The Star of Bethlehem ________________________________________________________________________________________________ December 2020 THE LORD IS ON THE WAY “The Lord is near” Philippians 4:5 I love Advent. I love Advent because it is the beginning of a new church year. I am really looking forward to Advent this year because this is the season when I will be returning to my passion -- the preaching of the Gospel of our Lord, Je- sus Christ. I love Advent because it is a time of preparation – a time to prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior and a time to prepare for His return. It is a time of renewal and expectation. Advent is God sending word ahead that He is com- ing. When I was a boy the best part of Christmas came in the days just before the big day arrived – the anticipation, the hope, the little lists, the catalogues, and the waiting. Granted, we didn’t start in the middle of October the way stores do today but that concentration into three weeks plus in December was almost as good as Christmas Day itself. Advent an- ticipation and preparation are important ingredients in this season of expectation of the Lord’s coming. I know there is a lot in Advent that speaks of repentance and “make straight the way.” But even on our knees, heads all bowed down and saying “father, forgive me,” the excitement is there. Jesus is coming! If we ever let ourselves go, we will discover that Advent has more than one foot on the Gospel side, and the announcement that Christ is coming, not just for a visit as He passes through but to stay and take over with “glad tidings of great joy.” So, when Advent comes go ahead and laugh. It certainly won’t disturb any pious pretense in me. I’ll understand perfectly. Jesus is coming. Our Savior is on the way. Again, this year we will have several opportunities to help us in our preparation and anticipation for the Lord’s arrival: The first is Advent by Candlelight (ABC). ABC is a ladies’ devotional service. The theme this year is “Fear Not” and includes the angel Gabriel’s messages to Mary, Joseph, Zechariah and the Shepherds. The service this year will be held on Saturday, December 5th, at 2:00 pm. Registration is requested to plan for safe seating and there will be overflow seat- ing in Disciples Hall with live stream provided on a large screen. The second opportunity for Advent and Christmas preparation will be found in our Advent mid-week series entitled: “Prepare Ye.” We will come together at noon or 7:00 pm on December 2nd, 9th, and 16th to contemplate the many ways we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child on Christmas, taking cues from the Psalms of old and from those whom God chose to play a part in the story of our Lord’s birth. As we draw near to the manger bed of our Savior from sin and death, our hearts prepare Him room for His everlasting love. These services will culminate in our amazing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services of praise and worship to the Word made flesh who has come to dwell among us. If COVID-19 has you feeling down, come and worship in person or via live stream. Advent and Christmas are times of renewal and expectation. It is a new season. Come and be re- freshed by Jesus. Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance (Jude v.2) Pastor Dana Allen Brones ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bethlehem Lutheran Church 1423 8th Avenue N. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 . (904) 249-5418 or 249-1204 Preschool Pastor Dana Allen Brones, Senior Pastor . [email protected] Pastor Nathan McCarty, Associate Pastor . [email protected] Vicar Andrew Simpson . [email protected] www.blcjaxbeach.org December Birthdays Stewardship Oct 2019 Oct 2020 & Anniversaries Monthly Totals: $64,034.54 $61,870.52 2 Cheri Greene & Kevin 18 Helen Peterson Restricted: 6.094.16 13,391.00 2 Roy and Jean Shimp 19 Rusty Huseman YTD Totals: $564,028.90 $547,890.17 2 Sylvia Singleton 19 Mackenzie O'Reilly $52,339.56 $51,381.77 2 Diane Wortelboer 20 Michael Headley 3 Cameron Hardy 21 Howard & Melissa Estervig 3 Kathy Lease 21 Annabelle & H Usher 4 Carol Carroll 22 Valerie Cardona October Attendance 4 Rusty & Cindy Stafford 22 Paul Greene Date 8 am 9:30 am 11am Total 5 Karen Bessemer 23 Margaret Ford 5 Aubrey Costescu 24 Matthew Tate Oct 6, 2019 74 110 105 289 5 Matthew LaForty 25 Jacquelyn Thiemann Oct 4, 2020 28 50 53 131 5 Liliana Mack 25 Jesus Oct 13, 2019 83 80 75 238 5 Joan Richards 26 Christian Dellinger Oct 11, 2020 46 61 63 170 6 Daniel Junk 26 Kegan Dellinger Oct 20, 2019 57 86 88 221 7 Jeffrey Swatkowski 26 Bob & Marianne Johnson Oct 18, 2020 32 46 47 125 9 Chad Troester 27 Grace Elvers 10 Leonard Lucas 27 Terry Parker Oct 27, 2019 74 81 75 230 Oct 25, 2020 44 57 48 149 10 Kelly Sly 27 George Parnaby 11 Jacob Kempf 27 Eunice Schauer 12 Nancy Brewer 28 Melissa Cadet 13 Becky Bicknase 28 Brandi Harrison 13 Rusty Stafford 28 Eric Toney 15 John & Joy Helberg 29 Howard Estervig 15 Kathy Orr 29 Wayne & Arlene Lorenz Like us on Facebook and Instagram 17 Lois Ambrose 30 Cindy Huber 17 Marge Cirillo 30 Nathan Wilhelm for the latest in news, 17 Erik & Karen Wilhelm 31 Dee Parker 18 Joy Helberg photos and fun! If your birthday or anniversary has been missed, please contact the office at 249-5418. Altar Flowers Schedule for December Screens Altar You can remember or mark a special occasion Dec. 2 with Altar Flowers? Each of the beautiful arrange- 12 pm Tami/Jen 7 pm Val ments are $30 per vase and a sign-up sheet for Dec. 6 8 am Sam Jenn Val each Sunday of the year is in the Narthex. This is a 9:30 am Candice Barbara great way to acknowledge a birthday, anniversary, 11 am Carol Diana and to remember a loved one who has gone be- Dec. 9 Altar fore. You can choose to take them home with you 12 pm Tami/Jen 7 pm Barbara after the 11 am service or mark for them to be de- Dec. 13 8 am Val Anna Susan livered to a homebound congregant or someone in 9:30 am Brenda Brenda the hospital. Please put your donation in the offer- 11 am Gina Beth Dec. 20 Altar 12 pm Tami/Jen 7 pm Beth Dec. 24 6 pm Carol Brenda If you would like to 8 pm Kristine Diana 10 pm Susan Val volunteer: Dec. 25 Altar 10 am Susan H Screens—Romaine Moore @ 422-2881 Dec. 27 8 am Pat Carol Susan Altar—Val Gruhn @ 536-2912 9:30 am Tami Tami 8 am greeters—Anna Arno @ 223-1766 11 am Carol Bonnie 9:30 greeters—Joan Richards @ 463-6703 Dec. 31 7 pm Val Susan 11 am greeters—Jean Shimp @ 249-2040 BFF—Holly Dellinger @ 349-6059 Thank you for your service Home for the Holy Days “While Jesus was still speaking to the people, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him. But He replied to the man who told Him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And stretching out His hand to- ward His disciples, He said, ‘Here are my mother and brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’” ~ Matthew 12:46-50 I bet you didn’t know this passage of Scripture was a Christmas themed passage! But it is. At least for me. I’ve had a couple years now to get used to being a pastor. It’s still weird. It is a calling with some aspects that are ab- solute blessings and joys. And some aspects that are more challenging. And some that are both. The holidays are part of that “both” category. Why? Well, once you enter the Pastoral Office, you are (at least 95% of the time) saying “adios” to being present for many of the normal family functions at the normal family times. At least, if your congregation resides outside Mom and Dad’s hometown! Usually it does. Oh, of course we can still get home for vis- its, just not on December 24th and 25th! And if your parent’s Christmas cooking and Christmas candy are anything like my parent’s, you will understand why this is a tough thing for my tummy and taste buds to miss! Of course, we can always Facetime with the nieces and nephews while they open their presents… but it’s just not the same as being there, in the moment, on that special holiday. But this challenge is a great blessing, too. Because once you’ve adjusted to the new “pastoral reality,” Jesus’ words about a true, even deeper, family centered around our Heavenly Father – well, they start ringing true. And I get to live it! Experience it. While I miss my family at times, I can honestly say that there is no place I would rather be, and no people I would rather share this time with, than you. God has placed me here. You are my family. Who better to marvel at God’s love with than with you? You - who have shown my family and I such love. Who better to shout “Rejoice! Rejoice!” with than with you? You - who have been rejoicing with me over God’s goodness each and every Lord’s Day for the past year.