We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
Share Christmas this Sunday
Don't forget - this Sunday is the day we give our Christmas goodies to our five adopted families. If you took a name off the giving tree, please bring the wrapped gift(s) back on Sunday morning. Also, bring your food donations (items that need no refrigeration, please) and we'll divide these up among the families too. Thanks for your generous support.
The Nativity
Experience a fresh encounter with the living God this Advent and Christmas. See Mary and Joseph as real, ordinary people with extraordinary faith and courage. Encounter the extreme love of Immanuel and follow the footsteps of the wise men to certain hope.
This Sunday: The Love of God
Why? Why Bethlehem? Why a stable? Why a manger? The answers to these questions are the brush strokes that paint a magnum opus we wont fully understand on this side of heaven. However, we can marvel at its beauty and truth this Sunday, December 14 at 10:45 a.m. 101 Pecan Drive, in Schertz [map and directions].
N
ursery (infant to age 3)A caring nursery is available for children infant age 3 at any time during the worship service on Sundays in the Mothers Room, to the left as you exit the worship area.
Movers & Shakers (ages 2-4)
Children ages 2-4 are invited to Movers & Shakers during the LifeLesson portion of worship after the children's talk for a fun learning time. Join us in the Mother's room, to the left as you exit the worship area. Interested in helping with Movers & Shakers? Contact Isabella White at 650-3166.
J.A.M. (ages 5-8)
Children ages 5 - 8 are invited to join us for J.A.M., our age appropriate worship/learning experience for children, just after the Children's message this Sunday! Interested in helping with J.A.M.? Contact David White at 650-3166.
Just for Tweens (ages 9-12)
Kids ages 912 are invited to be a part of Tweens, a group specially designed for them. Join them on Sunday during the LifeLesson portion of worship for this fun learning experience. Want to know more? Call David White at 650-3166.
Grace Prayer Team
Know the miraculous power of prayer. Word of Life has a team of prayer warriors ready to pray for you. The team meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. [map and directions] to pray for the morning worship and other needs. Also, prayer partners will be available to pray with you or for you after worship. Just come to the right side of the worship area.
If you would like the team to pray for you throughout the week, just let Pastor Ken know (566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com), and he will share your request with the team. Want to be on this exciting prayer team? Contact Betty Tolsma 659-8107 or bettytolsma@sbcglobal.net.
Building a Bigger Heaven
through Austin Korean Ministry
In our prayers this Sunday, were praying for Dr. Keith Loomans and Austin Korean Ministry. This new mission outreach takes the Gospel message to people of Korean descent living in the Austin area. This ministry is one of our Texas Partners in Mission (TPIM). Ten percent of our regular Sunday morning offerings are donated to TPIM to help support new ministry starts in Texas.
Bible Study Opportunities:
For Men
Men, feast on your favorite IHOP food and Gods Word on Fridays, 6:30-7:30 a.m. at the Schertz IHOP 17220 I-35, Schertz. Bring a Bible and be ready to be filled. Invite someone to join us. Questions? Contact Pastor Ken, 566-2237.
For Women
Daytime
Come find out more about the Christmas story and its importance for our lives. We'll spend the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas looking at, "The Gift of Christ." We meet Wednesdays from 9-11 am. Join Sherri Smith at her house at 3309 Dusty Crossing, Schertz. Questions? Contact Sherri,659-2585.
Evening
Bring a friend and meet us at Patti Mitschkes, 1531 Jasmine Dr, Schertz at 7:00 p.m. on Mondays. Questions? Contact Becky Peterson, 945-7952.
For
YouthJoin us on Tuesday nights at, 7:00 p.m. at the Molina's 1660 Cloudy Brook, Schertz. Questions? Call 705-9586.
Womens Christmas Party
All Word of Life women, their friends and their confirmation aged and older daughters are invited to join us for a special Christmas Party on Sunday, December 14, from 4:006:30 p.m. at the home of Shirley Goeke 21927 Paseo Corto Dr., Garden Ridge. Attendees are asked to bring a finger food to share, an ornament to exchange and a gift for a resident of the New Life Children's Treatment Center. We will learn more about the ministry of New Life during the evening. The program contains information of a sensitive nature, so we ask that all attendees be confirmation age and older. New Life has a list of specific items needed by their residents. Some of the items include:
Lip glosses
Stickers
Rugs
Hair gel
House shoes
Posters
Fun pillows
Stuffed animals
Short or ankle socks
NO-NO's - anything with ANY metal, sharp edges like mirrors, glass, porcelain, ceramics. For a complete list of items needed at New Life, directions to Shirleys house or any other questions, please call Shirley at 651-3075.
Young Adult Christmas Party
Young Adults, college age and up, are invited to a Christmas Gathering just for them. Well meet at the Scotts (831 Fern Meadow, Universal City) on Friday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m. Invite your friends and watch for further details.
Children's Christmas Party
Children up to grade 6 are invited to a Christmas party on Sunday, December 21, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at a location to be announced. Mark your calendar, invite your friends and check back for more details!
Student Ministry Christmas Party
Students in grades 712 are invited to join us for our annual Student Christmas party on Sunday, December 21 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Cardys (24806 Ripple Way, Garden Ridge). Mark your calendar, shop for a $5 wrapped white elephant gift, invite your friends and check back for more details!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Make plans now to join us on Wednesday, December 24 at 6:30 p.m. 101 Pecan Drive, in Schertz [map and directions]for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Be sure to invite your friends and family to be a part of this special celebration. There will be lots of wonderful music, special readings and times of reflection as we welcome the infant Christ into our hearts.
Christmas Caroling
A group from Word of Life, along with any friends who would like to join us, will be sharing the joy of the season through Christmas carols. Well be visiting area nursing homes and the homes of friends to smile and sing. If you would like for us to stop by your home to sing to a loved one or neighbor, please contact Patti at 566-1650. Details are still be worked out for this event but we plan to go on Sunday, December 28. Mark your calendar and be watching for more information.
Blood Donors Needed
We have been praying for Amanda Conniff, Jayme Edwards 14 year old niece. Amanda has had a difficult struggle in her battle against cancer and has needed a great deal of blood. You can donate blood to replace the units used by Amanda. Go to any blood donation station and let them know you want to give a replacement donation for Amanda Conniff, a patient at Christus Santa Rosa Childrens hospital.
Thankful!
Here's a summary of the "thanksgivings" we placed on our Thanksgiving Tree:
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Online Calendar
You've read through the WordofLife4u. You sense what God wants you to do, but how do you keep track of events to invite your friends and neighbors to, groups where you can grow, and ministries where you can use your gifts to make a real difference? Check out our online calendar at: www.WordofLife4u.com/calendar.
Listen Online to Worship at Word of Life
If you have a broadband internet connection, you can listen to audio streams of recent worship services at Word of Life, or you can download a recording of the service to your computer or mp3 player and listen whenever you'd like. Click here! and you'll be directed to our Worship at Word of Life page. Left-click on "Stream" to listen to a service right away or click on "Download" (some require a right-click) to download a service to your computer and/or connected mp3 player to listen to later. You can view, save or print a copy of the LifeLesson notes too.
"Better Life" Links
www.AdventDevotions.net - Read, listen to, or download daily Advent devotions [more]
2008 Christmas Resources - Devotions, cards, gifts and more... [more]
Christmas - Articles, e-cards, resources and more... [more]
Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings
We Thank God
for the perfect gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, for the love that sent Him to Bethlehem and to a manger, for the love that goes deeper than we can imagine
for blessing London Land & Joseph Garbett with the new birth of baptism
for healing Rebecca O'Dell, Alden Malachowski and Oscar Morgan
for the safe return of Jacob Woo from Iraq and Jonathon Isquierdo from Afghanistan
for our specific, written thanksgivings as well as our unwritten blessings - all good things come from God
for our nation and our leaders, for standing guard over our troops and their families, and for those who have been wounded or who have sacrificed their lives defending us
for all the resources He has entrusted to our care, and we ask Him to bless the gifts we offer Him today so they may help build a bigger heaven and better lives.
We Ask God
to inspire and empower us to grow in our experience of the love of Jesus Christ
to bless the ministry of Dr. Keith Loomans and the Korean Ministry in Austin
to direct us to the piece of property which will best help us reach our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for resources to help us buy it
to comfort the families of victims of persecution, terrorism and disaster
to help us make godly choices this Christmas season
to bless Brad Moser with employment
to bless recently elected leaders with godly insight, wisdom and guidance as they prepare to take office and serve
to protect our troops abroad, especially Filip Malka, Nathan Zimmerman and Stephen Linn in Iraq
to protect Howard Leasure in Iraq
to comfort those who mourn, especially the family and friends of Jimmy Matthews
to heal Norma Koester, Katherine Knowles, Jordan Hernandez, Bea Bernthal and Erwin Michalk; to heal those battling cancer: Todd Reineck, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Brandon Landsbury, Ruie Pines, Pam Toifl, Pam Smith, Ann Dube, Vonda Boerger, Kurt Bickel, Susan Doering and to give comfort and strength to their families
to empower us to make it easy for people to go to heaven.
Join us in prayer wherever you are! You may leave prayer requests at 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.
Christmas Planning Fun
Planning a Christmas weekend of entertaining guests, I made a list of things I needed to do, including taking food out of the freezer and grocery shopping. As it happened, a friend whom I had been promising to take to lunch asked if we could make it that Friday. So, hopping into the car, I taped my "to do" list to the dashboard and went and picked her up. As she settled into the car, her face dropped. "Thanks a lot!" she sulked. Then I glanced at my list and saw the first item: "Take out the Turkey."
Just a Thought
"Christmas has lost its meaning for us because we have lost the spirit of expectancy. We cannot prepare for an observance. We must prepare for an experience." -Handel Brown
Pastor Ken Mitschke
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P.S. For past issues or to subscribe [WordofLife4u].
Word of Life Fellowship-LCMS
1531 Jasmine Dr
Schertz TX 78154-3738
www.WordofLife4u.com
210-566-2237
Ken@WordofLife4u.com
We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
Word of Life Fellowship LCMS
1531 Jasmine Dr
Schertz TX 78154-3738
Pastor Ken Mitschke
210-566-2237
Ken@WordofLife4u.com