[Bslc-dist] Pastorgr@m

[Mark Bertermann]

Christmas Greetings, friends!

A quote from somebody:  "The blessedness of Christmas is all wrapped up in
the Person of Jesus.  Our relationship determines the measure of the
blessing."

In the light of the above, I want to encourage/challenge you to take some
time to get off in a corner by yourself for a few moments & leisurely read
over Matt. 1:18ff...and/or Luke 2...and/or John 1.  Just get quiet inside
and let the message sink in.  It's such a challenge to "dig through" to the
reality that lies beneath all the hoopla.

Christmas Eve, as you know:  3:30 (Kids-oriented); 5:15 & 7:00.  Be bold to
be friendly to people you don't know; ask God to lead you to someone to
reach out to in a special way.  Watch what He does!

Christmas Day Worship (Try it, you might like it!) is at 10 a.m.  The
offering that day will be divided between the following:
*	The Lutheran Hour
*	Lutheran World Relief
*	Lutheran Bible Translators
*	Local Needy Families (We've really been bombarded with requests
lately and our funds for this are depleted.)

If you want your voice heard in the matter of same-sex marriages, you might
take just a moment to "vote" by going to www.marriagepoll.com
<http://www.marriagepoll.com> . 

If you'd like a free Bible Reading Schedule to use in '04, blip me back &
I'll see that you get one.  (It can guide you in reading through the whole
Bible, or selected portions, in a year.)  I've found it helps me keep track
of what I've read...and haven't.

I like these words from Sherwood Wirt, describing the mood of that first
Christmas:

"The people of that time were being heavily taxed, and faced every prospect
of a sharp increase to cover expanding military expenses.  The threat of
world domination by a cruel, ungodly, power-intoxicated band of men was ever
just below the threshold of consciousness.  Moral deterioration had
corrupted the upper levels of society and was moving rapidly into the broad
base of the populace.  Intense nationalistic feeling was clashing openly
with new and sinister forms of imperialism.  Conformity was the spirit of
the age.  Government handouts were being used with increasing lavishness to
keep the population from rising up and throwing out the leaders.  Interest
rates were spiraling upward in the midst of an inflated economy.  External
religious observances were considered a political asset, and abnormal
emphasis was being placed upon sports and athletic competition.  Racial
tensions were at the breaking point.  In such a time, and amid such a
people, a child was born to a migrant couple who had just signed up for a
fresh round of taxation, and who were soon to become political exiles.  And
the child who was born was called, among other things, Immanuel, God with
us."

God be WITH YOU this Christmas,
Pastor Mark
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