Giving Tree

Thank you for selecting all of the names off of the Giving Tree recently. Please remember to attach the gift tag to your wrapped gift and return it to church THIS Sunday, December 20.

When does $13,000 = $26,000?

Now! For every dollar you give to our Building Fund until the end of 2010, the Texas District LCMS has generously offered to match it up to $100,000. What a great way to double the impact of your contribution! If you give before the end of the year, you may be able to save on your 2009 income taxes. As a bonus your donation will receive a high rate of return in the coming year through our Texas CEF Building Fund which is currently paying 2.53% apy. Just write "Building Fund" in the memo line of your check or place your gift in a Ministry Facility Fund envelope.

Building a Bigger Heaven in Brazil

In our prayers this week, we’re lifting up missionary pastor Maiquel Hellwig and the ministry of São Lucas as they reach out to people in Canoas, Brazil and beyond. We support their work through the gift of 10% of our Sunday morning offerings to the Brazil Mission Society. To find out more, visit www.brazilmissionsociety.com.

Thank You

I am so grateful to the Word of Life youth and their adult sponsors (Stemmermanns and Shirley Christiansen) for setting up my Christmas tree and decorating my home last Sunday afternoon. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. My home looks beautiful and I’m ready to celebrate the season of our Savior’s birth! Betty Tolsma

Wanted: Administrative Services Provider

Pastor Ken is looking for an administrative services provider who can work about 1/2 day each week on a contract or volunteer basis doing detail oriented administrative tasks to assist Word of Life Fellowship in building a bigger heaven and better lives. For more information, click on the following link or pick up an Administrative Services Expectations description from the Info table and contact Pastor Ken, 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.

Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition (LINC)
San Antonio

Lutheran congregations, ministries and individuals are combining efforts and resources to reach the multi-cultural and urban people of the San Antonio area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We plan to equip and train servant leaders for ongoing ministry to care for the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors in the name of Jesus. The Texas District has agreed to help in this endeavor by providing a $50,000 matching grant. To find out more, click on or pick up a new LINC flyer from the Info Table. You may make a donation directly or by writing a check to Word of Life with LINC in the memo line.

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

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season -  "Here are some fun activities to help put Christ back into CHRISTmas!..." [more]

Christmas Customs  - "Did you know that many of our modern-day Christmas traditions have their roots in ancient cultures and practices, some of which actually predate Christ?..." [more]

Christmas IQ Quiz - "I should warn you that this is a tough quiz. When I took it, I missed several questions. Try taking it first without checking the Bible to see how well you know the real Christmas story. ..." [more]

Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings

We Thank God…

• for giving us a better way to know Him, for bridging the infinite distance to come to earth, for becoming like us, for taking away our sins and loving us so much

• for over $13,000 given last month which will be matched by our Texas District to become over $26,000 to help build a ministry facility to reach out to our community

• for protecting Doug Stresemann through a serious auto accident

• for healing Marcia Waldgeir through chemo and prayer

• for blessing Phyllis by calling her back to work

• for our nation and our leaders

• for standing guard over our troops and their families

• for those who have sacrificed life and limb defending us

• for all the resources God has entrusted to our care

• for His promise to multiply our tithes and offerings to help build a bigger heaven and better lives.

We Ask God…

• to inspire and empower us to recognize the supreme value of THE gift of Christmas and to overflow with praise and thanks

• to bless missionary pastor Maiquel Hellwig and the mission of São Lucas as they reach out to people in Canoas, Brazil and beyond

• to direct the purchasing of a property to help us reach our community with the Gospel

• to comfort the victims of persecution, terrorism and disaster

• to bless our leaders with godly wisdom and guidance that they would lead according to His will

• to call Pastor Mark Hotopp soon to the ministry He has chosen

• to bless those who struggle with depression, loneliness or grief during the holidays and move us to be a blessing to them

• to bless those who travel and to bless David & Ana Koester, Cathy Ashcraft and Chuck Tolsma with employment

• to protect our troops abroad, especially Logan Christiansen in U.A.E., Erik Moore in Iraq, Juan Pizarro in Indonesia and Jason Leible, Julie Astrachan & Jason Lieber in Afghanistan

• to comfort the family and friends of Ron Stone and Nici Bahn as they mourn their deaths and to comfort Ruby who lost her close friend

• to heal Nita Bowden, David Koester, Lisa Flowers, Debra Gutierrez, Ninfa Sanchez, Erin Hunter, Reilly Hunter, Courtney McCullough, and to heal those battling cancer: Chase Bargsley, John Dury, Rachel Midgett, Kayla Nunnery, Alden Malachowski, Sadie Norris, Matthew Provencio, Manuel Coloura, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Pam Smith, Kurt Bickel, Susan Doering and to comfort and strengthen their families

• to bless each of our 1-1-1 commitments and our important participation in God’s work at Word of Life and beyond

• for financial and people resources to enable His vision to come into being through us

• to empower us to connect people to Christ.

Join us in prayer wherever you are! You may leave prayer requests at 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.

Christmas Drama Fun

A group of first graders got together and decided to write their own version of the Nativity. It was more modern than the traditional drama. Oh, there were the familiar members of the cast: Joseph, the shepherds, the three wise men, the star, and an angel propped up in the background. But Mary was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly behind the bales of hay could be heard some loud moans and groans. Evidently Mary was in labor. Soon the doctor arrived dressed in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck. Joseph, with a look of relief on his face takes the doctor straight to Mary, then starts pacing back and forth. After a few moments the "doctor" emerges with a big smile on his face. "Congratulations, Joseph," he says, "It's a God!"

Just a Thought

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed."
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap
When what from the TV did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad.. which told of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...
Buying things on credit... And others with cash!
And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no ... not at all.
Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior ... they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time to "Shop til they dropped!"
On Walmart! On K-mart!
On Target! On Penny's!
On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's
From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall
They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!
And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder
He hung lights that would flash.
He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... Light of the World.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous!
All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight
Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!

We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!