CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
If you would like to volunteer to help with hampers or know of somebody who could use one, please speak to Laurel Armstrong.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Come to the church for an evening of games, fellowship, food and prayer. We'll begin at 8:30 p.m. and end just after midnight. Bring games and snacks to share. A sign-up sheet will soon be up on the bulletin board so that we know how many people to expect.
Hope to see you there!
NOMINATIONS for MNO SYNOD positions: Both clergy and laypeople can be nominated for the positions listed on the bulletin board. Take a look!
BILLIOUS POND UPDATE!
We get asked occasionally if we are playing any where besides the Maples and Middle Church Care Homes and Rockwood. Here is what is and has been happening:
Nov. 18 – Lutheran Urban Mission
Nov. 24 – Selkirk Arena, Festival of Lights
Dec. 8 A.M. – Breakfast With Santa –
King Edward School
P.M. – Men’s Christmas Dinner,
New Life Church – Stonewall
New Year – Dates to Be Determined –
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Midale, SK
Pastor Donna Smalley
Saturday Evening Concert & Sunday a.m. Worship Service
Sales of our C.D. “The Foot of Calvary” continue to go well and the C.D. would make a great “stocking stuffer”. It is a gift that actually is two gifts in one. For the person you give it to and then to New Life Ministries in memory of Harry Lehotsky.
On behalf of Billious Pond and In Christ’s Love,
Bill Rumley
NEWSLETTER ITEMS
Items for the January newsletter can be given to Teresa Rumley or emailed to treerumley@shaw.ca by Sunday, December 23rd.
Thank you!
WINNIPEG MALE CHORUS
The Winnipeg Male Chorus will be performing in concert at Abundant Life Lutheran on Saturday, December 15th at 7:00pm.
Abundant Life, located at 3486 Raleigh in Birds Hill is pleased to offer this evening of sacred and holiday music... to warm everyone's hearts at this special time of year.
After the concert has put you in the holiday mood there will be time for refreshments, some dessert, and of course for fellowship.
Tickets are $12 per person, students are $6 and under 6 are free. They are available by calling Abundant Life Lutheran at 255.5433. Hope to see you there!
Christmas Bells
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Gospel according to St. Luke Chapter 2
King James Version
The Birth of Jesus
Mt. 1.18-2
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyre'ni-us was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,)
5 to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
