a cold winter evening!
Piece Makers needs an ironing board. If you have one you no longer use or need please consider donating it to the quilt ministry.
Wednesday evening Advent at Emanuel. NO CLASSES THANKSGIVING WEEK. They will resume on December 2nd at 7:00-8:30 and Thursday mornings – 9:30 am in Luther Hall. There are a couple of books yet available at the office.
ADVENT week one: Candle lighting devotion. The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes HOPE. The first blue candle is lit. The hoped-for Messiahs’ coming into the world foretold by ancient prophets. Sing or read out loud verse one of ELW# 253. He Came Down. Words found below or in the bulletin. The words in the hymn are slightly out of order when used with the attached devotions; however, hope, love, peace and joy are traditional Advent themes consistently used in our liturgy.
The Hope Candle
My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
He is my fortress; I will never be shaken.
Find rest, O My Soul, in God alone.
My hope comes from him.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5
The HOPE candle reminds us that the coming of the Messiah as the baby Jesus fulfilled ancient prophecy foretold hundreds of years before his birth, bringing hope to an oppressed people. Advent is a waiting – hopeful – time for God’s people now. And we wait in hopeful anticipation for Christ’ return, trusting the promise that when that happens, all things will be made new.
A voice of one calling;
“In the desert, prepare the way for the LORD;
Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
The rough ground shall become level
The rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
And all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5
ELW#253 – He Came Down
He came down that we may have love; he came down that we may have love; he came down that we may have love. Hallelujah forever more.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
In Peace and gratitude,
Pastor Lyn
Happy Thanksgiving!
On Sunday, I preached on “surprises” and mentioned the unpleasant surprise of having my email hacked last week. Picking up the pieces from that surprise is a work in progress. Well, wouldn’t you know it, one day after I ordered a new laptop (because the old one has been acting up for a long time & sales are good right now) – the old one decided to just die. Surprise! At least it didn’t happen in the middle of a Zoom meeting! So another work in progress & project for Thanksgiving Day while football plays in the background….fingers crossed!
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS: Prayers of comfort for Lori & Brian Skustad and family. Nick Berlin, Lori’s father passed away November 22nd, after a long illness.
Prayers for Alexandra Tisdel’s brother-in-law’s family members in San Diego – his brother Allen & wife Angie and their 3 children have all tested positive for COVID-19; and prayers of comfort for his brother Jim who is in the last stages and on a ventilator.
Prayers for recovery & healing of chemical burns for Nicolas Rubatino, Lois Silva’s nephew in Seattle.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The service at 9:30 has 5 spots available and the 10:30 has 10 spots open as of Wednesday. Please call me after Wednesday afternoon. Please remember the office is closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday, December 2nd, “Love Our Kids” donated items from Emanuel’s congregation and Rebecca circle will be delivered. They will then be assembled and ready to comfort foster children on their first night of being in foster care. (items included nightlights, stuffed animals, flashlights and quilts!) Once again, Emanuel has responded to a big need in the community! Thank you everyone!
Sunday, December 6th will be our Food for Faith collection day. Mike & Rose will have their trunk open and ready for donations to be taken to Interfaith Ministry (soon to be known under a new brand name – Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus.
Kristine Kraft would like to remind everyone that walnuts are available in the narthex. Pick up a bag and donated to WELCA. Women of the ELCA generously support a variety of ELC ministry and beyond. Cracking walnuts would be a great family activity on a cold winter evening!
Piece Makers needs an ironing board. If you have one you no longer use or need please consider donating it to the quilt ministry.
Wednesday evening Advent at Emanuel. NO CLASSES THANKSGIVING WEEK. They will resume on December 2nd at 7:00-8:30 and Thursday mornings – 9:30 am in Luther Hall. There are a couple of books yet available at the office.
ADVENT week one: Candle lighting devotion. The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes HOPE. The first blue candle is lit. The hoped-for Messiahs’ coming into the world foretold by ancient prophets. Sing or read out loud verse one of ELW# 253. He Came Down. Words found below or in the bulletin. The words in the hymn are slightly out of order when used with the attached devotions; however, hope, love, peace and joy are traditional Advent themes consistently used in our liturgy.
The Hope Candle
My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
He is my fortress; I will never be shaken.
Find rest, O My Soul, in God alone.
My hope comes from him.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5
The HOPE candle reminds us that the coming of the Messiah as the baby Jesus fulfilled ancient prophecy foretold hundreds of years before his birth, bringing hope to an oppressed people. Advent is a waiting – hopeful – time for God’s people now. And we wait in hopeful anticipation for Christ’ return, trusting the promise that when that happens, all things will be made new.
A voice of one calling;
“In the desert, prepare the way for the LORD;
Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
The rough ground shall become level
The rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
And all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5
ELW#253 – He Came Down
He came down that we may have love; he came down that we may have love; he came down that we may have love. Hallelujah forever more.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
In Peace and gratitude,
Pastor Lyn