December 2021 Cross Connection Newsletter
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A Season of Hope and Light
Season of Advent
This year, in partnership with Lutheran World Relief, each of the four weeks of Advent will focus on the theme of hope. Not only will we consider how we prepare for Christmas, we will also be challenged to see how our faith is called to be active in love. Each week, resources will be available through our website and various social media platforms.
ADVENT 1
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Luke 21:25-36 | Be Alert
Waiting in Hope: Recovering from Hurricanes Eta and Iota
ADVENT 2
Sunday, December 5, 2021
Luke 1:68-79 | The Tender Mercy of God
Singing in Hope: COVID Relief in Nepal
ADVENT 3
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Luke 3: 7-18 | Whoever Has, Must Share
Sharing in Hope: How cooking in hope helps refugees in Lebanon
ADVENT 4
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Luke 1:39-55 | The Magnificat
Running to Hope: A Mother’s Song in Uganda
Hanging of the Greens
A Parish Christmas Decorating Event
Sunday, December 19, 2021 following the 10:00 a.m. Service
Everyone is invited to stay a bit for a blessing of the hanging of the greens and to lend a hand in decorating the church for Christmas. Come and enjoy the fellowship and stay for the refreshments! No experience necessary. All are welcome!
Longest Night: Blue Christmas Evening Prayer
Conococheague Mission Cooperative
Tuesday, December 21, 2021@ 7:00 p.m.
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
44 East Main Street, Fayetteville, PA
As an active participant in the Conococheague Mission Cooperative, we are encouraged to consider attending this service. While Advent is a season of hope and Christmas is a season of joy, not everyone feels hopeful or like celebrating. Grief, illness, aging, depression, loneliness, unemployment, and loss are magnified. Even those who are not struggling with losses may feel the stress of preparations and expectations around Christmas time. A Longest Night/Blue Christmas service may provide a time and place of solace during the often frenetic days surrounding the celebration of Christmas. We come together seeking healing and room to share grief, sadness, loneliness, or confusion when these emotions often feel out of place during the holidays.
In the Northern Hemisphere, December 21 is the longest night, the winter solstice. It marks the shortest day of the year, the official start of winter. Tradition says that nature and all her creatures stop and hold their breath to see if the sun will turn back from its wanderings, if the days will lengthen and the earth will once again feel the sun’s warmth. On this darkest day of the year, we come with our honest yearnings seeking the return of light and hope.
The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve
Friday, December 24, 2021
7:00 p.m.
Prelude music to begin at 6:30 PM
First Sunday of Christmas
Sunday, December 26, 2021
10:00 a.m.
Service of Lessons and Carols
Epiphany Vespers
Epiphany of our Lord
Thursday, January 6, 2022
7:00 p.m.
Following this service, stick around for fellowship and lend a hand to undecorate the church from the Christmas Season.
Worship
Sundays and Special Days in December
December 5: 2nd Sunday in Advent
We prepare the way for the coming of Jesus and assist all people in capturing a vision of the “salvation of God.”
December 12: 3rd Sunday in Advent
The coming of one “more powerful” than John, even with a winnowing fork in hand, is good news—and cause for exultation—for us who are being saved.
December 19: 4th Sunday in Advent
It is the kind of tension in which the church always lives as when in holy communion—with high delight—“we proclaim the Lord’s death.”
December 24: Christmas Eve
Filled with the light that shines in our lives, we go forth to share the light of Christ with the whole world.
December 25: Christmas Day (no worship service)
Emboldened by the good news of Christ’s birth, along with the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and all witnesses to the light of Christ, we declare to the world that we have indeed seen and been transformed by the arrival of “the salvation of our God.” O come, let us adore!
December 26: 1st Sunday of Christmas
As the festival continues, “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
Sunday Worship Services
- 10 a.m. every Sunday
- In-person and online
Wednesday Healing Services
We have a weekly service of Prayer, Healing, and Holy Communion every Wednesday at 11 a.m. This simple service is a great way to connect with a smaller group of people in a supportive environment. In-person Wednesday Prayer services do not require advance reservation.
Wednesday Prayer Service
Prayer & Share via Zoom is on pause until the new year. Please check weekly announcements for updates about this service re-starting.
Support
Parish records
November 20, Memorial Service
MaryAnn Gleockner (date of death, October 18)
November 21, Wedding
Ellen Elise Kroepil and Ryan Michael Coccagna
Worship Support 2022
We are in great need of Volunteers for the
upcoming year, in all areas. Please take a moment at the church to fill out a form or call the office and Christine will fill it out for you.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” -Elizabeth Andrew
Prayer Requests
Confidential prayer requests can be made online: https://stlukechambersburg.org/connect
Card Showers
If you’d like to request a special card shower for a special someone, please reach out to the office at St. Luke!
Education
YOUth
Teen Activity for Advent
All those in Grades 6-12, keep your eye out for a letter in the mail! There may be a monetary surprise in there for you to help you enjoy the holiday and complete the ‘assignment’ in the envelope!
Kirchenwald Winter Youth Retreat
January 7—9, 2022 (registration due by December 15)
For youth in grades 3—9
Broom hockey on a frozen pond, sledding, snow soccer, creative Bible studies and worship experiences – all part of the weekend retreat at Kirchenwald. Contact Shelly if you’re interested.
College Exam Time!
All our students attending college are getting ready for exam time. Make sure you say an extra prayer for them as they wrap up the semester, study and take their finals. Students taking college classes and exams this December are Lorpu Yanquoi, Stephen Pettyjohn, Scott Pettyjohn, Sam Spiese, Jake Corwell, and Joe Corwell. Each of our students will be receiving a care package of encouragement in the form of words and snacks. Snacks are always a good encouragement!
Christmas Party
Calling all families! That’s all of you! We’re having a Kids Christmas Party with fun activities and pizza for dinner! Bring your children or your grandchildren and join us for an evening of fun. Sunday, December 5 from 4:00—6:00pm. Sign up on the Bulletin Board or by emailing Shelly.
Shelly Davies, Director of Education and Outreach
[email protected]; 717-372-9579
Outreach
Christmas Caroling @ Luther Ridge
Join us to bless our local community with singing. We will go around the cottages of Luther Ridge, door to door, and sing a few of our favorite carols. Dress festive (and warm) and meet at the church on Friday,
December 17 at 6:00 p.m. Stay afterwards and join us in the Fellowship Hall for hot cocoa and cookies!
Overcomer, the Movie
Did you enjoy the movie Overcomer when it was in theaters two years ago? If you saw it, you loved it! And if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re gonna love it! Look for more information as we join with St. Paul Lutheran in Fayetteville for a movie night coming in the new year!
PowerPacks
We’re packing weekend lunches again in December for the elementary students in our area! Join us Thursdays (Dec. 2, 9, and 16) from 10:00—11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall to help sort and stuff bags.
Congregation, Council, Committees
Council Highlights October 2021
- August giving up 1.43% over 2020
- September giving up 2.32% over 2020
- Nominating Committee will be appointed soon
- Strategic Planning—the Congregational Information Session was held
on Sunday, October 17 - Communications Team met October 20 – A Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) analysis was conducted
- A new refrigerator to be purchased for approximately $1,000
- Outreach committee did 69 Power Packs in October and will do them again in December
- St. Seraphim Center (Soup Kitchen) December 11 (could use more volunteers)
- Social Ministry Pentecost Projects will continue through November
- Social Ministry Afghan Refugee Relocation Project
Social Ministry Initiative
Saving those alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, hearing aid batteries, and others? Wondering what to do with them? Want to help lessen the way we pollute our earth?
Keep some of those harmful chemicals hiding in batteries from going into landfills. January at St. Luke is the time and place to get rid of those household batteries. Containers for batteries will be in the far hallway starting in January. We’ll be partnering with local businesses to recycle the batteries you donate. Thanks for the part you will be doing in helping preserve our earth.
Calendar
Visit our online calendar for the most current updates to meetings, events, and services.
Connect
2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202
717-261-1213
[email protected]