december one
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ONE, a faith publication of The Hays Daily News, looks at faith in the Ellis County community. This issue allows local pastors to tell the story of the birth of Jesus.TRANSCRIPT
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ELLIS COUNTY MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE
DECEMBER 2011
THE BIRTH OF JESUSecma tells the story from the gospel of luke
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Volume 4, Issue 12
Pastor KEVIN DANIELSHays Christian Church
Pastor KYLE ERMOIANCelebration Community Church
STEVE JOHNSONUnited Methodist Campus Center
Pastor LESLEY RADIUSTrinty Lutheran Church
www.trinityhays.org
Father MIKE SCULLYSt. Fidelis Catholic [email protected]
ONE is the official publication of the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance,
which guides its mission, content and theme.It is printed by The Hays Daily News.
ONE advisory board
ONE and the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance encourage submission from ECMA congregations.
Photographs, stories, testimonies and other submissions should be directed
toward your church leaders or sent via email to [email protected].
The ECMA advisory board will choose appropriate and timely submissions for publication.
Inside
Page 3 ............................................................ The story begins —”THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH”By Father Mike Scully
Page 7 .............................................................................................................. “THE BIRTH OF JESUSBy Father Barnabus Eichor
Page 9 .............................................................................................................BIBLE READING PLANBy Pastor Steve Dinkel
Page 13 ................................................................................................................. “ANNA SEES JESUS”By Pastor Berniece Ludlum
Page 15 ...................... The final chapter — “JESUS GROWS IN THE GRACE OF THE LORD”By Steve Johnson
ON THE COVER: A telling of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Ellis County
Ministerial Alliance board will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 at
Trinity Lutheran Church.
The columns in ONE
represent the views
of the author.
page 2 DECEMBER 2011
ONE
Dear ONE Reader
St. Joseph’s FOOD PANTRY
OPEN: 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturdays of each month at
St. Joseph’s Parish Service Center, 210 W. 13thUpcoming dates:
Dec. 3 & 17; Jan. 7 & 21; Feb. 4 & 18
Well, this is the final time that I will write the welcome to ONE as the president of the Ellis County Ministerial Alli-ance.
During the past two years, I have had the privilege of leading an organization that is dedicated to helping those in need, both physi-cally and spiritually.
I have seen many people benefit from the ECMA through financial assistance as well as community worship services and events. It has been a huge bless-ing for me to be a part of this ecumenical group that strives to be united as the body of Christ in Ellis County.
I would venture that most communities in the nation do not have a ministerial alliance that is as active and inclusive as we are in Ellis County. This is not to be a point of pride, but rather a testament to the fact that, collectively, we believe that what matters is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: That Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised again on the third day.
When we can focus on the Gospel — the most important part of any Christian faith — we are able to come together as one body to worship our Lord and savior. It has been exciting for me to witness firsthand how this community comes together in this way.
My heart’s desire is that the community will continue to come together as the one body of Christ, continuing to serve one another, love one another and worship together. I have confidence that under the leadership of president-elect Wes Oakley, vice president-elect Jerre Nolte, Jane Vanek, secretary, and Steve Johnson, treasurer, and of ECMA, our community will continue to work together for the glory of God.
It truly has been a blessing serving the community as president, and I am so thankful for all of the people with whom I was able to get to know and minister during these past two years.
May God bless each of you as we keep moving forward, together, for the glory of God.
ecma presidentKevinDaniels
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ONEpage 3 DECEMBER 2011
The prophecy of Isaiah made famous by Matthew the evangelist did not originally have a spiritual setting.
Ahaz was a Hebrew king who lived in the 700s BC, and a person preoccupied with keeping Israel intact. He did not have the army he needed, and he was about to go to the nation of Assyria, a traditional enemy of Israel, for help. Isaiah told him that what he was thinking was a mistake, that As-syria was the real problem. He said further Ahaz should ask for a sign from God as proof that what he said was true.
Ahaz answered with false piety that he could not do it because he was not worthy of addressing the one true God. It was
false piety, because he already had made up his mind, and he simply did not want to listen to anyone, even a spokesperson for God. Angrily, Isaiah then told him
he would give him a sign anyway and he proceeded to speak the famous prophecy which Matthew quotes in his Gospel as the sign of the coming Messiah.
Isaiah probably had in mind a more immediate
happening, but Matthew interpreted the prophecy to mean the incarnation of God into our world. As he phrased it, the son to be born would be Immanuel, meaning literally, “With us is God.”
Christians long have accepted the words to be true, namely that God did indeed come into our world, beginning his
life as we all do as a small child, but who would grow to be the Redeemer of the world he had entered. Cynics, however, see a different story.
They look at this world God has entered and ask the question, “Is God really with us?” That world has been scarred and marred by war and hatred and ill-will from the day God supposedly came; the world is torn by strife and discord often caused by so-called people dedicated to God; our individual lives are often nothing but pain-filled journeys that end in death. Where is God, the cynic will ask, in all of that?
People of faith, of course, see the same things cynics do — they would be blind if they did not. But they recognize some-thing else. They recognize the original problem of Ahaz who refused to listen to God.
People of faith realize they must listen to God who speaks to us in many differ-ent ways, but primarily in the words of the Gospel, that is, in the words and actions of the God-man Jesus Christ. He is Im-manuel — God with us who came with a message to be learned and acted upon.
People of faith believe with all their hearts the virgin has conceived and has given birth to God who is with us. They also know they must listen to that God. Indeed, as they listen, they see that they themselves must become Immanuel — God with us — to the world who does not believe.
Father Mike Scully is from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays.
fatherMikeScully
The prophecy of Isaiah
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Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, And bear a son, and shall call
his name Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14 KJV
(C3 is located just north of I-70 at exit 157, Hays KS 67601)
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page 4 DECEMBER 2011
ONE
She’s just a young woman, an ordinary young woman. She lives in Nazareth of Galilee,
an obscure little village tucked away in the hills. Most likely she’s still a teenager. For certain she’s a virgin. And she’s engaged to be married. Marriage happens early in Naza-reth. Her name is Mary. And her fiancé is Joseph, from the house of David. Mary has most likely never left her hometown. She probably knows nothing about the world be-yond Nazareth. But Mary thinks she knows exactly what lies down the road. She will marry Joseph, bake his bread, bear his children, and live out the ordinary life of the village of Nazareth. Or so she imagines.
But God has other ideas. Ex-traordinary ideas. God wills to bring His salvation into the world — in the form of an infant child whose name will be Jesus. And for Jesus, this infant-sized salvation venture, God needs an agent, a body, in this case a mother’s womb. Mary is a virgin. Her womb is available. So God sends an extraordi-nary messenger, an an-gel to break into Mary’s everyday world and to interrupt her ordinary life forever.
We are told Mary was “confused and disturbed.” Who wouldn’t be? But the angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” Fear can be confusing, disturbing, over-whelming, paralyzing. So it should not be surprising that one of the most often repeated commands in Scripture is “Don’t be afraid!” In older translations, it is sometimes translated, “Fear not!” Fear of the unknown, fear of complications, fear of death and dying, fear of a circumstance, fear of the incomprehensible and a host of other fears can come crashing in on us. But the words that follow allow for some comfort. “You have found favor with God.”
It’s a message Mary never could have imagined in her wildest dreams. It’s a message she cannot fully understand. But this is a message that calls for response
— an immediate, whole-hearted, whole-bodied response. The life Mary thought she knew is gone forever. Mary no longer can see what lies down the road. But Mary opens her heart and her body to God
for a future God only knows: And Mary being the God honoring woman that she is says yes. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
As we journey toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, we too must be open to the call of God upon our lives. We too as the Lord’s servants will be challenged to live outside of the predict-able, safe existence we have prepared for ourselves to faithfully follow the fruit of Mary’s womb, the Savior of the world, the Lord of our lives, Jesus, into a most uncertain future. As you do, don’t be afraid because you too have found favor with God.
Kyle Ermoian is the founding and senior pastor of Celebration Community Church.
pastorKyleErmoian
The angel visits MaryIn the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of
King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary
tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most
High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be
holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say
she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38 NLT
Be not afraid.
The hill country in a city of Judah can be somewhat desolate. The desert sands reach the base of the
rocky hills, known as the Rift Valley. As far as the eye can see there is little separation between rocks and hills.
In ancient times, travel in this area of Judah was either on foot, or, if one could afford it, on the back of a mule or camel. With very little vegetation in the earth, the dweller in the hill country would have provided a way of living by small degrees of agriculture.
It was rare anyone would have gained economic prominence in life by this way of living, however.
In this region, many lived at or below recognized poverty levels. The area was known, however, as a “land of promise” because it was near the tip of the Fertile Crescent, an area of great produce and promise.
Even with the vague description of Mary’s final destination, the region is where Mary went “with haste” to visit her relatives — Zechariah and Eliza-beth.
Worthy of note, as to Mary’s departure to the “hill country,” is her humble acquiescence to the will of God. Mary did not hesitate to move on after the angel of the Lord de-parted from her presence.
The power of Mary’s faith carried her to meet Zechariah and greet Elizabeth. The power of Mary’s faith brought joy and promise to Elizabeth.
The power of Mary’s faith is available to modern readers and hearers of the birth of Jesus.
Geographically speaking, residents of Ellis County probably do not frequently describe our region to others as a desolate place to live.
Yet, some of us might feel we live in isolation, desolation or even in desperation. Still others from our community have been alienated by word and deed. Some of us feel
lost, alone or as though we are the least in society.
On the other hand, some of us do not feel isolated and alone, but rather, out of
sorts because of all of our activity. To some degree or another, we have gotten into a routine of active gather-ing with family and friends, overwhelmed with work, overextended with civic and community action that
we too sense feelings of hopelessness or helplessness.
To these ends, joy and the promise of hope seem far removed from us. Some of us lose our way or our faith during these days before the celebration of Christ’s birth.
What we need is a dose of the joy of liv-ing Elizabeth experienced.
As we reflect on Mary’s departure “with haste” to her relatives, Zechariah and Elizabeth, be invited to tap into the power of faith that Mary’s example provided. With humbleness and without hesitation she believed.
The Rev. Jerre W. Nolte is senior pastor at First United Methodist Church,
305 West Seventh, (785) 625-3408.
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ONEpage 5 DECEMBER 2011
Mary visits Elizabeth In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill
country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of
Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.And when Elizabeth heard the
greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a
loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that
the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your
greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for
you. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her
from the Lord.”Luke 1:39-45 RSV
pastorJerreNolte
The “hill coun-try” where Eliza-beth and Mary met.
Have news? Send it to [email protected]
PRESENTS
THE CHRISTMASCOMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE
BENEFITTING
COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE
CENTER
ST. JOSEPH’S FOOD
PANTRY
FEATURING
Admission: 2 cans of non-perishable items
New DateDec. 16 7:00 pm
Celebration Community Church
How many young unwed teenag-ers would consider the news of pregnancy good fortune as Mary
did? One would think Mary’s first reaction, upon receiving the news of her pregnancy from the Angel Gabriel, would be to wonder what Joseph would think and do. Legally, during that time, Joseph could have stoned Mary for what might seem to be “unfaithful actions.”
Instead, we find Mary praising God and thanking God for the opportunity to be the mother of Jesus. Mary remembered that in all things God is merciful. Mary remem-bered God is holy and God takes care of God’s creations. Mary also wanted to share what only she could see as “God-news.”
Mary trusted that God knew what God was doing and that all of the things she could not explain God could if God chose.
What does Mary’s response teach us when we come up against unexpected situ-ations? How might we respond to news that shocks us, changes our lives’ plans, and stretches us beyond what we think we can do or survive? What would our hearts say if we received unexpected news like Mary did?
My prayer is we will have the same spirit as Mary had as unexpected things happen in our lives. My prayer is we will see God in the midst of the unexpected and we will have the strength to remember God is forever merciful and
benevolent. No matter where we are in the unexpected, there God is with God’s care for
God’s creation.Mary, the mother of Je-
sus, taught us many things about what it means to be chosen by God to live a life many others might ques-tion. Mary, most of all, taught us about the pure
joy of being a child of God chosen to be a
witness to God’s love, mercy and grace.Throughout this Christmas season and
beyond, may Mary’s example of trust, joy and hope in God teach us how we are called to live as Christians who proclaim with the angels, “Christ, our Savior is born this night in Bethlehem.”
Alleluia.The Rev. Lesley Radius,
www.trinityhays.org, is pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church.
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page 6 DECEMBER 2011
ONE
Mary’s song of ‘God-news’And Mary said,
I’m bursting with God-news;I’m dancing the song of my
Savior God.God took one good look at me,
and look what happened —I’m the most fortunate woman
on earth!What God has done for me will
never be forgotten,the God whose very name is
holy, set apart from all others.His mercy flows in wave after
waveon those who are in awe be-
fore him.He bared his arm and showed
his strength,scattered the bluffing brag-
garts.He knocked tyrants off their
high horses,pulled victims out of the mud.The starving poor sat down to
a banquet;the callous rich were left out in
the cold.He embraced his chosen child,
Israel;he remembered and piled on
the mercies, piled them high.It’s exactly what he promised,beginning with Abraham and
right up to now.Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.
Luke 1:46-56 The Message
pastorLesleyRadius
Mary and Elizabeth
St. Joseph Catholic ChurchCelebration Community ChurchWestview ChurchMessiah Lutheran ChurchFirst Baptist ChurchSt. Fidelis Catholic ChurchSt. Nicholas of Myra Catholic
Church
Immaculate Heart of MaryCatholic Church
Hays Christian ChurchCornerstone Southern Baptist
ChurchFirst Presbyterian ChurchThomas More Prep-Marian
High SchoolMessenger
Eagle CommunicationsSt. Michael Episcopal ChurchHays Medical Center ChapelSt. Catherine Catholic ChurchNorth Oak Community ChurchFirst United Methodist ChurchTrinity Lutheran ChurchLiberty Fellowship
Can be picked up at one of the following locations:
a partnership of ECMA and the Hays Daily News
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A little more than 2,000 years ago, the ancient world saw something it had never seen before. A little
more than 2,000 years ago, the ancient world saw a few days, weeks, maybe a few months of peace. For 700 years, the empires of the ancient world — Rome, Babylon, Persia, Parthia — had been in constant warfare. At the time of Christ’s birth, these empires were exhausted from 700 years of constant warfare, their armies so weakened they were barely enough to defend the land the empires possessed, and they all were ruined finan-cially.
After 700 years of warfare, the eastern boundary of the Roman empire would be what it always had been — the Euphrates river. And now Rome’s military was spent and Rome’s coffers close to empty. The emperors took their armies home and agreements — both official and unoffi-cial — were made between the kings and emperors that for now, no wars of ag-gression would be fought — no one could afford it. The ancient world never had seen anything like it, and it would not last long. Into this strange, mysterious and unimaginable moment of peace, the King of Peace would be born.
Herod knew the prophecies and sto-ries about the coming of the great King Messiah. Herod also knew that with the restoration of Israel, it was time for that King to come out of the House of David. So Herod set out to find and destroy this threat to his power because power was all Herod ever wanted. Herod only could have been enraged when three kings from the Persian empire arrived — not to see him, but to find this great king. Herod’s
hands were tied; he could do nothing to these three kings as much as he, no doubt, wanted to. Herod could not drag Rome into a war with the east; Rome did not war, and Herod knew full well he served at Augustus Caesar’s pleasure. (Although an angel of the Lord would warn the wise men to avoid Herod on their way home — madmen are madmen and a human peace is not a lasting peace.)
The three wise men also knew the prophecies and stories of this great king
from the house David, who would be like no other king. This king was all the Jews
in exile had ever talked about or had hoped for, and the prophets of the Jews, while mysterious, always had been right.
Outside at night, a shepherd, whose life was nothing but a daily
struggle for survival in a war-torn world, perhaps found it strange, even eerie that there was no sound of a war going on; there were no sounds of soldiers coming, no screaming, no weeping. It was a silent
night. For a moment, he could rest; for a moment, his life was not threatened ... for a moment.
In this moment of peace, he could look up to the heavens and ask: “In all this madness is there any hope?” Not that he thought for a moment the heavens would answer to a poor simple shepherd, but the Heavens did answer him: “You have noth-ing to fear. I come to proclaim good news to you, tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day in David’s city a savior has been born to you, the Mes-siah and Lord.”
Father Barnabas Eichor O.F.M. Cap. is the parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish
in Hays. He can be reached at [email protected].
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was gover-nor of Syria.
And all went to enroll them-selves, every one to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Naza-reth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was be-trothed to him, being great with child.
And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be deliv-ered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7 ASV
The birth of Jesus
A Nativity scene.
fatherBarnabus Eichor
ONEpage 7 DECEMBER 2011
St. Fidelis Food Bank
The St. Fidelis Church Food Bank, 601 10th St., Victoria, is an ongoing ef-fort to feed the hungry as Jesus requested. It supplies non-perishable as well as perishable foods.
Supplies are limited to what we can receive from the state of Kansas and donations.
If you or anyone you know — friends, family or neighbors — would benefit from the Food Bank, contact the parish office at (785) 735-2777.
If any parishioner or organization would like to contribute to the food bank, bring donations to the parish office during office hours or call to schedule a convenient time.
ONE will take a look at re-imaging worship
in the new year.
Have ideas?Send them to
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page 8 DECEMBER 2011
ONE
Everything about the night he came was ordinary.Nondescript shep-
herds out in a field near Bethlehem tending sheep. These were men and boys at the lowest level of the Jewish social strata, often dishonest and unclean, according to the standards of the law. Not the sort of audience one would expect to receive a heavenly visitor.
The winter night sky was ordinary,
normal for that time of year — crisp, clear, sparkling stars against a dark velvety backdrop. It was not the kind of night to stay awake and watch for any surprises, but a night to huddle in a blanket on a mattress of grass.
The sheep — regular, wooly, lumpy sheep — ordinary animals with no pedi-gree, sleeping the night away under the watchful eye of several shepherds whose
job it was to stay awake.Nothing about this scene grabs atten-
tion. It was a night like too many others, ordinary, common, earthly.
But God could contain his excitement no longer. He had a birth announcement to make.
Suddenly, the night sky burst with brightness. The shepherds, startled from their slumber rubbed their eyes, blinded by the brilliance of the heavenly visitor. The blazing glory of the Lord encom-passed shepherds, sheep, trees and rocks,
bringing sharp clarity to the once dark and shadowy scene.
The sight was extraordinary enough, but the words spoken by the angelic visitor were breathtaking.
“Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”
The angels appear to the shepherds
pastorKenEdiger
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a
baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.”
Luke 2:8-14 NCV
“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
This young woman has had quite the adventure thus far — a
miraculous concept, angels randomly drop-ping in on her, and a visit with her cousin in which Elizabeth’s baby jumped for joy at the baby growing in Mary’s womb. If this
was not enough to swallow, now a bunch of shepherds from the fields have come to tell her that her son was going to be
their savior. Could this be true? Could this child who has just felt the cold air of this world already be the prophesized Messiah who would come and free Israel from captivity like the kings of old? Madison Funk, a confirmation student at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellis, poses as
Mary.
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and
see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they
made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who had heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for
all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.Luke 2:15-20 NASB
The shepherds respond
internErik Grayvold
See ANGELS, E9
See RESPOND, E9
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ONEpage 9 DECEMBER 2011
Drawing by Meredith Martin, freshman at Hays High School and member of North Oak Com-munity Church.
This divine, angelic, sleep-interrupting presence on earth was not cause to cower in fear. Rather, it was good news and cause for deep joy. And the joy was not the sort that could be contained by these few, it was to reach beyond all racial and national boundaries. The news? God the Father dispatched his angelic messenger to declare his son’s earthly birth. Born that night was an earthly son like no other. He is identified as savior, Lord and Christ — that is he is deliverer, master and anointed king.
As unbelievable as it might seem, the one with authority over salvation spent his first nights not in the palace but in the tent village of Bethlehem among simple people such as shepherds. And just before a rousing chorus of heavenly messengers filled the sky with glorious song, the angelic herald issued the most remarkable invitation. Ordinary was summoned to extraordinary. Human was beckoned to behold the divine. Common was invited to experience the uncommon. Earthy shepherds were called to become part of heaven’s presence on earth.
And so it is today. God comes into common, everyday life and invites all who will to participate in life with him. His call is to come in faith to Jesus who is savior, Lord and Christ.
And the night is ordinary no more.Ken Ediger is the lead pastor of North Oak Community Church.
Contact him at [email protected].
ANGELS, from E8
I wonder if these words brought a sudden chill down Mary’s spine. She treasured all these things, bringing them all into her heart and pondered them. What would it mean for her child to be the Messiah? So many people already had died at the hands of the Roman invaders, and now these shepherds were talking about how this child later would be put-ting himself in harm’s way for the sake of his people.
I can’t help but wonder if there was a small measure of fear in Mary’s heart as she pondered. We know the full story that
one day this man, God incarnate, would find himself on a cross between two criminals and dying a traitor’s death, and maybe in this moment, Mary started to see what this could mean for her and her son. She saw that one day she would have to watch this child suffer, possibly even die, if what the shepherds said was true.
Many mothers know this reality, to watch their child die at the hands of cruel oppressors. I do not even mean places far away from here, but even right here in our own backyards. Addiction, hunger and joblessness all can be, in their own
ways, cruel oppressors which bring about a physical death. While working in a jail, the mother of one of my high school clients spoke about how her son’s abuse of alcohol made him do violent and horrible things to people around him and even those he loved. This mother was at a loss on what to do to help her child over-come his addictions as he fell into a deep depression because his actions put him behind bars.
The thing is this child of Mary’s would one day suffer and die, but it would not be this child’s end. This child was God
incarnate, who became human to meet us in our sin and conquer sin and death for all people of all times. This was the one child who truly would save the world from itself and pave the way to everlasting life by bringing for the kingdom of God. A mother’s fear one day will come true, only to be changed to joy as that child comes from the dead, thus conquering death forever and for all of creation.
Erik Grayvold is the intern of Prairie Faith Shared Ministries and serves St. John Lutheran of Ellis and Emanuel Lutheran of Ogallah.He
can be reached at [email protected].
RESPOND, from E8
Dear Reading Plan reader:You are almost to the finish line.
You will have read the books of poetry and wisdom in the Old Testament and the entire New Testament by Dec. 31. Remember, Matthew 13 teaches us God’s word is a seed the Holy Spirit plants in our hearts.
As the word of God grows in us, we are transformed. My prayer is that there have been many seeds of God’s word planted in each of you this past year.
December has an interesting com-bination of readings. In the Old Testa-ment, there is a book called the Song of Songs or the Songs of Solomon (the title depends on the translation you are reading).
Disputed authorship could have something to do with the title; however, the symbolic content is important to read and understand. The idea of cov-enant love in marriage is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. “The Song is a constant goad to drifting marriages with its challenge to seek for openness, growth and joyous relationship” (Spirit Filled Life Bible introduction). Marriage is a cornerstone institution for under-standing the relationship the church has
with Christ. The basis of marriage is a
mutual love for each other. God loves His church intimately, and we never should forget that. This book illustrates that love.
In the New Testament, we are reading one of the most disputed and misinter-preted books in the entire collection: Revelation. It isn’t a book just about end-times, it is a book that reveals Jesus Christ. He is the Victor, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords (19:16). This book describes the new heaven and earth (21). It communicates the traps the enemy has set for the church in chapters 1 through 3, and how we are to respond.
These writings communicate the necessary actions for us to stay on track until he comes. This is an important book full of imagery. Let the Holy Spirit encourage you as you read.
SCRIPTURE: Bible reading plan
pastorSteveDinkel
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Jesus presented in the temple“Jesus fulfilled the Law.” (Matthew 5:17)
In this passage, Luke relates two separate but related events in fulfill-ment of Leviticus 12 — Jesus’ naming
and circumcision, according to the law of Moses, as with all Jewish male children — and then Mary’s ceremonial purifica-tion sacrifice, more than two months after Jesus’ birth, along with Jesus’ consecra-tion to God. Reared by obedient Jewish parents, Jesus fulfilled the law of God from infancy.
“Jesus” was not a family name for either Joseph or Mary. Mary and Joseph affirmed their son’s identity as God’s son, by giving him the name God chose for him. In his circumcision, Jesus was identified with God’s chosen people — as they are, in their sinfulness and need for redemption, and as the people through whom salvation would come to the world.
Joseph and Mary were poor. They could not afford a lamb to sacrifice, so only two doves had to suffice to fulfill the requirements of the law. When one asks what are the qualifications for the earthly parents of God’s son, we see it is chiefly their obedient worshipful lives.
They come to the temple in Jerusalem, not only for Mary’s ceremonial purifica-tion after childbirth, but also to conse-crate their first-born to the service of God. Though unmentioned in Luke, Jesus’ conse-cration also involved his redemption.
Since God took the first-born of every family and animal in Egypt, but passed over the first-born children of Israel — on account of the blood of a sacrificial lamb painted on the doorposts of their houses — every first-born of Israel belonged to God, and so had to be redeemed (Num-bers 3:45-51). The redemption of first-
born children is tied intimately to the Passover, to atonement for sin, and finally to Jesus’ identity as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” In Christ’s redemption as an infant, we see
the promise of redemp-tion for all through him.
Jesus’ presentation in the temple as an infant foreshadows his trium-phal entry and cleansing of the temple on Palm Sunday, his atoning death,
his resurrection, his ascension and his final return in glory.
Jesus was, is and always will be a son of Abraham, a son of David, a Jew. (In this respect, all forms of anti-Semitism are, at root, also anti-Christ, and an expression of that same hatred of God who choses
his people.)We gentile believers are grafted into
Israel through Christ — not the other way around (Romans 11:16-18). In his humble birth, in his circumcision and dedication at the temple — as in his baptism, life, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and in his longed for return — Jesus iden-tifies himself with sinners like us, fulfills the law we could not fulfill, redeems us and delivers us from the penalty, power and ultimately the presence of sin.
“For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor-inthians 5:21)
Jerry Foust is interim pastor at First Presbyterian Church. He has served
a broad spectrum of congregations for the past 30 years.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the
Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:21-24 NIV
A stained glass win-dow in St. Michael’s Cathedral, Toronto.
pastorJerryFoust
I also recommend reading this book from a study Bible. The notes communi-cate the history and context of many of the images John communicates.
As we conclude this year, I want to thank you for reading through the Bible with me. I’m always encouraged someone tells me they are reading along with the plan. The reading plan for next year will come from the Community Bible Experi-ence project. If you want to get a jump-start on 2012, check out www.biblica.com. The amazing thing about reading God’s word through each year is it continues to grow in you. It is the only book like it, God-breathed, God-inspired and God-im-parted. Have a merry Christmas, a happy new year, and I’m looking forward to read-ing the Bible with you again soon.
Steve Dinkel is pastor of Liberty Fellowship, libertyis.com, or
DECEMBER OLD NEWDec. 1 ..... Song of Sol. 1 ........ Rev. 1Dec. 2 ..... Song of Sol. 2 ........ Rev. 2Dec. 5 ..... Song of Sol. 3 ........ Rev. 3Dec. 6 ..... Song of Sol. 4 ........ Rev. 4Dec. 7 ..... Song of Sol. 5 ........ Rev. 5Dec. 8 ..... Song of Sol. 6 ........ Rev. 6Dec. 9 ..... Song of Sol. 7 ........ Rev. 7Dec. 12 ... Song of Sol. 8 ........ Rev. 8Dec. 13 .................................. Rev. 9Dec. 14................................... Rev. 10Dec. 15 .................................. Rev. 11Dec. 16 ................................... Rev. 12Dec. 19 .................................. Rev. 13Dec. 20 .................................. Rev. 14Dec. 21 .................................. Rev. 15Dec. 22 .................................. Rev. 16Dec. 23 .................................. Rev. 17Dec. 26 .................................. Rev. 18Dec. 27 .................................. Rev. 19Dec. 28 .................................. Rev. 20Dec. 29 .................................. Rev. 21Dec. 30 .................................. Rev. 22
READING,
from E9
11
St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church2901 E. 13th, Hays, Kansas, Parish Of�ces: (785) 628-1446Fax: (785) 623-4207, website: www.heartlandparishes.org
Rev. Daryl OlmsteadRectory: 656-0336
Mass Schedule:Saturday at 5 PM
Sunday at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AMDaily Mass - Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30 AM
Reconciliation: Saturday at 4:00 PM
Immaculate Conception — Dec. 87:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve5:00 p.m. Family Mass
11:00 p.m. MassChristmas Day — 9:00 a.m.
St. Joseph’s
Advent Evening Vesperswith Benediction
Join us for Advent Vespers each Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. during Advent in the church.
Take 30 minutes out of your day and join us for scripture, sung prayer, and
meditation in front of the Blessed Sacrament as we prepare for His coming.
22nd ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OF PRAYER FOR LIFE
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” — John 1:14
As soon as the Holy Spirit overshadowed the womb of the Virgin Mother, God immediately became one of the human family. In
like manner when a child is conceived in his mother’s womb, he becomes one of us. This little human being now dwells among us.
So that the world may Understand the truth.COME PRAY WITH US!
DECEMBER 8/9St. Joseph Church
9:00 p.m. Thursday to1:00 a.m. Friday
National Hour of United is 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (EST)
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In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel’s sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do, Simeon took
the baby in his arms and thanked God: “Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation, which you prepared before all people. It is a light for the non-Jewish people to see and honor for your people, the Israelites.”
Luke 2:25-32 NCV
Simeon sees Jesus
“You are not prepared to truly live until you are prepared to die.” — Anonymous
How many people this Christmas season are looking to see good things with their eyes and experi-
ence contentment of heart? Sadly, many will see nothing but heartache, distress and increased anxiety in their lives. They might think and say, “The promise of being content during the celebration of Christmas has once again left me empty on the inside.”
We have all, at one time or another, looked for that illusive some-thing that would bring some contentment to our lives only to realize what we thought would make our hearts content, failed — it did not last.
Simeon was such a man; he was, as Scripture says, a “good man and godly,” and was waiting patiently to see the Mes-siah. God, by his spirit, had told Simeon he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. The Bible is not clear on the age of Simeon. Some theo-logians believed him to be elderly and others, middle aged. Yet one thing is clear — Simeon was looking for something to set his eyes on before he died.
The reason he was looking was simple. God spoke to him and said, and I paraphrase, “Simeon you will see the Messiah before you die.” Simeon, though he had a promise from God, probably experienced an emptiness of heart while he was waiting to see this Jesus, our Mes-
siah. He might have grown a bit weary of heart because the older he got, the more he understood; he did not have that much longer to see the promise before he died.
One day, after a long, long wait, the spirit of God — the same God who had promised Simeon he would see the Mes-siah before he died — led Simeon to the temple. Our heavenly Father watches over his word to perform it in our lives.
It just so happened, on the very same day, God led Mary and Joseph with their newborn son (the Messiah) to the temple as well. Simeon took the baby in his arms and gave thanks to God as God had
kept his word to a man who was “good and godly.”
On the inside of his being, Simeon knew, this was the Messiah, the very one God promised he would see and said, “Now I can die in peace.” That is good news to all of us, and the celebration of Christ’s birth is a yearly reminder that we too, if we choose to see Jesus, can see him as he truly is. We can receive him into our heart, and find the peace and con-tentment no other person or thing can provide.
Our loving heavenly Father wants all of humanity to see Jesus and open their hearts to the greatest gift ever given, his only begotten Son. Then, we can expe-rience the true meaning of Christmas year-round.
Wes Oakley is senior pastor at Westview Church.
pastorWes Oakley
Drawing by Timmy L. Parker, Fort Hays State University student.
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Mother of Sorrows is one of the titles by which the Virgin Mary is known. This is the object of
much devotion, which is based on the event of Jesus’ presentation in the temple on the 40th day following his birth. There, Simeon foretells the sorrow Mary will experience. He predicts a sword will “pierce her soul,” or in other versions, “her heart.” It is surprising such graphic imagery is directed toward a mother on the joyous occasion of her infant son’s
presentation to God. Simeon’s surprising words bear spiritual significance.
Of course, every mother knows pains and tears accompany the joy of birthing and raising a child. Mary is like any other mother in that sense. Mary’s child, however, is un-like any other. Simeon says her child is “set for the falling and rising again of
many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against.”
This means her child is the long awaited Messiah promised in the Scrip-tures. Mary’s child is God in the flesh, whose birth is heralded by the glad tidings of holy angels. Her child is born to redeem a
fallen human race.This is glorious, and yet there is
this talk of his mother’s sorrow. This is because Jesus will be the savior of the world by offering himself on the altar of the cross as the sacrifice that reconciles God and humanity. Mary will stand at the foot of the cross. She will see her child hanging there beaten, crowned with thorns and pierced. A sword indeed will pierce her own heart as well. The shadow of the cross falls across the scene.
Simeon’s blessing
And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him, and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, “Lo, this one is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against — (and also thine own soul shall a sword
pass through) — that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.”Luke 2:33-35 YLT
ScottWatford
See BLESSING, E14
Every one of us knows the excitement of hoping, wishing and praying for the per-fect Christmas gift. While the gifts on our
wish list tend to be things that one day will break, wear out, or fail us, Anna was hoping, trusting, believing and praying for the one gift that will last for eternity. The Scriptures are full of people who had to be patient to receive the deep-est desires of their hearts, but the story of Anna stands out to me because it is a story of faith, of perseverance, and ultimately a story of receiving and sharing.
People were searching the world for the Messiah in prophets, kings and soldiers. They be-lieved it had to be someone powerful that could deliver them from their circumstances. But Anna waited patiently in the temple watching for a tiny child who would reflect the power of God. Her
faith allowed her to see the Christ where most people only saw a boy.
The Scripture says she never left the temple. She worshipped night and day, praying and going without eat-ing. She was an old woman, yet she continued to live her life as a sacrifice to God. Most of us give up when we do not quickly re-ceive the answer we are search-ing for or we question God’s
motives and plans. Anna must have felt like that. She must have felt like she might die before her prayers were answered. Yet, she worshipped God, therefore, she poured herself out to Him and intimately communed with him. She persevered in spite of her circumstances.
Anna had no guarantees she would live long enough or that God would grant her the gift of seeing the Messiah.
pastorBernieceLudlum
Anna sees Jesus
There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years. Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshipped night and day, praying and going without eating.
Anna came up to Jesus’ family at that very moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when
Jerusalem would be set free.Luke 2:36-38 NIRV
Drawing by Dennis Schiel.
See ANNA, E14
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However, the terrible reality of Jesus’ suffering and death will bring about the glorious reality of resurrection and re-demption. The sword that pierces Mary’s heart is a bitter experience that has a sweet resolution. Mary, Mother of Sorrows, gives a beautiful example of embracing suffer-ing in hope of redemption through Jesus. Christians all around the world imitate Mary’s example in uniting their suffering with Jesus’ suffering in the belief it will prove redemptive. Evidence this is possible is not hard to find. There are many people who say suffering has brought them closer to Jesus and deepened their compassion for their fellow human beings. Lives often are transformed through suffering.
The emphasis is not on suffering at this time of year. The emphasis is on joyful celebration. Talk of suffering seems as surprising now as when baby Jesus was presented in the temple. Many, however, are suffering this time of year. The poor, the sick, the grieving, the hurting and the dying do not disappear at Christmas. Suffering is part of being human. Suffer-ing is transformed into joy through faith in Jesus, whose birth is celebrated. This is comprehended only in the shadow of the cross. Without the cross, there is no resur-rection and no redemption. Without the cross, the real joy, meaning and purpose of the celebration of Christmas is lost.
Scott Watford is pastoral associate at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church. He can be reached at (785) 628-1446. Drawing by Jorge Vasquez, staff member at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church.
BLESSING,
from E13
The Scripture says she came up to Jesus’ family, gave thanks to God and began to tell everyone about the child. No one told her this was the Messiah. It was God who spoke that truth to her heart. It was as though the perfect gift had been unwrapped and presented to her. However, it was not a gift that was meant for her alone; it is a gift meant for each and every one of us.
Friends, the perfect gift, the one that will change your life, the one that will nev-er break or wear out or let you down will not be unwrapped on Christmas morning.
I believe if we really took time like Anna did to worship God and to pray to him, we would realize “THE Perfect Gift” our heart longs for is Him.
Having more of Jesus in our lives will satisfy our soul, will bring us joy, will
strengthen us and will transform our lives and our circumstances. It might not change our storms but it absolutely will change how we weather them.
I pray this Christmas our eyes will be open to Christ, our hearts open to receive his love, and our voices open to sharing with others “THE Perfect Gift.”
Berniece Ludlum is associate pastor of First United Methodist Church.
ANNA, from E13
Prairie Land FoodPrairie Pak: $26 (includes meats, fruits
and veggies)Meat only: $14 (includes the meat in the
regular Prairie Pak)Fruit & Veggie: $12 (includes the fruit
and vegetables in the regular Prairie Pak)Specials: Four different specials are of-
fered each month.Meat, Fruit & Veggie and Specials Paks
can be purchased with or without the Prairie Pak, giving you more flexibility when ordering; there is no limit.
Order date: Dec. 5. Order locally and pay with check, cash or EBT food stamps. Or you can order online at www.prairieland food.com and pay with your debit card or check.
Pick-up: 11 a.m. to noon, Dec. 17, Lib-erty Fellowship, 120 W. Ninth, Hays, and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at St. Mary’s Gym, Ellis.
For more information, call Liberty Fel-lowship at (785) 625-6245 or Linda Hagan (800) 298-1989.
Volunteer hours no longer are required to be documented. All that is asked is for individuals to complete the volunteer portion of their receipt by helping others.
Mission auction is Dec. 10
The eighth-annual Community Mis-sion Auction will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Celebration Community Church.
Items will be auctioned to raise money for community need-meeting organiza-tions. The Community Mission Auction provides local businesses and individuals the opportunity to partner by donating products, services and gift certificates while others can bid on these items.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information, call (785) 625-5483 or email [email protected].
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We know little about the child-hood of Jesus. The gospels go from “The child grew and be-
came strong” to his trip to Jerusalem with his parents at about age 12 — nearly a man in those days.
Yet children can teach us a thing or two about God’s son.
Twenty-plus years ago I was a first-grade teacher in Hutchinson. One year, a parent made it clear he expected his child to become “full of wisdom” with the pronouncement that “You know, first graders can learn any concept that adults can; you just have to present it correctly.”
I politely agreed with him without hav-ing any idea what he meant.
But a few days later in math, I decided to teach my class the concept of infinite. I defined infinite as simply more than you could count.
All semester, whenever we were wait-ing in line, I would ask: “How many stars in the sky?” or “How many grains of sand on a beach?” And my students would dutifully reply, “Infinite!”
Each December, the music teacher put together a holiday program featuring secu-
lar and religious songs. One year, the first graders were singing “Frosty the Snowman” and “Silent Night.”
I don’t remember if the two first-grade classes always had music at the same time,
but I do know that a week before the program they were together because in the middle of singing “Silent Night,” the music teacher threw her hands up and cried out, “No, no, no. Someone is singing it
wrong!”First she had just Mrs. Brummett’s class
sing. It was beautiful and perfect. Then she had just my class sing. And there was the problem.
At least half of my students were singing:Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright.Round yon virgin mother and child,Holy Infinite tender and mild …The music teacher was not impressed.I know that musically and literally,
my students were singing it wrong. But theologically, they had it right, and showed more wisdom than most adults do.
Jesus is infinite; not in the sense of more than you can count, but rather, that he always has been and always will be. The
birth of Jesus means nothing without his death, and the death of Jesus means nothing without his resurrection.
As you journey through this Christmas season, most of the songs you hear, and cards you read, will be about the Baby Jesus. Don’t forget that as he “grew and became strong; he was full of wisdom, and
God’s blessings were upon him” and he was infinite.
You might even try singing Silent Night the way I still do.
Steve Johnson is executive director of United Methodist
Campus Ministry. Contact him at [email protected].
Jesus grows in the grace of the Lord
Steve Johnson
Drawing by Holly Litfin, Fort Hays State University student from Quinter.
When Joseph and Mary
had finished doing all that was required by the law
of the Lord, they re-
turned to their home-
town of Nazareth in Galilee.The child grew
and became strong; he was full of
wisdom, and God’s bless-ings were upon him.Luke 2:39-
40 GNT
THE STORY OF JESUS: The greatest gift of all
In the past few pages, we have read about the miraculous birth of the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. We
have read, starting with the proph-ecy in Isaiah, all the way through Jesus’ growth as a child. It has been good to be reminded of the journey Jesus has taken in order to become like one of us.
Sometimes, however, we read through these fa-miliar stories and we gloss over the ab-solutely amazing miracle that this was. God — the one who created the heaven and the earth — took the form of a baby and was born like one of us, his creation
so that we might have eternal life.When Jesus was born, he was not
born in some glorious way; he was born amongst animals.
Fathom for a mo-ment how you would choose to enter the world. If you could have controlled all of the variables of your birth, what would you have chosen?
For me, I always wanted to have been born a prince of a mighty ruling monarchy. That sounds quite ridiculous when you put it on paper — and I’ll give you a moment to stop the laughter — but think about it. Who in
their right mind would choose to be born in a barn? Would anyone choose to have the waft of manure be the first thing you smell?
Yet throughout Jesus’ birth, life, death and ultimate resurrection, God had a plan; and that’s what it’s really all about.
The story of Jesus, coming as the promised Messiah, is fundamental to our Christian faith. Yet, too often, we get distracted by the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and don’t stop to mar-vel at the miracle of Jesus.
Jesus died on the cross, taking on the sins of the world, so those who call on his name might have eternal life.
That’s the essence of the Gospel; that’s the true significance of Christmas. With-
out Christmas, without the Nativity story, there can be no Easter. If God had not become like one of us, then there would be no one to pay the price for our sins and we all would be destined for eternal damnation.
Thankfully, God loves us so much he willingly sacrificed himself for our sins so we might live forever with him and all those who call on his name.
As you open presents, travel to be with family, sing Christmas carols and drink egg nog, don’t let the miracle of God becoming like one of us pass you by. Jesus is truly the greatest gift of all.
Kevin Daniels is pastor of Hays Christian Church.
ecma presidentKevinDaniels
16
Sponsoring
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of ONE
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
(ELCA)Lesley M. Radius, Pastor
2703 Fort St. 785-625-2044Sunday 10:15 a.m.(Holy Communion
is Celebrated Every Sunday)Fellowship Following Worship
www.trinityhays.org