We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
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 Courage of Joseph
There’s an almost entirely unsung hero in the Christmas story who shows great moral and manly might. He’s “The Man.” Encounter the ever quiet but ever courageous Joseph this Sunday, December 7 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.
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 9—12 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 in Brazil
In our prayers this Sunday, we’re praying for the Alan Crèche. This day care center in southern Brazil cares for children newborn—18 years old. Each day they serve over 500 meals to needy children. In addition to caring for the children, the parents are taught new skills and vocational training. Along with food and education, children and parents receive love and care in the name of Christ. Word of Life supports the ministry of the Alan Crèche through the Brazil Mission Society. Ten percent of our regular Sunday morning offerings are given to this missionary organization.
Bible Study Opportunities:
For Men
Men, feast on your favorite IHOP food and God’s 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 Mitschke’s, 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.
Christiansen Christmas Open House
David and Shirley Christiansen invite you to see their new home and celebrate the holidays with a Christmas Open House and house blessing on Sunday, December 7 from 2 – 6:00 p.m. at 137 Oyster Springs, Canyon Lake. For directions or questions, call 830-885-6437.
Women’s 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 4:00—6:30 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
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 Shirley’s 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. We’ll meet at the Scott’s (831 Fern Meadow, Universal City) on Friday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m. Invite your friends and watch for further details.
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—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 Concert
The San Antonio Lutheran Chorale presents “We Beheld His Glory” on Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will be held at King of Kings Lutheran church, 13888 Dreamwood, San Antonio. The concert is free. A free-will offering will be collected.
Operation Christmas Child
Thank you to everyone who brought gift-filled shoeboxes the other Sunday. We delivered 35 boxes to the collection center! Read the following story about how one such gift touched the life of a child last Christmas.
Each Christmas, Operation Christmas Child collects and sends over eight million shoeboxes stuffed with small gifts such as candy, school supplies, small toys, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo to children across the world. In Mexico, hundreds of boys and girls gathered at the church in a small village, excitedly anticipating the arrival of their precious shoeboxes.
Delightful chaos erupted as bulging shoeboxes, wrapped in brightly colored paper and ribbon were passed into the small, eager hands of each child. Wrapping paper was hurriedly ripped into pieces and tossed aside, a smile spreading across the face of each child as their long awaited Christmas treasures were revealed.
However, one little boy dissolved into tears as he lifted the lid of his box and peered inside to see what he had received for Christmas this year. One of the volunteers spotted the little boy and hurriedly made his way across the church to see what the problem could possibly be. With the help of an interpreter, the volunteer asked the now sobbing little boy, "What is wrong? What is in your box?" With tears streaming down his face, the little boy said, "Socks!" The worker instantly understood and assured the little boy that he could trade his box of socks for another box that might have crayons or a piece of candy in it. Alarm spread across the face of the child as he vigorously shook his head and quickly jerked the box away from the now somewhat confused worker.
Clutching the shoebox to his chest, the boy began sobbing out an explanation to the interpreter who listened for a few moments and then, with tears spilling out of his own eyes, turned to the volunteer and said, "You won't believe this!" Taking a deep, steadying breath, the interpreter explained, "This little boy has a rare skin condition with which he was born. It seems to affect his feet more than any other part of his body. The doctors have tried various medications and treatments but finally told the little boy that nothing will work and his feet will never heal unless he begins wearing cotton socks. His parents cannot even afford food for this boy; much less provide socks for their son. So, all year long, he has been praying for socks."
Have you ever considered the idea that your Christmas gift may very well be an answer to someone's prayer?
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]
Leader's Insight: There's Something about Joseph - "What leaders can learn from the Nativity about the high cost of righteousness..." by John Ortberg [more]
Christmas as It Was Originally Celebrated - "Somewhere in a strange city, with the 'No Vacancy' sign hung out all over town, her water broke. And from somewhere deep inside of him, Joseph summoned one more tremendous act of courage and convinced a beleaguered inn keeper, overwhelmed by the crush of people swarming to town for the census, to at least allow his young wife to have her baby in the barn and not out on a Bethlehem street..." [more]
Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings
We Thank God…
for giving Joseph great courage, for graciously giving him everything he needed to be the righteous, loving, faithful protector of Mary and Jesus, for the willing sacrifice and quiet service of Joseph
for our specific, written thanksgivings as well as our unwritten blessings - all good things come from God
for healing Oscar Morgan
for the safe return of Jonathon Isquierdo from Afghanistan
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 commitment and 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 courage, to become more righteous, more loving, more faithful and more heroic as we face the threats that are a part of following God’s plan and purpose for our lives
to bless the ministry of the ALAN Day Care Center as it provides physical, vocational and spiritual care to needy children and parents 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 bless those who received our Thanksgiving food boxes and our Operation Christmas Child gift boxes
to help us make godly choices for this Christmas season
to improve our corporate and individual economies and to improve or maintain our health
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, Jacob Woo and Stephen Linn in Iraq
to protect Howard Leasure in Iraq
to comfort those who mourn, especially during the Christmas season
to heal Norma Koester, Katherine Knowles, Gary Cadwising, Jordan Hernandez, Bea Bernthal and Erwin Michalk; to heal those battling cancer: Todd Reineck, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Brandon Landsbury, Rebecca O'Dell, Ruie Pines, Alden Malachowski, 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 build a bigger heaven and better lives.
Join us in prayer wherever you are! You may leave prayer requests at 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.
Jesus, Joseph and Mary Funny
A Sunday school teacher was speaking to a group of four-year-olds about Jesus, Joseph and Mary. After the lesson the kids were to draw a picture depicting their favorite part of the story. The teacher shared the pictures the children drew with the entire class. She got pictures of the Baby Jesus in the manger with animals, she got pictures of the three wise men and the like. Then she got to a picture from little Jimmy, a picture of an airplane with four people on it. She called Jimmy up to explain his picture. She told Jimmy that she could see Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus, obviously in their "flight" to Egypt. She didn't understand why there was another man on the plane. Jimmy quickly explained, "That's Pontius, the pilot."
Just a Thought
"A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes... and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Joy & Peace,
Pastor Ken Mitschke
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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