Bcc Newsletter Dec 08

Featured in this Issue... Missions News

Pg. 2

Christmas Worship Services

Pg. 3

Ladies Christmas Tea

Pg.3

Calendar

Pg. 2

Women’s Book Club

Pg.4

Movie Night

Pg. 5

December 2008

The Bethlehem Message from the Pastor

Word son, it backfired in every way. Make-up time replaced holiday time, which replaced Christmas time. Make-up time ended up

John Weborg is Professor Emeritus of Theology at North Park Theological Seminary and a longtime columnist for the Covenant Companion, our denominational magazine. He was a former professor of mine while I was at North Park. Each Friday during Advent, one of his columns that originally appeared in the magazine will appear on the Covenant’s website. This article first appeared in December 2000. Holiday time and Christmas time are related, but not

leaving more to make up and no one had a holiday.

identical. While holiday time and Christmas time occur at the

story is true, it beings out the redeeming character of gifts—that

same time on the calendar (as observed by Christians and with

is, gifts make a material difference in the circumstances of the

some communality in the culture in general) and in people’s

recipient. Gift giving is a redemptive act, not a competitive act

schedules, they are not the same.

among givers.

For some it is Santa time, but not St. Nicholas time. Does our culture know the story of St. Nicholas? We know that he was a fourth century bishop of Myra on the southwest corner of what is now Turkey, and that St. Nicolas Day is celebrated December 6. One story of his life tells of gifts given to a poor family, rescuing three daughters from a life of prostitution. If the

The article “Surviving Holiday Hell” in the November/

For many children it is Rudolf time, immortalized by icon

December 1998 issue of Psychology Today cites several voices

and song. But is the storyline truly faced? Contrary to the hospi-

that cannot agree on what time we are celebrating. One exam-

tality of Mary and Joseph to the shepherds and Magi and the

ple. Frank Pittman says that “Christmas is make-up time.” The

generosity of St. Nicholas, the company of reindeer was exclu-

delusion he refers to is “the belief that we can do a year’s worth

sionary. They perpetrated an evil whose effects are seldom fully

of work on our entire set of relationships just in a few days—

escaped: ridicule and exclusion. Holiday time is when ridiculed

holiday time.” He is candid in admitting his painful lesson: trying

and excluded persons yearn like Rudolph for a reversal of for-

to do everything, complicated by the other pressures of the sea-

tune.

(continued on pg. 4)

December 2008 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

2

3

4 Bible Study

5

6

8

9

10

11 Bible Study

12

13 Ladies Christmas Tea 12-2pm Movie Night 5:30pm

14 Worship 15 10:30am Children’s Christmas party 1-3pm

16 Board Mtg. 7pm at Fellions

17

18 Bible Study

19 Youth Group “Christmas Carol” at Hanover Theatre 7:15pm

20

21 Worship 22 10:30am Children’s Christmas Pageant 5pm

23

24 Christmas Eve Service 4pm

25

26

27

28 Worship 10:30am Parsonage Open House 1-4

30

31

7 Worship 10:30am

29

Missions News Children's Christmas Party - Sunday, December 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. If a Bethlehem child is going to attend a small gift should be provided for them to have on the day of the party. Thanks to all who donated food and turkeys to the Quinsigamond Village Community Center. We collected enough money for over 50 turkeys! We are still accepting donations of jackets for the South Worcester Neighborhood Center. Any jackets you have that are in good condition that you no longer used would be appreciated. If you have any questions, please speak with Jeanne Bartkus.

Page 2

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt. 28:18-20

Birthdays and Anniversaries December Birthdays Carl P. Werme Paul Swenson Lillian Ekstrom Astrid Randall Algot Ekstrom Robert Thyden Amy Berg Eric Nordstrom

12/04 12/11 12/16 12/18 12/26 12/30 12/31 12/13

Veritas Update “Veritas” is Latin for “truth.” That is the name given to our revitalization team and process that we are currently going through at BCC. One small but important thing to come out of this so far is the need to update our church records. For the last several weeks we have been asking those in attendance to check their member information (address, phone #, birthday, email, etc.) located in a binder in the vestry. If you have not done so, please do this as soon as possible. There is also a survey we would

January Birthdays Mark Fellion Johanna Thompson June Rice Gordon Forsberg Carl Thompson Jeremy Leach James Zoulias Karen Meenan Denise McGinley

1/1 1/1 1/5 1/8 1/13 1/15 1/16 1/25 1/30

Christmas Worship Services Sunday, Dec. 21st—Children’s Christmas Pageant at 5pm. Wednesday, Dec. 24th—Christmas Eve candlelight service with scripture lessons and carols.

like you to fill out as part of our revitalization process. Please take one home and bring it back completed by the end of the month. ****************************************************

Ladies Christmas Tea Saturday, December 13 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Please try to attend this tea—it is a great time to catch up with each other, relax and reflect on the blessings of Christmas. Please bring a $5 donation for Abby’s House.

Page 3

The following is an updated list of our church members and friends who unable to attend church on a regular basis. Let us remember them in our thoughts and prayers and with a note. Please let the pastor know if you are aware of others who should be on this list. Mr. Lee & Mrs. Astrid Randall 10 Hall Street Webster, MA 01570 508-943-0847 Mrs. Doris Anderson 667 Washington Street #225 Auburn, MA 01501 508-832-5239 Mr. Algot Ekstrom Beaumont Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center 378 Plantation St. Worcester, MA 01608

Paul Faler 321 Massasoit Rd. Worcester, MA 01604 Mrs. Dagny Johnson Life Care Center of Auburn 14 Masonic Circle Auburn, MA 01501 Mrs. Claire Poirier 63 Hudson Avenue Grafton, MA 01519 508-839-0364 Mrs. Lydia Anderson Whitney Place P.O. Box 935 85 Beaumont Dr. Apt. 10 Northbridge, MA 01534

Mrs. Lillian Ekstrom Notre Dame Du Lac 555 Plantation Street Apt. 327 Mildred Carlson Worcester, MA 01608 669 Washington St. Apt. Mr. Carl & Mrs. Esther Werme 234 Auburn, MA 01501 24 Briarwood Circle Worcester, MA01606 508-856-7232

(continued from pg. 1)

Those participating in worship this month are: Dec. 7th Ushers: Delbert and Eleanor Smith Scripture Reader: Sarah Strozina Worship Leader: Sarah Strozina Sound Ministry: Steven Pope Dec. 14th Ushers: Michele Kohler and Denise McGinley Scripture Reader: Tracy Ellis Worship Leader: Gigi Zepp Sound Ministry: John Schonning Dec. 21st Ushers: John Schonning and Jeffrey Stafinski Scripture Reader: June Rice Worship Leader: Alden Anderson Sound Ministry: John Schonning Dec. 28th Ushers: Beverly Gosselin and Jeanne Bartkus Scripture Reader: Susan Strozina Worship Leader: Jeanne Bartkus

Sound Ministry: Steven Pope

Not only was he received into the pack, but he was made leader of the pack? It was a reversal worthy of those described in Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2) and Mary’s song (Luke 1). In the kingdom, the least become the indispensable. It was the fullness of time for Rudolph. So what time is it? Is holiday time and make-up time the

Women’s Book Club

same as what the Bible calls the fullness of time? Like this: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as children” (Galatians 4:6). Or like this: “(God) set forth . . . Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:9b-10).

December 9th Tuesday, 7 PM At the parsonage

God did not “take time” to be with us momentarily. If so, from whom did God take time away in order to give it to us? No, God’s time for us is not rationed and parceled out. God came in

The book this month is The Shack by William P. Young

the person of the word incarnated in Jesus of Nazareth and remains with us in the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Christmas is not to be reduced to make-up time, but is the celebration of time made full by a presence never to be withdrawn.

Page 4

All are welcome even if you have not had a chance to read the book.

Movie Night

Can You Hear Me #ow?

“Lars and the Real Girl” A man decided to write a book about churches around the country. His plan was to begin in San Francisco and work east. Going to a very large church, he spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign that read, "Calls: $10,000 a minute." Seeking out the pastor, he asked about the phone and the sign and was told that it was, in fact, a direct line to heaven. The man thanked the pastor, and as he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, he found more phones with the same sign, and received the same explanation from each pastor. Finally, he arrived in Boston, where he again saw the golden phone, only this time the sign read, "Calls: 35 cents." Fascinated, he located the pastor and said, "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to heaven and that I could talk to God for $10,000 a minute. But your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why? Why?' The pastor, smiling benignly, replied: "Son, you're now in God's country, home of the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Celtics. "It's a local call."

Saturday, December 13th We will meet at church for pizza at 5:30pm and start the movie around 6pm. In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law's home. The only problem is that she's not real - she's a blow -up doll Lars ordered off the internet. But what Lars has in mind is a deep, meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he's nuts, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet natured boy that they've always loved. The movie is rated PG-13 and is 106 minutes.

Farewell Party

Parsonage Open House

On Sunday, Dec. 28th at 4pm the Quinsigamond United Methodist church will have a goodbye party for Rev. Avis Hoyt-O’Connor. Avis is leaving the Village and Quinsigamond United Methodist Church and will be going to Washington, DC at the start of the new year. All are welcome to come to QUMC at 4pm to celebrate her ministry.

Sunday, December 28th All are welcome to stop by any time between 1 & 4pm. There will be plenty of food, a fire (hopefully just in the fireplace) and Christmas decorations.

Page 5

The Bethlehem

Bethlehem Covenant Church 46 Greenwood Street P.O. Box 70629 Worcester, MA 01607 (508) 752—1459 www.bethlehemcc.org

Word