²⁵ There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Luke 21:25-27

This passage from Luke is excerpted from the gospel for the first Sunday in Advent. It is apocalyptic literature, a message to those in peril to remain faithful, to trust that God is with us, that God will deliver us from peril.

I’ve been reflecting, in these waning daylight hours, on some signs that others have noted of late in the seas and the heavens.  We screened a DVD of An Inconvenient Truth in the Social Hall last month, Al Gore’s documentary on what he sees as the crisis concerning green-house gasses and global warming. He makes a strong, if circumstantial, case that the world needs to radically decrease our emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Shortly after, I read an article by Elizabeth Kolbert in The New Yorker (November 20) describing the scientific evidence of  “ocean acidification,” the consequence of CO2  absorption into the world’s oceans.  The scientists that Ms. Kolbert interviews essentially propose an even bleaker reading of the signs in the roaring sea and waves than Mr. Gore discerns in the sun, moon and stars: coral bleaching, reef disintegration, whole oceans becoming alkaline, massive species elimination. The proposed antidote is, again, more radical Mr. Gore’s: eliminate all carbon emissions.  Oh, my…

So what does all this have to do with Advent, much less Christmas?  First, this: God has promised, since the rainbow appeared to Noah and his family after another difficult moment in environmental history, to be with us always.  Next: Luke’s Advent gospel remembers Jesus promising his followers that, when their world is shaken to its foundations, he will come and deliver them.

The concluding verse of this lectionary passage contains essential advice: “be alert at all times (v.36).” The Bible, in Genesis, clearly places responsibility for stewardship of the earth in our hands.  As the days grow shorter and (theoretically) colder, as we increase our use of energy to light and heat our dwelling places, let’s do our best to be alert to that energy, appreciate where it comes from and what it costs, in all senses of that term.  Let’s look for signs in the scriptures, and signs in our lives, of ways that we can contribute to global understandings of how koinonia, the “whole inhabited earth,” may thrive for generations to come, until we see the Son of Man, coming in power and great glory.

A blessed Advent, and a peace-filled Christmas, to you all.

If you would like to place a plant in the church during Christmas Services or have a name included on our Memorial/Honoree List to acknowledge a person or an event, please fill out this form and submit it for inclusion by Sunday, December 17th.

While any amount may be donated, the guideline is $10.00 per plant and $5.00 per memorial / honoree.
# / / Plant(s)

# / / Memorial(s) / Honoree(s)
Total Enclosed $ __________

Given to the Glory of God - In Memory of: / In Honor of: (circle one)

December 3rd: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

December 10th: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
December 17th: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
December 24th: Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
December 31: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Psalm 148, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52

On the first three Sundays in December the Sunday School is holding a craft sale.  All proceeds will benefit Heifer International, a remarkable organization that works exclusively in the area of livestock and agriculture to develop programs that alleviate hunger and poverty world-wide.You can learn more about this organization at the craft table, or go their website at www.heifer.org.

We have registered this project with Thrivent’s Care in Congregations program. This means that our donations will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $1300 dollars.  If you will not be in church this December, but would like to support this worthy project, you may direct checks to the office.  Please write “Heifer” in the memo line of your check.

On Sunday, November 12th, St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel received new members during the 11:00 worship service.  Heather Petersen, Kathleen Ruen, Joe McAdams and Lyla McAdams joined as members.  Another New Member Sunday is planned for February.  Please contact Pr. Parsons if you would like more information.

Once again this year, Petra Hiigel, daughter of Charisse and Gene Hiigel, will be participating in the Appalachia Volunteers Program, a student-run service organization at Boston College. The program culminates with week-long spring break service trips, providing Petra and her classmates with the opportunity to live and work in an impoverished Appalachian community.

Last March, 650 Boston College students traveled to thirty-seven different sites, in states such as West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina. Now the program is stretching even further south, sending students to the Gulf Coast to continue Hurricane Katrina relief.

The program is entirely student-operated; students are responsible for funding the program’s over $300,000 budget. Any contribution (fully tax-deductible) you can make would help. Please make checks payable to Campus Ministry, with memo labeled “Appalachia” and send them to: Appalachia Volunteers Program, Boston College, Office of Campus Ministry, McElroy Commons 233, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
If you would like to know more about the program, visit their website at www.bc.edu/appalachia.

Stewardship Report For November

- Sunday attendance in November averaged 79
- offerings averaged $2271

Servers for Sundays in December

Sunday December 3rd
Assisting Minister - Berthe Razafindramaro; Communion Assistant - Nanciann Piekarski; Lector - Fae Locke; Coffee hour: Minter Krotzer.

Sunday December 10th
Assisting Minister - David Dumais; Communion Assistant - Marie Towle;
Lector -Becky Renaud; Coffee Hour: Santa Lucia

Sunday December 17th
Assisting Minister -Gene Hiigel; Communion Assistant -Valmekie Basil;
Lector -Jennifer Medina; Coffee Hour: Ramona Kohrs

Sunday, December 24th
Assisting Minister - Jim Vizzini; Communion Assistant - Suzanne Bagley;
Lector - Naomi Lancia; Coffee Hour: Jim & Emma Vizzini

Sunday, December 31st
Assisting Minister - Brit Geiger; Communion Assistant - Pat Luback; Lector - Karin Genis; Coffee hour: Berthe & Fae Razafindramaro

Member Birthdays in December

Randy Bholanauth 12/1
Justin Ramkelawan 12/2
Evelyn Larson 12/3
Selene Christensen 12/7
Mary Kenny 12/7
David Santee, 12/9
Frank Freitag 12/10
Richard Miller 12/10
Eugene Hiigel 12/13
Ethan Ramkelawan 12/15
Jocelyne Rakotoarivelo 12/18
Eliza Dumais 12/19
George Locke 12/19
Randi Baker 12/20
Laurel Axen 12/23
Ernest Cox 12/27
Isabella Hiigel 12/31

Memorials

Memorial Gifts have been received…

…from Margery Baer
in loving memory of:
George Spach, born 12/1
Josephine Spach, born 12/2
Lillie Baer, born 12/23

…from Barbara & Jim Ruggiero
in loving memory of:
Billy Green, born 12/3
Joseph Gegenheimer, born 12/9
Billy Green, died 12/23
Sylvia Baer, born 12/25

…from Eleanor Reichert
in loving memory of:
Louis Reichert, died 12/20

If your name, or that of someone you know, is not included in the birthdays or Memorials, please contact the church office so that we may correct the omission.

An Apology:

In the last two months, we have inadvertently omitted Memorials received from Margery Baer in the Sunday bulletin: For Grace Schwoyer, birthdate 10/18; Henry Krooss, birthdate 10/18; George Spach, birthdate 12/1; Josephine Spach, birthdate 12/2.
While any such omission is lamentable, for Margery, who is the last living member directly related to an original member of St. John’s, it is especially so. With sincere regrets, and a renewed determination to “get it right…”
Pr. Parsons
Crystal Cooper, office administrator

Sunday attendance in October averaged 87

Sunday offerings averaged $2075

Katherine Dumais and Siiri Rikala were confirmed as members of St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 29th. Both young women processed with banners of their own design and construction, and read personal faith statements as part of their Affirmation of Baptism rite. Katherine and Siiri will continue their participation in the educational ministry of the church by assisting with Sunday School classes for the remainder of this school year.

November 5

Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 24, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44

November 12

1 Kings 17:8-16, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44

November 19

Daniel 12:1-3, Psalm 16, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8

November 26

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37

November is the month of Thanksgiving, the month when we take a day (some of us may take several days) to appreciate and give thanks for the abundance in our lives. That abundance is, of course, not calculated just in material or temporal things. For many, Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are the sweetest gifts of the holiday.

On Saturday, November 18th, there will be a gathering of Reconciling in Christ congregations of this synod. Click here for details.

November 18th will be a gathering of thanksgiving: “RIC” congregations, of which this church is one, will share stories of successes in their particular setting. Other congregations of this synod will be present to learn how their church can join this movement of welcome and affirmation. Emily Eastwood, national director of the RIC program, will report on the exciting growth of RIC congregations and activities around the country.

November 18th will also be a time to hear laments. We will hear of congregations that refuse to acknowledge or welcome gay and lesbian members. We will learn of pastors who are defrocked, seminarians who are removed from candidacy, because of their decisions to live as the people God created them to be.

This congregation made a thoughtful, informed decision to join the Reconciling in Christ movement. It can perhaps seem that our work is done. But there are so many individuals and congregations that still need support, still need to hear that God’s welcome is a welcome to all people to “come unto me… and I will give you rest.”

On November 18th, I hope you will plan to attend the RIC gathering at St. Peter’s, to hear and be inspired by both the laments and the thanksgivings, to share in the fellowship, and to learn how we can continue to grow in faith and service.

- Pastor Parsons