The Messenger December 2017 A Publication of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia www.stjohnsmahonebay.ca Church Office: Phone - (902) 624-9660 Email - [email protected]Pastor Adam: Phone - (902) 212-0439 Email - [email protected]O children of the forest free, the angel song is true; the holy child of earth and heaven is born today for you. Come kneel before the radiant boy, who brings you beauty, peace and joy! Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria! (ELW 284 - The Huron Carol) My favourite Christmas hymn, without question, would be The Huron Carol (otherwise known as 'Twas In The Moon of Wintertime or Estennialon de tsonue Jesus ahatonnia). As far as our records will allow, this is the earliest First Nations Christmas carol, and is also the earliest Canadian hymn that we know of. It can be traced back to Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit priest and missionary who lived from 1593-1649; and who worked among the Canadian Huron people. The words are quite striking, and set our expectations on their heels. Swaddling clothes become rabbit skin. The manger is translated as a lodge of broken bark. The wise men are replaced with chiefs and the gifts which they bring are not frankincense and myrrh, but rather gifts of fox and beaver pelt. The point, however, is not to alter the truth but to share it in such a way as to allow the incredible claim herein to continue to transform lives: The Holy Child Of Earth And Heaven Is Born Today For You! And that's why I have cherished this hymn so much. Because through its words rooted in the natural world, we are invited to encounter the story of our Saviour's birth in a new way! As December sets in, we will begin our journey into the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The traditions, music, stories, and liturgies that we will share in the days to come are cherished. Many are tried and true and invite us to recall memories of years gone by. We light candles, we watch the Christmas pageant, we sing Silent Night. We have come to expect these beloved traditions. However, and in the midst of our seasonal traditions, may we never forget just how unexpected this miracle truly is! The promise that God loved us so much, that God chose to take on the form of an innocent and vulnerable child. The promise that God loves us so much, that God chose to walk with human feet, to work with human hands, and to feel with a human heart. The promise, that even when darkness surround us, the light of God's love has come into the world. And the promise...the beautiful promise...that we have been invited to kneel in wonder and awe at the side of the manger. To worship and to bow down. To bring our gifts and to open our hearts to the joy of Christmas. May the season of Advent provide us with ample opportunity to anticipate the miracle that prepares to shatter the darkness. And when those birth cries herald the new dawn, may we linger a little longer in joyful wonder! Blessed Advent! It is an honour to accompany you on this journey.
Transcript
The Messenger December 2017
A Publication of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
www.stjohnsmahonebay.ca
Church Office: Phone - (902) 624-9660 Email - [email protected] Pastor Adam: Phone - (902) 212-0439 Email - [email protected] O children of the forest free, the angel song is true;
the holy child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy, who brings you beauty, peace and joy!
Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria! (ELW 284 - The Huron Carol)
My favourite Christmas hymn, without question, would be The Huron Carol (otherwise known as 'Twas In The Moon of Wintertime or Estennialon de tsonue Jesus ahatonnia). As far as our records will allow, this is the earliest First Nations Christmas carol, and is also the earliest Canadian hymn that we know of. It can be traced back to Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit priest and missionary who lived from 1593-1649; and who worked among the Canadian Huron people. The words are quite striking, and set our expectations on their heels. Swaddling clothes become rabbit skin. The manger is translated as a lodge of broken bark. The wise men are replaced with chiefs and the gifts which they bring are not frankincense and myrrh, but rather gifts of fox and beaver pelt. The point, however, is not to alter the truth but to share it in such a way as to allow the incredible claim herein to continue to transform lives:
The Holy Child Of Earth And Heaven Is Born Today For You!
And that's why I have cherished this hymn so much. Because through its words rooted in the natural world, we are invited to encounter the story of our Saviour's birth in a new way!
As December sets in, we will begin our journey into the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The traditions, music, stories, and liturgies that we will share in the days to come are cherished. Many are tried and true and invite us to recall memories of years gone by. We light candles, we watch the Christmas pageant, we sing Silent Night. We have come to expect these beloved traditions. However, and in the midst of our seasonal traditions, may we never forget just how unexpected this miracle truly is! The promise that God loved us so much, that God chose to take on the form of an innocent and vulnerable child. The promise that God loves us so much, that God chose to walk with human feet, to work with human hands, and to feel with a human heart. The promise, that even when darkness surround us, the light of God's love has come into the world. And the promise...the beautiful promise...that we have been invited to kneel in wonder and awe at the side of the manger. To worship and to bow down. To bring our gifts and to open our hearts to the joy of Christmas. May the season of Advent provide us with ample opportunity to anticipate the miracle that prepares to shatter the darkness. And when those birth cries herald the new dawn, may we linger a little longer in joyful wonder! Blessed Advent! It is an honour to accompany you on this journey.
O Come, All Ye Faithful!
Christmas Eve Candlelight
Worship Service
December 24 at 8pm
Warm carols, timeless readings, joyful hand bells, and rich choral harmonies will lift our hearts as
we welcome the light of the world.
ALL ARE WELCOME + Christmas Market/ Yard Sale Last year’s Christmas Market/Yard Sale was such a success that we would like to make it an annual event. This year’s sale will be from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm on November 25th and December 2nd during the Father Christmas Festival. We would appreciate any donations of yard sale items, especially Christmas decorations. Items can be dropped off at the church during regular office hours. There will also be a bake table and a craft table. Baked goods can be brought to the church on the Friday before each sale from 9:00 am – 7:00pm Volunteers are needed to help with sorting and pricing and for working on the sale days. Many hands make light work! If you are available to help in any way, please call Jane Winchcombe at 624-9864 or the Church Office at 624-9660.
+ 2018 Budget Meeting The 2018 Congregational Budget Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 3rd following the service. Thank you to the Budget Committee for their diligent work as they have prepared our budget for the upcoming year. Copies of the budget are now available!
+ Gifts From The Heart (CLWR) Once again Canadian Lutheran World Relief has published a catalogue of alternative gifts which reach far beyond the recipient and into the world that God has given us. Instead of that bouquet of flowers...why not buy your loved one a pair of goats ($75) that will help support agriculture in
an African village. Instead of that new pair of shoes...why not provide an art kit ($35), to children and youth at a refugee camp in Northern Jordan. And instead of that gift certificate...why not gift your friend with the joy of knowing that a child received Dialysis in the West Bank ($250), that a mother can cook for her children with a fuel efficient stove ($20), or that a teacher has been trained ($75). Catalogues are available on the table in the Christian Education Centre.
+Deck The Halls We are decorating the church for Christmas on December at 10:00 a.m. Join us as we prepare our sanctuary for the birth of our Lord!
+ Advent Wreath Session On Sunday, December 3 at 12:15pm, you are invited to gather in the Christian Education Centre for a Pot-Luck and Advent Wreath Making program. Participants will make an Advent Wreath to take home to help mark these wonder-filled days of hopeful anticipation. A new at-home devotional booklet will also be made available to facilitate your time of devotion and reflection. Please register by adding your name to the sign-up sheet on the Bulletin Board in the Christian Education Centre, or by calling the church office.
+ Grocery Card Orders Gift Cards will be available for pickup on Sunday, December 3.Thank you to everyone who so graciously have supported this project! A special thank you to Ethel Joudrey and Sandra Hill for their careful coordination!
+ Christmas Hampers If you wish to donate items for Christmas Hampers please list the donation on the signup sheets posted on the Bulletin Board in the Church and the Christian Education Centre. The deadline is December 22nd. Many thanks to Linda Finigan for her continued facilitation of our Christmas Hamper program.
+ Christmas Caroling Christmas Carolling will take place on Friday evening, December 8th at 6:00. We are hoping to get a large group of people to join us as we drive or walk to homes to sing the beloved songs of the season. Consider coming to sing with us!
+ Senior’s Christmas Party Mahone Bay Legion Wednesday, December 6, 2017. 7:00 pm. Refreshments, entertainment, door prizes and visit by Santa. No Admission fee. Sponsored by Mahone Bay Legion, Lions and Town of Mahone Bay.
+ Interchurch Advent Service The Mahone Bay Interchurch Advent Community Service will be held at St. James’ Anglican Church on Sunday, December 3rd at 7pm. Join us for this seasonal tradition!
+ Christmas Potluck Come join us for a potluck supper at St. John’s on Wednesday December 20th at 5:00 p.m If you require transportation to this event, please contact the church office. We are very excited to welcome Manna who will be leading a Christmas Sing-A-Long after the Potluck.
+ Christmas Pageant There will be a Sunday School Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 17 during our regular worship. As part of their Advent observance, the Sunday School will be working to serve those in our community. They will be making ornaments and greetings cards for those in particular need, and ask that you consider bringing a non perishable food bank donation in additional to your regular offering to the pageant on Dec 17.
+ Blue Christmas Service While Christmas is a joyous occasion for some, it can also be a time of difficult memories and struggles for others. This year has been a year of immense loss in our churches and wider community. To respect the wide variety of emotions associated with this time of year, the Mahone Bay Clergy invite you to a Blue Christmas Service on Thursday, December 21st at the Mahone Bay Centre at 7pm.All are warmly welcome.
+ Mother Daughter Choir St. John's Lutheran Mother & Daughter Choir is enthusiastically preparing their 13th Annual Concert and Christmas Celebration in support of local food banks! Come and join our spirited moms and daughters for their joyful presentation of "Christmas Belles & Noels!” a wonderful evening of Christmas Choral music with rich harmonies and instrumentation on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 7:30 pm in the beautiful candlelit atmosphere of St. John's Lutheran Church, Mahone Bay, NS. These lovely songsters, their director Leslee Barry, principle accompanist Rebecca Rock and our great lineup of instrumentalists are all very excited to offer this joyous program and, as always, we hope to fill the church with people, people's hearts with the Christmas spirit, and ultimately, the foodbanks' Christmas stocking! Tickets are available now at Kinburn Pharmasave in Mahone Bay and Shop on the Corner in Lunenburg. Adults $15.00; Students $10.00; Children under 5 admitted free.
+ Christmas Tree Lighting Thank you and warm congratulations to the Bay Bells, members of our choir, Rebecca and all those who participated in the Mahone Bay Tree Lighting on Friday, November 24. It was an incredible event that warmly invited us into the Holiday Season!
+ Joy Journal Birthday Greetings are extended to the following:
Dec 5 Amy Wamboldt Rachel Winchcombe Dec 7 Marilyn Wentzell Dec 8 Wade Ernst Dec 12 Holly Snook Dec 14 Brian Andrews Dec 16 Jason Mailman Sophie Marriott Dec. 28 Nicholas Lowe Dec 31 Cheryl Nauss
