CLWR “WE CARE” CHALLENGE:  

The youth are challenging the congregations to help collect “We Care” bags for CLWR (Canadian Lutheran World Relief) in the month of January.  I am challenging all the youth and leaders to fill at least one “We care” bag per person as well as many as possible from the congregation.  Based on a request from CLWR we will be collecting Hygiene Kits.

We will kick off the campaign on Sun. Jan 4th and will collect bags until Sun. Jan. 25th.

We will have the “We Care” bags available on January 18th when Tyler Gingrich the youth and young Adult coordinator for CLWR joins us for worship at St. Luke’s Zion for the 10:30 am service.  Filled bags can be dropped off at church or given to Lisa.

If you do not get a bag- just put in a grocery bag and we will put into the CLWR bags for you.  Let’s try to fill as many bags as possible

Hygiene Kit: Basic toiletries for comfort and dignity

- 1 bar of soap and 1 toothbrush (new and wrapped)

- 1 tube of toothpaste (expiration date no earlier than one year)

- 1 washcloth and 1 hand towel

- 1 wide tooth comb

- 1 box of plastic bandages

- 1 small container of Vaseline

- 1 emery board and nail clippers

Lisa van Dijk
Youth Ministry Coordinator SPLC
Directory of Youth Ministry ALL-SLZ

IN OUR PRAYERS:

Please remember in your prayers our shut-in’s in long term care:

Helen  – Holy Family Nursing Home

Irene  - River Park Gardens

Lilla  - Luther Home

Elfrieda - Luther Home 

Adeline – Maples PCH

Anna  - Fred Douglas Lodge

Laura  - Red River Place, Selkirk

Mary  - Luther Home

Lil - Middlechurch

PROPOSED PURPOSE & GUIDING PRINCIPLES for ST. LUKE’S ZION:

Our purpose is to share God’s love with all people.

Guiding Principles:

1. Jesus is Lord and Saviour.
2. Prayer and worship strengthen us.
3. Faith is expressed in action, compassion and sharing.
4. All people are welcome through God’s grace.
5. Jesus forgives, heals, and sets free.
6. We trust in God and are open to the Holy Spirit.

Continue to pray, and study, and discuss! 

Thank you to all who participated in the discussion groups in November!

ANNUAL MEETING:

The annual meeting for St. Luke’s Zion will be held on Sunday, February 22nd following worship and lunch.  This means that all annual reports are due by the end of January (Feb. 1st at the latest!).

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow”

-Gilbert K. Chesterton

NEST- UPCOMING FUNDRAISER:

APPLEBEE’S PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2015 from 8:00 to 10:00 am. Regent Avenue location.

This is a NEST fundraiser.  

See Dorothy Handkamer for tickets ($10.00 each)

See Poster on the bulletin board.

Thank-you always, for your continued prayers and contributions to NEST.

Dorothy Handkamer

YOUTH:

*Friday January 16th SKYZONE Trampoline Park -- joint event with Grace Lutheran and Sherwood Park.   Dodge ball court booked.  So be ready for some fun!   Cost $15 person

-Please make sure you fill out on-line waiver https://winnipegstore.skyzone.com/waiver/

-Please bring socks if you have from a previous visit

-Meet at 6:30 pm at St. Luke’s Zion

*Sunday January 18th CLWR Sunday at St. Luke’s Zion

-Meet at 9:45 am at St. Luke’s Zion

-Ration meal  lunch after service to raise money for CLWR

-Bring your We CARE bags if ready

*Saturday January 24th breakfast and volunteering  TBA

LADIES GROUP:   

As we prepare for the World Day of Prayer that we are hosting in 2015, we will meet on Saturdays in January and February. The banner has been planned and we will put it all together as part of the preparations. It has been a while since we have made a banner so we are pretty excited. We also will be planning the program and arranging for the reception for after the service. Come out and get together at the church on Saturday January 24 & 31 & February 7 &14. 10:30 am until 12:00. There is something for everyone to do. See you there.

POETS CORNER:

Living Bouquets

When I quit this mortal shore
and mosey 'round the earth no more,
Don’t weep, don’t sigh, don’t sob;
I may have struck a better job.

Don't go and buy a large bouquet,
for which you'll find it hard to pay;
Don't mope around and feel all blue
--I may be better off than you.

Don't tell the folks I was a saint
or any old thing that I ain't;
If you have jam like that to spread,
Please hand it out before I'm dead.

If you have roses, bless your soul,
just pin one in my buttonhole
While I'm alive and well -- today;
Don't wait until I'm gone away.     

Anonymous

It Is Not Our Age

Just a line to say I’m living,

That I’m not among the dead.

Though I’m getting more forgetful

And more mixed up in the head.

Sometimes I can’t remember,

Standing at the foot of the stairs,

If I must go up for something

Or if I had just come down from there.

I’m before the fridge so often

And my mind is filled with doubt,

Have I just put the food away

or have I come to take something out?

And there are times when it is dark,

My nightcap on my head;

I don’t know if I am retiring

Or just getting out of bed.

If it’s my turn to write you

There’s no need getting sore,

For I may think I have written

I don’t want to be a bore.

Just remember - - - I do love you.

I wish that you were here.

Now that it’s nearly mail time

I must sign off, my dear.

I’m standing by the mailbox

with a face that’s near beet red.

For instead of mailing you my letter,

I’ve opened it instead.            

Anonymous

THE LUTHERAN CALENDAR

Advent:  In the Christian calendar, Advent is the first season of the church year,   it begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 and continues until Christmas.  It is a period of preparation for the birth of Jesus.

Originally Advent was seen as a time of preparation for the feast of Christ's nativity. But during the middle Ages this meaning was extended to include preparation for Christ's second coming, as well as Christ's present coming through grace.

The origin of Advent is unknown, but it was observed as early as the 6th century.
It is often celebrated with lighting of Advent candles within an Advent Wreath.

There is no one prescribed colour for the candles, although several traditions are current.
--Four "natural" coloured candles are always appropriate and symbolize the Light for which we wait
--Four deep purple candles, a sign of the penitential nature sometimes attributed to the season, may be appropriate
--Congregations using blue as the liturgical colour during Advent would be consistent to use blue candles.

This is a way to mark the four Sundays of Advent and make us aware of the wait.
Lighting a candle reminds us of Christ as Light of the World.

In Advent…

*we thank God for Christ's first coming,
*prepare for his final coming at the end of time
*celebrate Christ's presence among us today through the Spirit.
It's a time to get ready by --focusing on your own sinfulness.
it’s a time for personal transformation and following Christ to the cross;

Altar hangings and clergy vestments will use the colour purple (as is the case during Lent), or, if available, a dark blue.

Popular Advent hymns emphasize the theme of coming. such as:
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Come Thou, Long-Expected Jesus".

Christmas:  (from Middle English Christemasse, from Old English Cristes mæsse, literally, Christ's mass)

It is the feast of the nativity of Jesus, celebrated in Christian churches on Dec. 25.
It is cantered in the new hope brought by a baby and is a very child-oriented holiday.

In the mid 19th cent. Christmas began to acquire its associations with an increasingly secularized holiday of gift-giving and good cheer, as well as holiday feasts, decorations, holly, mistletoe, wreaths, Christmas trees and the singing of Christmas carols

Epiphany (Jan. 6):  "manifestation" (usually of divine power)..."appearance (Greek)

On the day of Epiphany, January 6, the church
celebrates the revelation of Christ to all nations as
represented by the Magi who come to worship Jesus.

The season of Epiphany is from... January 6
until the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday
(celebrated as the Transfiguration of our Lord).
The length of the season of Epiphany varies.
(The later Easter is the longer the Epiphany season lasts).
 

Principal Themes

*The revelation of Christ to all nations     (Transfiguration of our Lord)
*Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan
*Christ as the light of the world
*The public ministry of Jesus Christ,
(including Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana)
*Growth in a Christian's baptized identity.