Psalm 117:1-2
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD.*
*In Hebrew: “Hallelu Yah.”
Dear Friends,
In the Psalms of praise, the Hebrew word “hodu” means giving thanks. A key phrase that occurs in these Psalms is “Hodu l’adonai, ki tov” which translated means, “Giving thanks to God.” However, “hodu” is also the Hebrew word for turkey. So our phrase can be translated as, “Eating turkey for the sake of God is good.” I have searched and I have no idea why the Hebrews connected Turkey with Thanks. Their word for peacock, though, is “Tukki,” which sounds kind of close, doesn’t it?
I think it’s great happenstance that Turkey and Thanks are related in the language of our Old Testament. Of course, I was delighted at age seven to find out that God’s people had Hanukah. I thought about how loving God was to give them a holiday around Christmas, so they wouldn’t be left out. I know it sounds naive, but I was naive.
For me, each and every day is a gift from God. Thanksgiving should be every day. Thanksgiving should be a way of life, rather than one day a year. May you live your life aware of all that God has blessed you with - from opening your eyes in the morning, to hearing the joy of a laugh, to the smell of good food. Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BENEFIT CONCERT: St. Petronille Catholic Church in downtown Glen Ellyn will host a community performance of Handel’s “Messiah” this Saturday, November 28, at 8:00 p.m. (Note time change: first publicity said 7:30.) This is a joyful way to usher in the Christmas season. The proceeds from the free-will offering at the concert will benefit the Glen Ellyn Walk-In-Ministry, which is one of Southminster’s supported missions. Please make plans to attend.
Don’t you just love Christmas music? Join our FESTIVAL CHOIR! We won’t rehearse on Thanksgiving, but plan to join us on Thursday nights in December at 7:30 in the choir room. If you like to sing but don’t feel you can commit to choir for the entire year, here’s a short-term “fix.” We’ll sing for Sunday services and on Christmas Eve (one service that evening at 7:30), and we always follow the Christmas Eve service with a party. We’d love to have you join us for this season!
MUSIC NOTE FOR YOUTH AND TEENS: We’re seeking students of all ages and talents to play a verse of a hymn or Christmas carol for Prelude Music on Sunday, December 20. If interested in playing, please call the office or talk to Darlene Crilly for details.
POINSETTIAS: Order Christmas poinsettias by signing up on the chart in the narthex by Sunday, December 13. Poinsettias are $18.50 each (please write “poinsettia” on the memo line of your check) and may be taken home after the Christmas Eve service. If you choose, your poinsettia may be donated to someone who is homebound.
S.O.L.A.C.E. SINGLES are invited to come hear the Singing Men of Oak Brook in their annual Christmas concert on Sunday, December 20, at 3:00 p.m. at Christ Church of Oak Brook. Tickets are $20 each. Call Lois Stevenson (630-858-9315) by December 10 to reserve your ticket.
If you SHOP ONLINE for holiday gifts, it is now possible for a portion of what you spend to BENEFIT SOUTHMINSTER. When you buy online through the iGive.com network of over 700 online stores, Southminster will receive a percentage of every dollar you spend. For more information, including a list of online stores, just go to www.iGive.com/Southminsterpc, complete the registration form, and start shopping. All funds received by Southminster from iGive.com will be added to Southminster’s Mission Fund.
“SHARE THE SPIRIT” at Christmas! Once again Southminster is joining the People’s Resource Center in helping needy children in DuPage County have a brighter Christmas by buying toys or gift cards for children from ages 0 to 19. Stop at the tree in the narthex with “ornaments” on it. The ornaments will have gift suggestions for the various age groups. Please take an ornament, select a gift, and bring it back unwrapped to the narthex any time up to December 6. The Mission Ministry thanks you for your support and the many needy children in DuPage County especially thank you for your outreach of love. (See the “Christian Ed. Notes” below to see how children and youth can participate in this project.)
The LADIES BREAKFAST GROUP has decided not to exchange Christmas socks in December. Instead we agreed to bring mittens or gloves for the “Share the Spirit” collection. You can bring these items to church on Sunday, December 6, or to our breakfast on Monday, December 7 (8:00 a.m. at IHOP in Danada), and we will make sure they get to the People’s Resource Center. Thanks!
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
Please remember there is NO SUNDAY SCHOOL this coming Sunday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Worship bags will be available in the hallway by the nursery for younger children. Please leave the laminated card and crayons in the bag, though for next time. Thank you.
Youth and Sunday School classes will be continuing the SHARE THE SPIRIT collection of hats and mittens through Sunday, December 6. Please bring these items in any time during the designated weeks and drop them off in the narthex. Thank you in advance for your donations. (See more information about “Share the Spirit” above.)
December SECOND HELPINGS: Due to the Christmas program rehearsal, we will have Second Helpings on December 6. After adult Bible study and youth and children rehearsal, the entire church family will enjoy a special baked potato bar with all the trimmings in Fellowship Hall.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM INFO - Only One More Rehearsal!
***If your child has a speaking part, please practice with him/her at home to reinforce the part.
Here’s the schedule for December 6:
10:45-11:00 a.m. - Costume Fittings in the Sanctuary.
11:00 a.m. - Final practice/dress rehearsal. We will begin rehearsal promptly after costume fittings.
11:45am – Baked potato bar with trimmings for entire church family.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, DECEMBER 13 - “TOO-OO-OO-OO BUSY”
Parents, please have your child/children in the sanctuary 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, December 13, so we can run through last minute preparations.
WHAT’S COMING UP IN CHRISTIAN ED.?
December 6 - Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal and baked potato bar lunch
December 13 - Christmas Program
December 27 - No Sunday School
No “Second Helpings” third Sunday in December
January 17, 24, 31 – Rotation units for K-middle school
Our ADULT BIBLE STUDY CLASS will begin a new lectionary year this Sunday with the following passages: Jeremiah 33:14-6; Luke 1:68-79; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43. (A list of the Lectionary readings from now to the beginning of Lent is attached to this E-Note email.) Join us and we’ll learn together. -Blair
YOUTH: SNL as usual this Sunday night, PYNGUINS at 6:00 p.m., SPY at 7:00 p.m. See ya there.
Add this to your calendar: Friday, December 18, will be the Women’s Circle annual CHRISTMAS SALAD LUNCHEON AND COOKIE EXCHANGE at 11:00 a.m. in the parlor and narthex. Program: Pat Muehl, “Christmas Art.” Salads will be provided by the members of the circle. Guests are always welcome. The cookie exchange is optional; feel free to come for lunch even if you don’t wish to participate in the exchange. If you want to exchange, bring a plate or container of your special holiday cookies and take home an equal number.
And save this date, too! Come one, come all to our first CHRISTMAS CAROL SING-ALONG SUPPER! Soup and sandwiches will start off the event on Sunday, December 20, at 5:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Participants are asked to bring a plate of cookies to provide dessert for all. Following the meal we will “break into song'” singing Christmas favorites. We promise a fun time for all! All families and friends are welcome, whatever size “family” you are. Sign up in the narthex or show up that night. It will be great fun!
We’d like to stay in touch with our COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS (for birthday and holiday greetings, invitations to gatherings over breaks, College Care packages later in the year, and things like that). Please update your college student or young adult’s mailing and email addresses so we can let them know we care. Thanks!
Here’s one reason why we need to be able to reach our college students: COLLEGE STUDENT BRUNCH – Tuesday, December 29, in the parlor at 11:00 a.m. Invitations will be mailed to students.
VALET PARKING is available on Sundays for anyone who would like that service. In order for that offer to work, we need volunteers to assist with the parking! If you would like to volunteer to help with valet parking, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board as you enter the church.
