We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
Family Christmas Celebration
When God came to Mary, He filled her with great faith. When God came to Joseph, He gave him heroic courage. When God came in Jesus, He gave us sacrificial love. When God comes to us, we’re gifted not only to carry God inside of us and beside us but to share Him with others. The story of Christ’s birth is but another story until Christ is born in us. Only then will we know true faith, true courage, true love. Only then will we, like the Shepherds, “make widely known” how God came to us in Christ. From youngest to oldest, we are privileged to use our gifts to share the simple but profound story of how God came to us in Jesus. Find out more this Sunday, December 21 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 Mother’s Room, to the left as you exit the worship area.
Children’s Ministry
Most Sundays during the Life Lesson time, our children have the opportunity to experience age appropriate lessons designed with them in mind. This Sunday's worship features participants of all ages so we ask that all the children would participate throughout the worship service. Our regular children’s ministry groups will meet again next Sunday.
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.
Changing Lives in Brazil
In our prayers this Sunday morning, we will remember pastors Everson Gass and Wanderley Lange and their congregations. All have been severely affected by recent flooding from heavy rains in the region of Itajai. This Christmas season will be very different for many of them as families have abandoned their homes indefinitely. We support the ministries of these two pastors through the offerings we give to the Brazil Mission Society.
Bible Study Opportunities
Over the holidays, our Bible Study groups will take some time off to spend with their families. Be watching for details about the next group meetings.
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 the Costey's (3900 Arroyo Sierra, Schertz) Invite your friends to join you for a special celebration.
Student Ministry Christmas Party
Students in grades 7—12 are invited to join us for our annual Student Christmas party on Sunday, December 21 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Cardy’s (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. We’ll 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 Edward’s 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 Children’s hospital.
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 coming to Mary, to Joseph and to us, for giving us faith, courage and sacrificial love, for gifts and the privilege to share the simple but profound story of how God came to us, for those, young and old, who help us receive the gift of Christ in our lives
for blessing London Land & Joseph Garbett with the new birth of baptism
for healing Rebecca O'Dell and Alden Malachowski
for the graduation of Josh Yates from the Army National Guard
for the safe return of Dustin Osgood and Jacob Woo from Iraq
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 God to bless the gifts we offer Him today to help build a bigger heaven and better lives.
We Ask God…
to inspire and empower us to be like Mary - Christ in us, to be like Joseph - Christ beside us, to be like Jesus - God with us.
to bless Pastors Everson Gass and Wanderley Lange and their ministries as they serve people suffering loss from the floods in Brazil
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 protect those who travel during the 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 and Rose Rodriguez
to heal Joseph Moore, Clark Conley, Norma Koester, Jordan Hernandez, Bea Bernthal and Erwin Michalk; to heal those battling cancer: Todd Reineck, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Brandon Landsbury, Ruie Pines, Pam Toifl, Natalie, Pam Smith, Ann Dube, Vonda Boerger, Kurt Bickel, Susan Doering and to give comfort and strength to their families.
to empower us to connect our community to Christ.
Join us in prayer wherever you are! You may leave prayer requests at 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.
Funny Things Kids Say
As a little girl climbed onto Santa's lap, Santa asked the usual, "And what would you like for Christmas ?" The child stared at him open mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped: "Didn't you get my E-mail?"
Two daughters had been given parts in a Christmas pageant at their Church. At dinner that night, they got into an argument as to who had the most important role. Finally the 14 year old said to her 8 year old younger sister, "Well, you just ask Mom. She'll tell you it's much harder to be a virgin than it is to be an angel."
A lady lost her handbag in the bustle of Christmas shopping. It was found by an honest little boy and returned to her. Looking in her purse, she commented, "Hmmm.... That's funny. When I lost my bag there was a $20 bill in it. Now there are twenty $1 bills." The boy quickly replied, "That's right, lady. The last time I found a lady's purse, she didn't have any change for a reward."
Just a Thought
If Christmas cards really depicted the conditions of the stable when Jesus was born, would we want to receive it?
I doubt if the place was antiseptic clean, well lit and cozy warm. I doubt if the manger was carefully made with straw pristine and germless. I doubt if Mary’s dress, or robe, was spotless, blue and radiant. And Joseph? Of course, they could have been there for several days, living in a room right off the stable, now more properly clean and tidy after a few days of cleaning! Either way the reality was far from the Christmas card image – but just right for the spiritual and genuine reality of our lives and how we need to be connected to Jesus.
For, you see, God was connecting Himself with us. And where we need His connection most is not in the antiseptic public arenas of our lives, the exterior persona so carefully groomed, shining clean and orderly; but in the ugly, cracked, smelly arenas of our minds and hearts. We need His connection in those places of pent-up anger and hatred toward someone who hurt us, or the place of pride and self-sufficiency that is convinced that most, if not all, people could be as good as me if they just made the effort. That stuff, we know by the Holy Spirit’s urging, is the smelly stuff of the heart we hide and hope no one sees. But that’s where we, also again by the Spirit’s urging, ache for a connection that would still love us and not reject us despite those feelings.
So God connected to humanity in an ugly, unkempt place once – in Bethlehem. And we can know He is more than willing to connect Himself in our lives at those points of ugliness, too. There, in the unclean, He comes with the genuine help we need – true forgiveness, true love despite what He finds, and an absolute commitment not to abandon us because of what He finds.
The ugly doesn’t scare Him. He’s used to it! -Unknown
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