MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD




AND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR [LUKE1:45-46]



And may we all give great thanks to God for the many blessings we receive.

WE WELCOME ALL VISITORS AND SEEKERS OF GOD
ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS ARE INVITED TO RECEIVE THE HOLY COMMUNION


LORD, LET US PRAY AND WORK TO HEAR YOUR WORD, CHANGE OUR HEARTS

AND GO FORTH TO DO YOUR WILL, EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT




Dear Friends, December 14, 2009

Yesterday, we welcomed Fr Phil Schaefer to celebrate and preach. Next week and for the balance of the month, the Rev. John Andrews returns to lead our services and to preach. Please welcome him next Sunday. Please remember that the Christmas Eve Service will be at 9:00 PM, preceded by an traditional Christmas Music Concert at 8:30, under the direction of John Allegar. There will be a Christmas Day service at 9:00 AM.

Thanks to all who attended and brought food for and worked on yesterday's Deck-the-Halls Christmas Party. The food was wonderful, thanks to all of you, and the fellowship was warming. We especially recognized Mary Ann Pino who is retiring on Dec 23 as Parish Secretary. We also wrapped ~80 gifts for MEEK families.

Please listen to the voice that calls you to God's family - and pray daily, take part in weekly services, Sundays at 8 and 10 AM, and seek opportunities to be God's heart and hands. Invite a friend or neighbor...

Remember our servicemen and women in your prayers. Their names are in the bulletin each week. Pray for all those who need God's healing hand and for those who are not able to be out and about. Give thanks for blessings received. Ask for guidance for Ascension, as we seek clergy.

REMEMBER - CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Call Laurie Phillips 865-2802 by this Thursday, to offer the beauty of poinsettias for Christmas.

THIS IS LAST CALL...The Maplewood-Edgerton Emergency Kupboard will help families at the Holidays with food - and 75 turkeys for Christmas. Kindly call Jan Wills 621-3900 or Sally Green 865-1125 to donate. Families are depending on these. Please bring in stuffing mixes, canned fruit and veggies, cranberry sauce, salad dressings and boxed jello. Place in Tower Room. Your donation will make a huge difference.

Please visit or call a friend who is not able to get out or whom you've been meaning to call. There are many who would love a call and an invitation to church or an inquiry as to when you might pay a visit.

This week, there will be Tuesday and Thursday 9 AM Bible Study. For your study, the gospel for next Sunday is set out below. All are welcome at the Tuesday and the Thursday sessions at 9 AM, for conversation and fellowship. By studying the stories, we learn our work and deepen our faith in Christ. If you have never tried this, you will be surprised at the fun and insights.

Last call; Area children are waiting hopefully for mittens and scarves. Your offerings to warm a child are asked through Dec 20. Hand-knitted items especially welcome. The Mitten Tree will be in the Church Dec 6 - 20.

Call a friend and invite her or him to church next Sunday and also to an upcoming parish event. For many people, all it takes to answer God's call is the voice of a friend. Won't you be that voice?

A congregation first grows individually in the heart of each faithful person, and only then it can spread. If we want to grow, we must love God, love our friends and then speak to them. God will help us share the Bread of Life.....

Do you have a pocket card to hand to a friend who asks about Ascension? Cards are available in the back of the church. Please take a few, and be ready to share. We have pocket crosses to hand to those who answer the call to "Come and See".. [They are little olive wood crosses made in Bethlehem. Would you like to have a pocket cross? Just write back and ask.]

Blessings, all best, and great peace,..... See you on Sunday!

Dyson

P.S.: If you know anyone who would like to receive this weekly e-letter, please send in their email address.
P.P.S. - Here is a link to a Hymn we will sing on Sunday - Come, thou long expected Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gWFF0pGTDg&feature=related
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Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)
1:39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,

1:40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

1:42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

1:43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

1:44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

1:45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

1:46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,

1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."