Due to the extreme weather, the worship service and the Christmas Program scheduled for Sunday, December 18, have been canceled. The band concert at Wellington Place at 1:00 pm Sunday will still happen. Everyone is invited to come share in fellowship and caroling with the residents.

The 10th Annual Prayer Service simulcast between the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. and Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine is happening this Saturday, December 17 at 9 am, CST. It will be offered through web streaming from the National Cathedral’s website.

Pr. Mitri Raheb, of Christmas Lutheran Church,  and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land Bishop Munib Younan typically participate.  The photo in this post was taken January 2016 on the street next to Christmas Lutheran Church.

Tuesday, December 13
5:15 p.m. – Evangelism Committee
7:00 p.m.- Budget Committee

Wednesday, December 14
7:30 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast
10:30 a.m. – Communion at Aase Hagen
1:00 p.m. – Prayer Shawl Ministry, Marie Freerking hosts
2:00 p.m. – Communion at Wellington Place
2:00 p.m. – Miriam/Ruth Circle, Donna Bahr hosts
5:30 p.m. – Advent Prayer Service/Dinner Gathering Out
7:00 p.m. – Choir Rehearsal
7:45 p.m. – Band Rehearsal

Thursday, December 15
10:00 a.m. – Bible Study with Pastor Amy
5:00 p.m. – Community Meal at First Lutheran
6:30 p.m. – Altar Guild Organizational Meeting

Sunday, December 18 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:45 a.m. – Choir Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. – Worship with Holy Communion
10:30 a.m. – Fellowship Hour

In the case of inclement weather, it is the policy at Good Shepherd to cancel very rarely.  Worship services will be held and members are advised to consider their own safety before venturing out.  If needed, cancelation notices will be sent to members via email, posted on the website, Facebook and Google+ and sent to local media.

The ELCA has created a series of four Advent devotions entitled “Liberated by God’s Grace” for each of the four Sundays in Advent.  Here is the link for the devotion for the Third Sunday, December 11.

Advent Devotion 3

Bishop Eaton notes that “churches shaped by the 16th century reformations—the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Episcopal Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America all participate in a ministry of reconciliation.” Over fifteen years ago, these churches’ respective full communion agreements inaugurated new relationships.  Bishop Eaton says, “We are committed to working together toward reconciliation—of the church, and of the deepest social ills that plague our world. It is our hope, together with you, to be signs of anticipation—of the “already, but not yet” of God’s realm of reconciliation, justice, and peace. In this spirit we have prepared a series of devotions for the season of Advent…”