New Centerville Lutheran Parish

Parish Newsletter - January 2012

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On The Horizon:

Parish and Worship Events:

January 8th – Baptism of our Lord Sunday

On this day, we remember and celebrate the gift of Our Lord’s baptism – an identifying moment in his life. While the Son of God is the sinless one and doesn’t require the forgiveness baptism brings, he is also the earthly one (God with us) and as such desires the spirit and the strength that come with baptism as he begins his earthly ministry. In baptism, the gift is not just one of repentance and forgiveness, but, as the Acts text emphasizes, also involves the Spirit living and acting in the baptized. Here, the Spirit symbolizes God’s blessing, empowers Jesus for his work, proclaims his Sonship, and propels him forth into the world – in much the same way, our own baptism’s reflect the same godly calling and presence in our lives.

In worship today, we remember this calling, this strength, this presence, and the Spirit’s empowering ability in our lives and in our ministries.

January 15th – Come and Follow Sunday

Invitation is an essential part of our walk of faith, but we frequently see ourselves not as the invited but rather the one who is supposed to be doing the inviting. But today's gospel (John 1:43-51) emphasizes not invitation as our call to others to join the walk of faith but rather Jesus' invitation to us to follow him. Jesus' invitation is not that we carry him with us but rather that we follow where he would lead. When Christ invites Philip to "follow me," may we hear that invitation in our own ears to see what the future might hold.

January 22nd – The Cost of Discipleship Sunday

Stories of the call to discipleship continue as the Epiphany seasons plays out the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. Jesus begins proclaiming the good news and calling people to repentance right after John the Baptist is arrested for preaching in a similar way. Knowing that John was later executed, we see at the very outset the cost of discipleship. Still, the two sets of fisherman brothers leave everything they have known and worked for all their lives to follow Jesus and fish for people.

January 29th – The Power of God Sunday/Rite of Healing and Anointing

In Moses’ announcement about prophets, in the Psalmist who proclaims God’s great works, in Jesus healing on the Sabbath, God shows the people the power of God's works. For the church these are ways of pointing to the unique authority people sensed in Jesus' actions and words. We encounter that authority in God's word, around which we gather, the word that trumps any lesser spirit that would claim power over us, freeing us to follow Jesus.

Today we will proclaim God’s authority and power in the world through a Rite of Healing and Anointing for all those in need of hearing a personal blessing from God’s good word, so that we might each be free to trust in Jesus.

The Mission Trip is On
The mission trip for next year has been decided. It looks like we will be heading to northern Alabama to help out with all the rebuilding following last year’s tornadoes down South. If you are interested in joining us, please let Pastor Will or Gloria Pritts or any other member of the Mission Team know so that we can include you in our planning. At this time, it appears that we will be driving down to Alabama. Further details we will be posted as they arise.

Soup for Southern Tornadoes – A Laurel Mountain Mission Team Fundraiser
LAST SUNDAY to Sign Up -- Sign-up sheets for soup orders have been placed in the narthex at each church. Orders for Ham N Bean or Beef Vegetable are now being accepted. Sunday, January 8th is the last Sunday to sign up – call in orders will be accepted at the church office until Thursday morning, January 12th (926-2215). Proceeds will go towards the Laurel Mountain Mission Team and their efforts to help out with the rebuilding in Alabama. Please watch future bulletins for further details.
The last day to order soup will be January 12th. Pick up will be Sat., January 21st.

Thank you for those who delivered & packed, gave donations and made cookies. Because of the generosity we were able to give 24 food bags out this year. We also were able to give out 2 gift certificates to 2 families

Wisdom in the Word: – The Return of Revelation
After a break in December, our Parish Bible Study resumes this month as we continue to look at the various churches to which the letter of Revelation is addressed (chapters two & three). We covered four of the seven churches so far. We hope to cover the final three churches – as found in chapter 3, if you’d like to read ahead.

Our Bible Study meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. This month, we meet on Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm @Messiah. Come join us – prior attendance not necessary, we’re always happy to catch folks up.

Thank You - It is with grateful spirits and humble hearts that Pastor Elisa, Lydia, Timothy and I would like to thank everyone at St. Paul’s, Samuel’s, and Messiah for your very thoughtful Christmas gifts. The gift certificates are very much appreciated and will be put to good use. It is truly touching to be remembered by you at this blessed time of year. Know that you are very much a blessing to us and we are very thankful that God has placed us in your midst to provide leadership and to do ministry together.
Also, we want to thank all those individuals who sent us Christmas cards, prayers, well wishes, and other thoughtful gifts during the holidays. Your kindness is touching and our children were very excited to receive so much special attention and such fun presents. Your caring has brought joy to our hearts and a smile to our faces. Thank you so much. May God Bless You All in the New Year.
In the name of the newborn Christ,
Pastor Will

Reminder from the ELCA
Resolved to do Better This Year
This being the season for making New Year's resolutions, I thought we might be inspired in our own commitments by a few of the 70 resolutions made by a young man when he was about 20. His powerful resolves helped shape not only his own destiny, but also that of a nation.
1.   Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
2.   Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.
3.   Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5.   Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6.   Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live.
7.   Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
8.   Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had
committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
9. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
10. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.
11. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
12. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
13. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
14. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.

Jonathan Edwards (1703—1758) entered Yale University just shy of his 13th birthday and graduated at 17. One of the leading intellectual figures in colonial America, his sermons in the 1730's and 1740's led to a series of revival movements later known as the Great Awakening. Considered what he determined in youth, it's no wonder.
James McAlister