Isaiah 11: 1-9
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him―
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
Dear Friends,
The year I turned twenty-one I lived alone in Connecticut. My family had moved, and with the move I lost my church. I lost my church because I was too embarrassed by my parent’s divorce and no one from the congregation knew how to say hello to a young twenty-something woman on her own. I think I was the one who was lost.
That Christmas season was difficult for me. I didn’t know how to have Christmas on my own, and I hadn’t developed a healthy habit of worship yet. Neither did I know how to get around in the Bible very well. But I did want to pray. I had a vague memory of Christmas involving the prophet Isaiah. What a surprise! I was looking for words of comfort, and instead I found judgment. The first chapters of Isaiah were all about judgment; in fact they were terrifying passages about how angry God was. I gave up and tired Matthew. I didn’t get past the genealogy in chapter one.
It’s too bad. If I had pushed past the tenth chapter of Isaiah I would have found chapter 11, a real message of hope. If I had even pushed past to the second chapter of Matthew, I would have been much happier.
Sometimes we stop looking when the answer is right nearby. In this season of advent, please keep your eyes open for what God is doing. Perhaps you won’t see God doing anything. It may that you will see something that God is calling you to. Perhaps there is someone without family who would love to hear a simple, “Hello” and invitation to worship. Each week till Christmas I will be highlighting a scripture passage that may bring you “tidings of comfort and joy.” Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Don’t you just love Christmas music? Join our FESTIVAL CHOIR! 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!
“SHARE THE SPIRIT” deadline is this Sunday. If you have selected an ornament from our giving tree, bring your gift - unwrapped! - to the narthex any time up to Sunday, December 6. If you haven’t chosen an ornament, here are some suggested gifts: activity toys, push/pull toys for toddlers, stuffed toys, dolls, building blocks, puzzles, arts/crafts kits, sports equipment, cars/trucks, gift certificates for $20 or $25 from Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, or TJMaxx, or food gift cards for $20 or $25 from Jewel, Dominick’s, Ultra, or Aldi. Or, help the Sunday school collection for “Share the Spirit” by bringing warm children’s hats, gloves, and mittens.
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:
This Sunday, December 6, is the FINAL REHEARSAL FOR THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM! If your child has a speaking part, please practice with him/her at home to reinforce the part.
Schedule for December 6:
10:45-11:00 a.m. - Costume fittings - Sanctuary.
11:00 a.m. - Final practice/dress rehearsal. We will begin rehearsal promptly after costume fittings.
11:45 a.m. - Baked potato bar with trimmings for entire church family – Fellowship Hall
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 program rehearsal, the entire church family will enjoy a special “loaded” baked potato bar in Fellowship Hall.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, December 13 - “Too-oo-oo-oo Busy”
Parents, please have your child/children in the sanctuary by 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, December 13, so we can run through last minute preparations.
“SHARE THE SPIRIT” - A vision for missions: This is the last Sunday that Youth and Sunday School classes will be collecting hats and mittens. Please bring these items in any time this week and drop them off in the narthex.
ROTATION UNIT: We will have a rotation format for grades K-middle school the weeks of January 17, 24, and 31. Our regular teachers, for the most part, will enjoy these three weeks off from teaching. If you have thought about teaching, this would be an excellent opportunity to explore your gifts. Please call Laura Baer at 630-469-9149 or email at smpcce@ameritech.net if you are interested.
WHAT’S COMING UP IN CHRISTIAN ED.?
December 6 - Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal and baked potato bar lunch
December 13 - Christmas Program
No “Second Helpings” third Sunday in December (activities on Dec. 6 will be our “Second Helpings” for this month)
December 27 - No Sunday School
January 17, 24, 31 - Rotation units for K-middle school
Our ADULT BIBLE STUDY CLASS will continue this Sunday with the following passages: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6. Join us and we’ll learn together. -Blair (There was a lectionary bookmark attached to last week’s E-Notes. If you need another copy, please email the office.)
YOUTH: At SNL this Sunday, we will be doing some planning for special events, i.e. lasertag or ???, so bring your ideas and check your school, sports, concert, etc. calendars so we can plan around the other big events in your busy lives.
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.
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.
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.
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 a 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!
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.
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.
