Newsletter
January 29, 2023
St. Paul Lutheran LCMS
Julesburg, CO
970.474.2592
Website – stpauljulesburg.org
The Pathlight
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Ps. 119:105
Zion Lutheran LCMS
Big Springs ,NE
308.289.5148
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
01232023 Vol.4 Issue 9
God’s Christmas Gift for Forever Life
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
We have all been scooping snow and carefully driving along the country roads and the streets of Big Springs and Julesburg. Happy for the moisture and bemoaning the quantity…..right now though…..my prayer for you …..is that you are still feeling the afterglow of Christmas! That’s one of the problems with the way that the world celebrates Christmas. They miss out on the real party! They miss the 12 Days of Christmas which just begin with Christmas day. They miss out on the party of Epiphany on January 6 which celebrates the Wise Men acknowledging just who this baby is (see Matthew 2:1-12). And they miss out on the afterglow that follows us throughout January, and the whole Epiphany season.
As a child dancing around the Christmas tree in Danish tradition and singing along with my church family on Christmas Eve, “Nu er det jul igen. Og nu er det jul igen og julen varer indtil paske!” (Which translates to: Now it’s Christmas again. And now it’s Christmas again and Christmas lasts until Easter.) Then we would return home to oyster stew and singing and dancing around the tree in the living room. As a child I knew the words, but I didn’t understand the meaning behind those words. Now I think about them again and again. God sent His gift into the world, and this gift is for you and for me! We revel in that fact every day of the year!
The rest of the word is conditioned, and maybe even we Christians are being conditioned to an extent, to miss the whole thing. We too get drawn into the modern, cultural Christmas celebrations -- you know, the “Happy Holidays” stuff. The views focusing on the weeks leading up to Christmas and then shutting everything down on December 26th. There is a race to take down the lights, put away the presents, and thrown out the tree or store it away again just days after Christmas. It’s easy to see why people miss the enduring joy of the season when to them, the really important things are Black Friday, Cyber Monday, gifts, eggnog, and the NBA on Christmas day. If that’s all it is, I would have a Christmas hangover too.
Let’s learn from the ancient church. They didn’t even start celebrating Christmas until Christmas day. Then they would actually observe twelve days of Christmas starting with Christmas day. Why? Those twelve days were to be time for ongoing reflection and continued celebrations of who the baby in the manger truly is, the eternal Son of God in our flesh. He came as GOD’S GIFT to the world. He came as God’s SAVIOR of the world. He came to bring a kingdom into our world that would last forever. John, the last prophet said it simply, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). In the verse above the Lamb of God Himself tells you what’s at stake. “Repent!” Which means to turn away from yourself and your sins, and turn to God. Why? “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” because Jesus is here for you!
What is this kingdom? First, you can’t create it and you can’t make it happen; you can only receive it as a gift from the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Second, it’s the only kingdom that lasts. It’s the only thing in this life that will endure. So whatever you and I think is important in life, nothing is more important than receiving this kingdom through His Word and Sacraments, THIS GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE from Jesus is still present among us, through faith in Him. In your Bible study this year, keep unwrapping all of the gifts He brings to you. He freely gives real power to live life to its fullest because His gifts provide a peace that passes all human understanding……they establish a relationship with God that never ends!
Pastor Christensen
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:
MITE SUNDAY will be held at St. Paul's on Sunday, January 29, 2023. During the next 2 years, the Food and Clothing Co-op of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, will receive $5,000 for the purchase of perishable items to help reduce the financial burden of the seminarians and their families. The God Cares About You; Summer Intern Ministry was awarded $6,000 to fund a Summer Intern Ministry for two summers meeting the needs of those in the Albuquerque International Zone which is one of the poorest and most crime ridden neighborhoods of the city to change lives both today and for eternity. Your mite gifts are greatly appreciated by these recipients.
MIRIAM CIRCLE will be having their first afternoon meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. All women of the congregation are encouraged to come and join us for this late afternoon meeting.
Miriam Circle ladies have adopted Peter Wagner Seminar student at Ft. Wayne IN,
____________________________________________________________
Coming Up1
St.. Paul and Zion members are invited to the Installation of Rev. Bror Erickson at Trinity, Ft. Morgan on February 12that 4:00 p.m. Following the installation a meal will be served for all.
_______________________________________________________________________
Holy Baptism
Jett Zachary Sanabria son of Forrest and Marlee Sanabria was baptized on Saturday, January 14, 2023. St. Paul welcomes Jett as a child of God into our church family.
“Let the children come to Me; do not hinder hinder them, for to such belongs the
kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14
__________________________________________________________
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany January 29. 2023
While the wisdom of this world promotes prosperity, Jesus teaches humility. Those characteristic that the world might look down on, God calls blessed. While we might be persecuted for these things, God reminds us that our reward is in heaven. For
what may seem wise to the world is truly foolish and what seems foolish to the world-Christ crucified – is wise. Just as He redeemed the Israelites and calls them His own people, so also has He rescued us from sin.
Order of Worship - Matins pg. 219
Hymn #810 “O God of God, O Light of Light”
Old Testament Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Hymn # 842 “Son of God, Eternal Savior”
Sermon
Offering
Te Deum pg 223 “We Praise you, O God”
Kyrie pg.228
Prayers
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
Hymn #683 “Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me” _________________________________________________________________
Servants at St. Paul ZiON
Ushers/ Greeters – Mark Berges / Gerald Orth Usher /Greeter
Organist – Jeanie Boehm
Acolyte – Jennifer Toyne Altar Guild
Calendar
St. Paul Zion
January 29 – 8:00 Sunday School
9:00 Worship Service January 29 - 11:00 Worship
January 30 – 9:30 Bible Study
February 2 – 9:30 Bible Study
February 1 – 3:30 Midweek
4:15 Catechism
_______________________________________________________________