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11/30/08

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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:

 

  • “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.
  • “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.
  • “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.
  • “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.
  • “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:

  • 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

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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.

 

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE

 

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

 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

 

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.

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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

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Regina & Ralph Hochuli

Teresa & Robert Schwartz

Irene & Robert Peterson

 

 

 

 

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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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This site was last updated 11/30/08