We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

New Life Anglican Church

P.O. BOX 481 PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN 49770

office@newlifeanglican.com

J O Y O U S N E W S J O Y O U S N E W S D e ce mbe r 2 019D e ce mbe r 2 019

219 State Street – Petoskey, Michigan – 49770 – 231.347.3448

Joyful hearts rejoice

in the babe’s

sweet blessed light

scattering, thus,

all darkness,

giving sore eyes new sight.

BES

J O Y O U S N E W S J O Y O U S N E W S D e ce mbe r 2 019D e ce mbe r 2 019

219 State Street – Petoskey, Michigan – 49770 – 231.347.3448

We will glorify God by deepening the roots of our Anglican faith, and bringing people to new life in Jesus Christ.

Every week Mickey and I enjoy spending time together listening to the Babylon Bee

podcast. While the Babylon Bee itself is a Christian satire news site, the podcast is more of

a discussion on various topics, usually involving a guest. One of the recurring guests is

Brian Godawa, a screenwriter and author who is also a Christian. In this past week’s

episode, Ethan and Kyle (the podcast hosts) and Brian discussed Christian art and movies.

Among the issues involved was whether art needs to be explicitly Christian, or whether art

is meant to be more interpretive and subtle.

Brian, who wrote the movie A Bridge Too Far, suggests that we need less Christian art and more art made by

Christians. The distinction here being that we have a so-called Christian ghetto of explicitly Christian music and

movies that don’t serve as being beautiful art that delivers the beauty of the Christian worldview, while the art that

the general public consumes is being made by unbelievers or even those hostile to our beliefs.

Christians have a long history of dominating the arts up until about the 1950s. Much of that art was created by Christians

to glorify God without coming across as a five-point evangelistic sermon. For example, Johan Sebastian Bach was

one of the greatest composers ever, and his music glorified God because he wrote it to glorify God and because that

which is beautiful glorifies God. It didn’t need to have a lecture or sermon attached to it for it to point to the creator.

What has happened in recent years is that evangelicals have founded record companies and movie studios that

struggle to make art that is appealing and influential beyond those who are already Christians because there is a

sense that it all has to be so explicitly Christian that only Christians are interested. Movies such as God Is Not Dead

are entertaining to the Christian community, and the content is very important, but they aren’t well made movies,

they don’t compare in quality to what Hollywood produces, and they are so preachy that most of those in the non-

Christian world aren’t going to watch to hear the valuable information within.

Brian Godawa gave some examples of some movies that are beautiful movies that have deep spiritual messages

without being preachy or sermonic. As an odd example, The Passion of the Christ. The movie depicts the final hours

of Jesus without needing to add commentary that tells us why we should care. The film itself is enough. Interestingly,

Mel Gibson screened the movie for various Christian groups and multiple groups of evangelical pastors wanted him

to add John 3:16 (for God so loved the world…) at the end because they didn’t think that literally seeing Jesus

crucified was enough.

The good news is that there are Christians out there making good art. There are Christians making movies that aren’t

“Christian” movies. They make movies that cause us to think more deeply about the world around us and the things

we see. They work on a subtle level to get people of all worldviews thinking about eternal things. The director of the

Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Dr. Strange is a Christian and you will find spiritual themes throughout that and all

of his movies. Mel Gibson has made a number of great movies that are great art and are undergirded by the

Christian worldview such as Hacksaw Ridge, Braveheart, and Apocalypto.

Even good secular (or non-Christian) art will often point to some beauty or truth because beauty itself is a reflection

of God. One example would be the movie Juno, which is about a young girl who gets pregnant and despite all the

ways that it will impact her life, she ultimately decides to have the baby. The movie is supposed to be pro-feminist,

but ended up being incredibly pro-life, probably in part because having a baby is beautiful and killing one isn’t. In

order to make something beautiful, something beautiful had to be affirmed.

Just this past week George Bowman, Don Lucky, and I went to see the movie Joyeaux Noelle at the Lyric in Harbor

Springs. It is a French World War I movie made in 1983. I have no idea who the director was or Continued on page 4

December 2019

at New Life Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Adult Sunday

School 9:00am

Worship Service

10:00am

Coffee Hour

The Wandries

2

Ladies

Birthday Lunch

Noon @

JR’s

3

4

Men’s Breakfast

@ JW Filmore’s

8:30am

Pizza & Salad

6:00pm

Genesis Study

6:30pm

5

Morning Prayer

8:00am

Men’s Bible

Study @ Noon

6

NLAC

Volunteering

@ Manna

9:00am

7

8

Adult Sunday

School 9:00am

Worship Service

10:00am

Coffee Hour

The Luckys

9

10

December

Vestry

Meeting

6:00pm

11

Men’s Breakfast

@ JW Filmore’s

8:30am

Pizza & Salad

6:00pm

Genesis Study

6:30pm

12

Morning Prayer

8:00am

Men’s Bible

Study @ Noon

Men’s Ministry

@The Davis’

5:30 - 8pm

13

14

15

Adult Sunday

School 9:00am

Worship Service

10:00am

Coffee Hour

Christmas

Fellowship

16

17 18

Men’s Breakfast

@ JW Filmore’s

8:30am

Pizza & Salad

6:00pm

Genesis Study

6:30pm

19

Morning Prayer

8:00am

Men’s Bible

Study @ Noon

20

21

22

Adult Sunday

School 9:00am

Worship Service

10:00am

Coffee Hour

The Redmans

23

24

Christmas

Eve

Lessons

&

Carols

Service

7:00pm

25 26

27

28

29

Worship Service

10:00am

Coffee Hour

The Careys

30

31

1

2

3

4

December 2019

at New Life

December 2019

at New Life

PRAYER CHAIN To activate the chain call: Ron Davis at 517.617.5015 or e-mail at rsdavismgr@gmail.com

To Help Keep You Informed You may contact Tracey Jepsen our Administrative Assistant at 231.347.3448 for copies of Vestry Approved: Financial Statements and Vestry Meeting Minutes.

FINANCE &

STEWARDSHIP

Treasurer — Wes Ostrander — 330-4930

Stewardship — Dan Wandrie — 347-5871

ALTAR GUILD

Dec .............. Karen Dielman

Jan ............... Ginny Poquette

Feb .............. Gretchen Lucky

Mar ............. Liz Ostrander

MOSSY FOOT PROJECT Donations YTD 2019 Donated Balance Y-E 2018

MF Project $1,336.00 $1,992.00 $134.00 $790.00

MF Mission Trip $0 $0 $750.00 $750.00

Treasurer’s Report ~ November 30, 2019

November Year to Date

Actual Budget Difference Actual Budget Difference

Offering $19,211.98 $12,500.00 $6,711.98 $140,626.53 $137,500.00 $3,126.53

Other $2,336.75 $1,669.00 $667.75 $17,559.96 $18,361.00 ($801.04)

Income $21,548.73 $14,169.00 $7,379.73 $158,186.49 $155,861.00 $2,325.49

Expenses ($13,504.09) ($13,972.00) ($467.91) ($149,258.37) ($154,639.00) ($5,380.63)

Difference $8,044.64 $197.00 $7,847.64 $8,928.12 $1,222.00 $7,706.12

Assets $559,621.02

Altar Flower Sponsorship The flowers that adorn our altar each Sunday are sponsored by contributions?

Many sign-up to remember anniversaries, birthdays, or loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord.

The suggested donation is $25

Drop Altar Flower Sponsorship form & your donation, marked Altar Flowers, in the offering plate.

New Life Anglican Church will be volunteering at Manna the first Friday of each month, from 9am to 11am. If you have any questions please contact Karen Dielman at 347-3532

Thursday

Morning Prayer

In the large conference

room @ 8:00am

THE PRAYER COURSE – https://prayercourse.org/ Is an online eight week journey that will help you and your community to grow and deepen your prayer life. This is the site recommended by the Bishop.

Congregation — We Need You! To volunteer to serve, please contact the Team Leaders listed below.

Altar Guild: Karen Dielman ...... 231/347-3532 Altar Flowers: Ellie Nicol .............. 231/347-0227 Music/Sound: Ferd Dielman ........ 231/347-3532 Ushers: Scott Redman ........ 616/439-9454 Greeters: Carol Bowman ...... 231/459-4566 Lectors: Tracey Jepsen ........ 231/347-3448 Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Mike Bridge ........... 231/330-0689 Acolytes: Mike Bridge ........... 231/330-0689 Prayer Team: Betty Stansbury ..... 231/439-0773 Children’s Sunday School: Darlene Wandrie .. 231/347-5871 Youth Sunday School: Don Lucky ............. 231/622-2058 (middle & high school) Adult Sunday School: Mike Bridge ........... 231/330-0689 Wally Stansbury ... 231/439-0773 Nursery: Bonnie Bridge ....... 231/445-1810 employee(s): Fellowship/Hospitality: Ellie Nicol .............. 231/347-0227 Prayer Chain: Ron Davis .............. 517/617-5015 Women’s Ministry: Karen Dielman ...... 231/838-5376 Study Leader Wendy Fought ...... 231/881-3994 Study Leader Karen Dielman ...... 231/838-5376 Study Leader Bonnie Bridge........ 231/445-1810 Study Leader Kim Redman ......... 616/648-8911 Study Leader Catherine Carey .... 231/348-3775 Men’s Ministry: Mike Bridge ........... 231/330-0689 Inreach: Gretchen Lucky .... 231/622-2057

Outreach: ~ LEADER NEEDED ~ Evangelism: Betty Stansbury ..... 231/439-0773 Missions: Kim Redman ......... 616/648-8911 Building and Grounds: Don Greenwell ...... 231/347-1808 Art and Architecture: Susan Davis ........... 231/881-3106 Church Historian: Liz Ostrander ........ 231/348-2802 Communications: Bonnie Bridge........ 231/445-1810 (newspaper articles, etc.) Lou Zako ............... 231/526-5095 Student Visitor’s: (Recreational Liaison) Scott Redman ........ 616/439-9454 Treasurer: Wes Ostrander ...... 231/330-4930 Assistant Treasurer: Susan Davis ........... 231/881-3106 Assistant Treasurer: Sally Stump ........... 231/881-2818

Stewardship: Dan Wandrie ......... 231/347-5871

Our Joyous News

Needs You!

Please consider submitting an article or item of interest

for the next issue of the Joyous News.

Submission deadline

is December 26th.

All submissions will be subject to editing by Fr. Mike.

NLAC 2019 Vestry Sr. Warden .... Ferd Dielman

Jr. Warden. .... Dan Wandrie

Treasurer ...... Wes Ostrander

.................... Howard Bates

.................... Cliff Carey

.................... Toni DuBois

Stop by read, leave comments, engage in our discussions. Church BlogSpot is: blog.newlifeanglican.com

Visit our Church Website at: www.newlifeanglican.com

2019 END-OF-YEAR STATEMENT REMINDER...

All contributions for the 2019 tax year

must be at the church by Tuesday, December 31, 2019

or mailed and postmarked no later than

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Parish Notice:

New Life

Anglican Church

~ 2020 ~

Annual Meeting Sunday, January 19th

11:45am ~ following

the service at

NLAC

219 State St.

Petoskey, MI

WALLY’S GALLERY – Long before Christianity appeared, people in the Northern Hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes to celebrate the Winter Solstice in late December. How this pagan custom became a Christian celebration in the church calendar dates back to ancient traditions. One of the earliest stories that scholars point to occurred in the year 722 in Germany. So the story goes, Saint Boniface, who was from a village in England, traveled to German. There he encountered some pagans who were about to sacrifice a child at the base of a large oak tree. He cut down the tree to prevent the sacrifice and in its place grew Fir tree. Saint Boniface considered the fir tree as a sign of the truth of the Christian faith. His followers then decorated the tree with candles so that Saint Boniface could preach to the pagans at night.

By the 1600’s first Christmas trees in Germany were decorated with edible things such gingerbread and gold covered apples. Glass makers later made special small ornaments similar to some of the decorations used today. At first, a figure of Baby Jesus was put on the top of the tree. Over time it was changed to an angel who told the shepherds about Jesus or a star to represent the wise men saw.

Another legend is of Martin Luther which says that on a Christmas Eve, about 1500, he was walking through the woods and was struck by the beauty of the moonlight shimmering in the snow covered trees. When he arrived home, he set up a small fir tree and decorated it with candles which he lighted in honor of Christ’s birth.

The first Christmas Trees came to Britain sometime in the 1830’s. In 1841 they became very popular when Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s German husband) had a Christmas Tree set up in Windsor Castle and a drawing of the tree was published in the Illustrated London News. Because of their love for Queen Victoria, the English people copied and adopted this once German custom.

Because of Queen Victoria’s popularity in England, it was not long before the custom gained popularity in East Coast American Society. While the Europeans used small trees about four feet high, Americans preferred their trees to reach to the ceiling. By the 20th century Americans decorated their trees with homemade ornaments. With the invention of electricity, light bulbs replaced candles and soon they were appearing not only in homes but in town squares as well. Probably, the most well known Christmas Tree was in Rockefeller Center first placed there in 1931. Today the tradition has spread to the four corners of the world. What once was seen in pagan eyes to only to mark the passing of time, much later became a Christian tradition to celebrate an event that altered time itself into all that occurred before and after the birth of Jesus.

New Life Anglican Church

Christmas Bring & Share

Fellowship Party

Following the Service

Sunday, December 15th

Please Come & Bring

Finger Foods:

meatballs, shrimp, finger sandwiches, chips & hot dips, etc…

Treats:

Christmas cookies, fudge, homemade goodies, etc…

New Life’s Christmas

Outreach Project

We have decided to adopt a military family for Christmas. We will adopt a military man.

This year our family is: Lou & his wife Wendy

For more information please contact Carol Bowman

what his personal religious beliefs are. However, the movie was a powerful testament to finding beauty in the midst

of extreme ugliness and horror, and it was beauty (Christmas music and Opera singing) that brought the everything

together.

The basic plot of the movie is that it is Christmas Eve during WWI and the Scottish, French, and German armies are

all across from each other in trenches by a French Farm. A Scottish parish priest joined the Scottish army and a

German opera singer was conscripted into the German army. The opera singer decided that he needed to sing for

his men to lift their spirits. At the same time, the Scottish priest was playing the bagpipes and leading his men in

song. Eventually, the opera singer came out of the trenches and sang for everyone while the Scotsman played

bagpipes for him. The three armies came together, called a cease-fire for the day, and then the priest celebrated a

Christian mass for everyone. For the first time I could see the power of the Latin mass as people from all three

armies knew the Latin and could say mass together.

Over the next few days, the Scots and French didn’t want to kill the Germans and the Germans didn’t want to kill the

Scots or French. They found more reasons to gather together. They helped bury each other’s dead, shared meals

and drinks, and played games together. They helped get letters out behind enemy lines, talked about their wives,

and made plans to see each other when the war was over. What all started with a moment of beautiful singing on

the battlefield turned into a warfront where the armies saw each other as human beings worthy of love and respect

and they refused to kill each other.

As I said, I don’t know what the religious background of the director was. However, without a sermon preached or

bible passage quoted, God’s beauty and his attributes of love, mercy, and compassion were brilliantly displayed. The

movie is a good movie, but it is also good art. It is powerful, thoughtful, and impactful, and it accomplishes all of

that through the medium, not through a character looking into the camera and telling us explicitly what the

message is. It seems to me that this is what good art should do.

Continued from page 1

~ Fr. Mike

NEW LIFE WOMEN’S MINISTRY – Karen Dielman;

BIRTHDAY LUNCHES – The ladies of New Life get

together the first Monday of each month at JR’s to

celebrate birthdays for the month. We meet a little

before noon to enjoy a meal and fellowship. We

will meet next on Dec 2nd & Jan 6th. It is such a

blessing to be able to gather for this special time.

Please join us!!!

NEW LIFE MEN’S MINISTRY – MEN’S BREAKFAST– 8:30am every Wed. at JW Filmore’s. All are welcome.

MEN’S LUNCH BIBLE STUDY – The Men will be studying the book of Matthew at Noon each Thursday in the in lower level of the annex building. The study will be led by Fr. Mike. Remember to bring your lunch.

MEN’S MINISTRY PROGRAM – next meeting is Thursday, December 12th at the Davis’ Home at 903 Howard St., Petoskey and Ron will lead the study. Our meetings will include fellowship and a short teaching. The schedule will be as follows: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Fellowship; 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dinner; 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Teaching. Bring your own beverage of choice. Please feel free to invite others as this will be an informal, casual event.

Join Us For Our

Christmas Eve

Lessons & Carols Service

Dec. 24th @7:00pm

If you are unable to fulfill your service duties on the dates listed, please try to rearrange and find your own replacement.

December 2019 Service Calendar

December 1

December 8

December 15

December 24

December 29

December 22

0ALTAR GUILD

Karen

Dielman

Karen

Dielman

Karen

Dielman

Karen

Dielman

Karen

Dielman

Karen

Dielman

SOUND/ MUSIC

Wes

Ostrander

Ferd

Dielman

Scott

Redman

Ferd

Dielman

Ferd

Dielman

Wes

Ostrander

USHER/COUNTER/ GREETERS

Don G. /

Don Lucky/

The Bowmans

Don Lucky/

Dan Wandrie/

Sally Stump

Dan Wandrie/

Scott Redman/

Kim Redman

Volunteers

Needed

Don G. /

Don Lucky/

The Careys

Scott Redman/

Don G. /

The Flynns

LECTOR Wally

Stansbury

Erika

Dielman

Karen

Dielman

Volunteers

Needed

Mary Jane

Zako

Cliff

Carey

LAY MINISTER

Kim

Redman

Wally

Stansbury

Erika

Dielman

Volunteers

Needed

Karen

Dielman

Mary Jane

Zako

PRAYER TEAM

Sally &

Catherine

Betty &

Sharalen

Sally &

Catherine

Volunteers

Needed

Betty &

Catherine

Sally &

Sharalen

NURSERY CARE

Bonnie

Bridge

Bonnie

Bridge

Bonnie

Bridge n/a

Bonnie

Bridge

Bonnie

Bridge

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL

Darlene

Wandrie

Toni

DuBois

Darlene

Wandrie n/a

Erika

Dielman

Toni

DuBois

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS

The

Wandries

The

Luckys Christmas

Bring & Share n/a

The

Careys

The

Redmans

PASTORAL CARE

Karen

& Mary Jane

Karen

& Mary Jane

Karen

& Mary Jane

Karen

& Mary Jane

Karen

& Mary Jane

Karen

& Mary Jane

Randy & Brenda Flynn

October 4th

Bob & Ruth Kickel

October 16th Lou & Mary Jane

Zako October 6th

Wes & Liz Ostrander

October 29th

Dick & Mariann Olson

February 7th

Bob & Ruth Kickel

October 16th

Bob & Elaine

Hameister February 20th

Wes & Liz Ostrander October 29

Birthdays

May the Lord richly bless you on your special day and all year! Please let us know if we have missed your Birthday or Wedding Anniversary so that we may

celebrate with you and remember you in prayer.

Wedding Anniversaries

Randy & Brenda Flynn

Oct. 4th

Lou & Mary Jane Zako

Oct 6th

Dave & Connie Woods

Aug. 18th

Don & Sharalen Greenwell Aug. 29

June 22nd

Howard & Lacy Bates

Oct. 6th

Wes & Liz Ostrander Oct. 29th

December

John Ostrander 12/6

Bonnie Bridge 12/7

Samuel Bridge 12/17