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 “…
"to you is born this day in
the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” – Luke 2:11.
Whenever I’m tempted to shorten a worship service by reducing the number of
hymns verses that will be sung, I remember the lesson I learned from a veteran
pastor who spoke to our group of seminary interns in western New York. In his
strong, passionate voice, he cautioned us to never cut out any verses of
a hymn simply for the sake of their length. Even if a hymn had eight, ten, or
twelve verses, we were taught to sing them all because, in his words, “the
critical meaning of the hymn can’t always be found in the first verse.”
I’ve often thought of this pastor’s instructions when we’re in the middle of a
multi-verse hymn, and how true it often is that there are important lessons that
the latter verses of even well-known hymns contain. This teaching comes to me
anew every Christmas season, when the latter verses of some of our most beloved
Christmas carols proclaim the good news that is at the heart of our annual
celebration of the birth of our Savior:
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“And you, beneath life’s crushing load, whose
forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps
and slow: look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; oh,
rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing!” – It Came Upon the
Midnight Clear, verse 3.
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“O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we
pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the
Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; oh, come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Immanuel!” – O Little Town of Bethlehem,
verse 4.
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“Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in
your tender care and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.” – Away in a
Manger, verse 3.
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“Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart
and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to
save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall. Christ
was born to save! Christ was born to save!” – Good Christian Friends,
Rejoice – verse 3.
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“Down in a lonely manger the humble Christ
was born; and God sent us
salvation that blessed Christmas morn.” – Go Tell It on the Mountain,
verse 3.
The latter verses of each of these carols bring us the good news that the
message the angel first spoke to the shepherds is the word that comes to us anew
every Christmas: that Christ is born to be our Lord and Savior, that the child
of Mary is the one whose birth casts out all fear, that the holy child of
Bethlehem is the one whose birth brings hope and light to all who are living in
darkness and the shadow of death. The good news contained in these verses is
that Christmas is not merely the remembrance of a past event but the celebration
of a present reality, that the Nativity of our Lord is good news to us today as
it has been good news to people who in every generation sang these words of
comfort and joy:
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“The little word ‘you’ should make us
joyful. For unto whom does He speak? Unto wood and stones? Nay,
verily, He speaks unto men; and not unto one or two, but unto all the people
… thus it behooves us to receive Him joyfully, as here the angels say: ‘Unto
you is born a Savior.’ Is it not a great and marvelous thing that an angel
should come from heaven with such good news? And that afterwards so many
thousands of angels are filled with overflowing joy, which makes them desire
that we should also be glad, and should receive such grace with thankful
hearts? And therefore we should write this little word (with flaming
letters) in our hearts: ‘For you!’ and should joyfully welcome the birth of
this Savior.” – Martin Luther, sermon for Christmas Day, 1544.
If you find your mind wandering during the latter verses of some of the carols
this Christmas season, remember that the reason we are able to sing “Joy to
the World!” is that the “Herald Angels Sing” the good news on this
“Silent Night, Holy Night” that “Away in a Manger” a child was born
so that we might know that for us “Christ the Savior is born” and may
lift our voices as one in praise that “Christ the Savior is born! Christ the
Savior is born!”
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jeff Laustsen
Our
Hunger Committee meets in the kitchen bimonthly on the 2nd and 4th
Sunday of the month to prepare meals for soup kitchens and others in need in our
community. Please consider joining them by donating your time, food, or funds
to help in this ministry. To find out how you can help, please call Jocelyn
D'Antonio at 766-3722. Thank you!
DID YOU KNOW THAT….
Holy Trinity prepared and delivered THREE meals to the Mary Brennan INN Soup
Kitchen this month, thanks to the additional efforts of Marianne Seitz and her
Sunday School students. They prepared a meal of chili, corn bread, and salad.
When the emal was delivered the next day by a hunger committee member, one of
the guest at the soup kitchen who was just leaving after her meal came up to her
and said, “THANK YOU VERY MUCH…YOU ARE ALL SO KIND!”
Many of us do not see the end
result of our efforts, but be assured that at the end of every dollar or box of
pasta donated there is a real live person who feels your kindness and concern.
So to everyone who cooks, donates and/or prays for our efforts THANK YOU VERY
MUCH…YOU ARE ALL SO KIND.
The Evangelism Committee
invites you to join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, December 2nd
at 7:30 p.m. at the church. The good message we have to share is the love of
God in Christ. The Evangelism Committee does this through a dual approach of
outreach and hospitality to our members, friends, and community.
CONGREGATION ADVENT GATHERING
Advent is a time
of preparation for the coming of our Lord – both 2000 years ago and in the time
to come.
You are invited to
the annual
Congregational Advent Gathering
hosted by the
Christian Education Committee.
Sunday, December 7
following the 10 a.m. worship service
Lunch – Craft Project – Fun
PROJECT: Photo Magnetic Ornament
Celebrate Advent with our
congregational family; prepare our hearts and our homes for the coming of the
Lord.
December 7th – the
second Sunday in Advent all people of the congregation children and parents,
singles and seniors, are invited to come together.
Sign up today –
see the poster in
the church Narthex.
or contact Deacon
Janice Wunsch
763-2321
Cost: $8.00 per family
$5.00 per single
Our next book is Life of Pi
by Yann Martel.
Life of Pi is the story
of a 16 year old Indian boy adrift at sea for 227 days with only a dangerous
Bengal tiger for a companion. Pi Patel’s journey, and survival through the use
of his wits and sheer determination, is one that grabs you and never lets go.
It’s a story that seems both too real and surreal at the same time. Yann Martel
is a master story teller and he serves a tale that is entertaining and
thought-provoking and at the end, he challenges you to believe it all.
We will meet at Dan & Jocelyn
D’Antonio’s home (262 Burtis Ave, Rockville Centre) on Wednesday January 21,
2009 at 7:30PM.
Please join us. A Splendid Time
Is Guaranteed For All.
Thank you
to all who participated in any way to support the Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on
October 26th. A great night of food and fellowship was had by all
who attended! We raised over $800 for the Good Samaritan Fund! In these trying
times, this money will definitely be used by families in our own congregation
and community. Thanks again!!
HELP
WANTED IN THE ECC: A permanent substitute position will be opening up
possibly as early as January 2009. A minimum of four days a week is required.
Hours are 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Position requires working with our toddler
program, preschool 3 year-old classes, and the preK 4 year-old classes. If you
are interested, please send a resume and a letter of interest to: Holy Trinity
Early Childhood Center, 240 Lincoln Ave, RVC, NY 11570 Attn: Mary Jane
Baumann, Director or e-mail at HTLCECC@gmail.com
Regina & Ralph
Hochuli
Teresa & Robert
Schwartz
Irene & Robert
Peterson
George Kowalski,
Jr. George Kowalski
Paul
Kaufmann Drew Kaufmann
Rebekah D’Antonio
Jody Akeson
Kevin Flatley
Patrick Flatley
Michael D’Angelo
Helga Pfeil
George
Barrett Ernie Zorn
Jillian
Cola Eugenia Altmann
Alyse Wolber
Michael Sacks
Susan Laustsen
Barbara Franzo
Hazel
Adams Pam Melchert
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