The Shepherd's Staff - St Paul & Zion

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The Shepherd's Staff

The Shepherd’s Staff Volume 15 Issue 12

December 2013 “Peace on Earth”

Some would say that there is very little peace in the world as we approach this Christmas season. A Grinch in the form of almost daily reports of someone shooting innocent people somewhere, terrorist plots, or disasters that take hundreds of lives has seemingly stolen the peace of the upcoming season of peace. There seems to be no end of tragic examples of wickedness in the world that destroys and robs people of peace. Bad things done by one human being to other human beings, as well as natural disasters cause people to think either that God cannot control the evil, or that he doesn’t care. It’s a huge test of faith, isn’t it? And when we struggle with things that make no sense, there is no peace. That’s how it was for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was Christmas Day of 1864. If you watched the latest Lincoln movie or read the book, you know what was going on in 1864. The Civil War was raging. Longfellow wrote the song: “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day.” I’m not surprised at his conclusion: 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. Ever since the Christmas angels sang: “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” people have been looking for peace and many have come up empty. In this child, our Prince of Peace, somehow, there would be peace on earth. But they look around and just can’t find it. Perhaps that’s because they are looking for a kind of peace that Jesus never came to bring. Our Prince of Peace said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” His gift of peace is not like what the world wants or tries to give. That kind of peace will never happen, at least not for long. Where can you find peace on earth? There was one couple who thought that they had found it. It was the early 1980's and the threat of nuclear war hung over most the world. This couple decided to find a place somewhere on this planet where they would be free from the danger. After much time and attention to geography, trying to find the most secure place possible, they settled on a group of islands, seemingly isolated from the world, called the Falklands. In 1982, not long after they had settled there, a brief, undeclared war was fought between Argentina and Great Britain over the control of the Falkland Islands. Overnight their paradise was turned into a war zone. No matter where you go, you cannot find earthly peace. People have been looking for it for centuries. Leaders promise peace, peace, but there is no peace. Let’s face it, we haven’t been so good at keeping the peace in our own little worlds either. Have you hurt the people you love this week with angry words? Have you been growly about too much to do, stubborn about how you want this Christmas to be, whether

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your spouse agrees with you or not, upset over not finding the gift or the food in the store that you wanted? Have you been peaceful? It’s time to find the peace that Jesus came to bring. Finding that peace is not impossible. We just need to look in the right place. The shepherds found it. The wise men found it. Aged Simeon found it as he held a baby boy in the temple and said, Lord, now let your servant depart in peace. The search for peace is fulfilled only in the baby who is the Prince of peace. When the angels sang, they did not only sing, “Peace on earth.” They also sang, “good will toward men.” This peace on earth was all about God’s good will toward all people of this world. He would no longer be at war with the world of sinners, because of a little baby whom he had sent. This child was a sign of God’s good will and pleasure toward all people. These good tidings of great joy are for all the people, because “unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior.” Not a Savior from terrorism, but a Savior from sin and death. This Christ child came to bring peace with God. So the Savior promised: Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I have a peace to give you as a gift, that is not like the world’s, says the Savior. When you have my peace, there is nothing to fear. He said it, and the next day he died to accomplish it. That peace from Jesus is peace with God. Our sins were paid for and the long cold war with God was over. God gave the world a gift when he took all punishment for sin away from us and put it on Jesus. That’s why we can sing at Christmas time: “Peace on earth and mercy mild,” It means “God and sinners reconciled!” Even when the world is at war around you, the peace Jesus gives is still intact. That’s why Paul calls it “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.” Many cannot understand how a Christian can be at peace with life, when one trouble after another looms on the horizon. The world cannot understand the peace a Christian has when he’s lying on his deathbed. The world cannot understand why Christians do not fall apart in complete hysteria when tragedy strikes. As the Bethlehem song says: How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given. So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still the dear Christ enters in. (CW 65:3) I pray that this Christmas season will truly be one of peace. I also know that around us there will be hearts that will hurting because of family tragedies, and our hearts will ache for them too. But for each and every Christian, Jesus’ peace will also be there. All because Jesus left his throne in heaven, became one like us, yet without sin, died the death we could not die to assure us of forgiveness, full and free. And then rose to assure us we too, will someday rise to spend eternity with him in heaven. Let Jesus, the Prince of Peace, be the prince of your heart, and God will grant us all a peaceful Christmas.

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December Altar Care

December Coffee Fellowship

St. Paul – Connie Prell

St. Paul – Zion –

December Birthdays 1 -- Dale Berndt 6 – Hunter Weber George A. Weber 9 – Lori Weber 10 – Tasha Mitchell

12 – Anne Leverenz 17 – Kristyna Kolev 19 – Beverly Matteson 22 – David Miller 23 – Desiree Hofmeister

25 – Anita Huebner 27 – Bradley Minett 29 – Andrea Leverenz

Happy Anniversary John & Mary Honer 12/6/69 Dale & Danah Kehoe 12/6/97

Todd & Lisa Harris 12/14/02 Mike & Penny Hastings 12/16/89

Do you have a December birthday or anniversary not listed here? Please call the church office (489-2189) and let us know so we can include you too! Thank you! 

Opportunities to Worship our Savior during the Christmas Season: Children’s Christmas Service Sunday, December 22nd St. Paul: 10:30 a.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Song Services Tuesday, December 24th Zion: 6:00 p.m. St. Paul: 8:00 p.m.

Christmas Day Services Wednesday, December 25th Zion: 9:00 a.m. St. Paul: 10:30 a.m. Joint New Year’s Eve Communion Service Tuesday, December 31st 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul

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Mark Your Calendar St. Paul Ladies Aid: We meet after the 10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible Study on the first Wednesday of the month. All ladies of the congregation are invited. Our next meeting is Wednesday, December 4th at 11:00 a.m. Zion Ladies Aid: We will meet on Tuesday, Dec.3rd at 2:00 p.m. Please join us! Christmas Cantata: “A Blest Messiah Born” will be presented by the choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mauston (517 Grayside Ave. across from the school) on Sunday, Dec. 8th at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 11th at 7:00 p.m. Prepare for our Savior’s birth with words of Scripture and song! The entire community is invited. Family Fellowship Night: NO Fellowship Night in December. Please plan on joining us January 26th at 3:30 p.m. Choir: There will not be choir on Saturday, December 28th . Bible Classes/Catechism: There will be NO Women’s Bible Class, Catechism or evening Bible Class on Wednesday Dec. 25th. Council Meeting: There will be a council meeting on Sunday, Dec. 1st after church. 

News and Notes

Christmas Cards: Beautiful boxed Christmas cards are available and located in the entryway of both churches. Please make checks payable to the Ladies Aid. Poinsettias: There are poinsettias available for purchase to decorate the Lord’s altar for Christmas. Please see the signup sheet on the usher’s stand. WELS Live Nativity (Diorama) in La Crosse: The Diorama’s mission is to proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ. The Diorama’s individual roles in the Live Nativity are manned by volunteer members of LaCrosse area WELS Churches. Approximately 700 volunteers are needed each year to help with this production, from Steering Committee, costume cleaning and repair, prop committee, warming trailer staff, and of course all of the many roles that need to be filled. The Diorama also has live animals to help create an authentic feel to the production. There are sheep, a donkey, and sometimes a few goats added in to the scene. If you are interested in

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visiting, the live nativity can be seen on December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23-24-25. You may go to www.rotarylights.org for more information. Recipes: St. Paul’s Commemorative Stained–Glass Window Cookbooks are available for purchase for $15 in the entryway at both churches. They make wonderful Christmas gifts.

Jesus said, “Feed My Lambs,” Kids in our church depend on us. They need to know that someone cares. What better way to show how much you care than by visiting one of our Sunday School classes. Remember, what we teach our children now will grow with them forever! Your support will have a lifetime effect. Church is a family place. Let’s keep the children smiling, laughing and talking about their Savior. Children’s Christmas Service: St. Paul Children’s Christmas Service Practices: Saturday, Dec. 7th – 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14th – 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21st – 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22nd - 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. (during Sunday School) * Christmas Service is at the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service.* The teachers have sent home the Memory work for the Christmas Program with your child. We encourage you to work with your children on learning this important message ~ the Word of God!

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Snow, Rain, Icy Mix… With the winter weather in Wisconsin, it is hard to tell how the roads are going to be when worship services/Sunday School are scheduled. I, as your Pastor, am committed to being available for worship when it is scheduled (or for assistance upon a members call). If I am not able to make it to chuch, I would put that announcement on the local radio stations (Mauston & Reedsburg). With that being said, I also want you and your family to be safe in coming to worship services/Sunday School. Upon such occassions, you need to listen to your local stations and determine if you feel it is safe to bring your family. If you determine it is not safe, this does not mean it is a “day-off” from worshiping or a “vacation” day. There are many other opportunities to worship in your own home. Listed below are local stations with Lutheran services. Get out a devotional book or read your Bible together. Baraboo – WRPQ-AM – 740 & FM -- 99.7 – Sun. 10 a.m. – St. Johns Baraboo Hillsboro Channel 69 on cable – Sun. at noon LaCrosse – WKTY-AM – 580 – Sun. 8 a.m. – Lutheran Radio Service WKBT TV 8 – Sun. 7 a.m. – Time of Grace FOX 11 – Sun. 7 a.m. – Time of Grace Mauston – WRJC-AM – 1270 & FM -- 92.9 – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – St. Paul Sparta – WKLJ-AM – 1290 – Sun. 8 a.m. – St. John Tomah – WTMB-AM – 1460 – Sun. 10:30 a.m. – St. Paul Cable TV 5 – Sun 10:30 a.m., 8 p.m. – St. Paul  

An Advent Calendar for Kids (and adults too!)

December 3 – Keep constant watch and pray. Luke 21:36 December 4 – Do you know why Advent is a time for watching and praying? The Savior is coming! December 5 – Lions and lambs, wolves and calves – all together! That’s the picture of peace that the Savior gives. Read Isaiah 11:1-10 December 6 – Pray for peace all over the world! December 7 – And pray for peace in your heart, too! Then read Colossians 3:15 December 8 & 9 – Make Mom or Grandma a heart sachet for Christmas. Cut two hearts from fabric scraps. Place the hearts together and sew around the edge, but leave an opening. Stuff good-smelling things inside like tea or cloves, or cotton balls dipped in cinnamon or lemon extract. Then sew the opening closed. Add a ribbon and don’t forget to say, “I love you!”

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December 10 – Prepare a road for the Lord to travel on!.....Then all shall see the Savior sent from God. December 11 – Advent is also a time for preparing. Play Christmas carols when you help with the baking and decorating. December 12 – Your Christmas tree takes lots of preparing! Remember that its green color is a symbol of God’s everlasting love & its shape points up to heaven. December 13 – Gifts take lots of preparing too. First think about the gifts God has given you. Write them down on a piece of paper. December 14 – Use your gifts to “gift” someone else. Paint a picture! Give a hug or a big smile! Run an errand! Think of different kinds of gifts this Christmas. Read 1 Timothy 6:17-18 December 15 – John the Baptist says to make the road straight for the Lord to travel on. How can we do that? Read John’s answer in Luke 3:10-16 December 16 – Have a “Doodle Dinner” tonight. Decorate large pieces of paper with Advent words or Christmas scenes. Now you have new placemats for dinner! December 17 – “I baptize with water – but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3:16 December 18 – This week’s Advent candle is pink for “joy”. Make a “joy” decoration for your tree with buttons, sequins and markers decorating the word “joy” cut out of fabric or paper. December 19 – Mary and Elizabeth waited joyfully for their babies. Do you think they danced? What do you do when you are joyful? Read Luke 1:39-56 December 20 – What part do you have in the Christmas program? Play your part joyfully! December 21 & 22 – During Advent we share with others in need. God gives to us all year long, and we can give joyfully all year long too. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 December 23 – Christmas is almost here. Use some quiet time to write a prayer poem, thanking God for sending his son to be our Savior. December 24 – “The Savior, yes, the Messiah, is born tonight in Bethlehem!” Luke 2:11 December 25 – “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem and see!” Luke 2:15