December 2015/January 2016 Volume 69 • Number 12 First Word The monthly newspaper of First Lutheran Church Word Made Flesh The Word became flesh and By Pastor Lars Olson Advent is a time of hopeful waiting for something new to break dwelt among us. -John 1:14 forth into being. We wait, we watch, we hope, to experience the glory of God. The trouble, of course, is that the whole thing seems so rehearsed. We wait and watch and hope for what we already know is coming. If we just wait for four weeks following Thanksgiving, then Christmas will arrive. Advent, however, is not just a time filler before Christmas. Our hopes, expectations, and excitement are all bound up tightly with the predictability of the season, so that nothing truly new gets through to us. It’s just this year’s version of the same old cycle. And this is true for people of faith as for everyone else. We expect the decorations to go up, and we hope to hear our favorite Christmas carols, and if we don’t somehow our hopes haven’t been fulfilled. Even those of us who know that Jesus is the reason for the season have trouble experiencing God’s totally new thing in Jesus’ birth. However, when the news was first given by the angel, those hearing it were terrified. This was not some sort of “Yeah, it sounds alright, but I might wait a couple years to see if this is going to catch on” experience. The announcement of Jesus’ birth was something so new, and so unpredictable that it was frightening. The season of Advent is not one of recycling, but rather of crying out to God for something to interrupt, or disrupt the cycle that we are stuck in. Advent contains the spirit of expecting God to hear us and make a change by bringing something completely new. We wait and watch for God’s word of hope, word of comfort, word of glory, and the word of new life. That is we await the arrival of God into our lives, the Word Made Flesh that breaks us out of old cycles and patterns to give us the hope of something completely, unexpectedly, new. Watch with us this Advent in worship. Prepare with us this Advent in your homes using the Advent Calendar. Take hope with us this Advent, that God in Christ is coming soon, in this God blessed time. Becky Undercover! By Pastor Katherine Olson compassionate nature, the Pudases helped This fall, Becky Bullis helped lead three others at the table make a connection to this Advent & Christmas Worship classes on “Hospitality 101” with two of our newcomer in their midst. Nov. 28/29: First Week of Advent pastors. Becky brought helpful experience On the final night of the class, Becky Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m. in Christ the Victor Chapel to our classes, as she currently serves as dressed herself in a very eccentric fashion Worship and communion at 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. (pictured left). Though her the YMCA’s Director of Dec. 5/6: Second Week of Advent behavior remained “socially Member Services. While Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m. in Christ the Victor Chapel acceptable,” Becky felt as the classes were being Worship at 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. planned, it was determined though her choice of dress Dec. 12/13: Third Week of Advent that Becky would arrive signaled to others that she Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m. in Christ the Victor Chapel at the Wednesday night was a bit unstable. On this Christmas Music Sunday, Adult and Youth Choirs meal prior to each session night, Becky experienced Worship: 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. “undercover,” and then isolation and loneliness, report on the type of as she could sense the Dec. 19/20: Fourth Week of Advent reception she received. discomfort of others in her Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m. in Christ the Victor Chapel On night one, Becky presence. Bells of Christmas 8 & 9:30 a.m. services dressed herself in a We learn something Children's Christmas Pageant 11 a.m. service “frumpy” fashion, with a about the power of initiative Christmas Eve Candlelight Services pair of large, thick glasses. from Becky’s experiences. 2 & 4 p.m. Family Service Becky reported that a The friendly initiative 8 & 10 p.m. Traditional Services group of friendly ladies that a group of women The 8 p.m. service will be broadcast on Sioux Falls CW at 11 p.m. quickly found her waiting took on night one really made a difference to this Christmas Day: 10 a.m. Worship in the sanctuary in line alone, and insisted that she join them Rebroadcast of Christmas Eve service on KSFY at 11 a.m. at the table. Becky felt warmly welcomed. “Undercover Agent.” Later, the friendly When they “introduced” her to Pr. John, initiative of Pr. Franklin and Marit helped Becky feared that her cover was blown. break the ice when others seemed a bit However, her disguise was so convincing that unsure. On night three, we can assume that Christmas Pageant Sign-up Pr. John did not recognize her. Pr. John later those who encountered Becky were too Sign up to be part of the pageant! commented that meeting Undercover Becky uncomfortable to make a friendly gesture. All Stop by Nancy Henrichsen’s office was a pleasure, but he remembered thinking, of these experiences can be a good reminder (window) between the Library and the “She should really have her eyes checked.” that discomfort is a part of the process as we Chapel or send an email to nancyh@ On night two, Becky dressed herself as a strive to create a more hospitable community flcsf.org. Participation is voluntary; stereotypical Biker Chick: bandanas, tattoo here at First Lutheran. May God help us we have a place for all children ages sleeves, leather, and all. On that night, she take initiative when it comes to extending three-years old through fifth grade. felt that others were less inclined to welcome hospitality to others, even as we experience Children in third through fifth grade her. Sitting down at the dinner table alone, moments of discomfort! have the option of requesting a she was soon joined by Pr. Franklin Pudas speaking role (from a script). Those and his wife Marit. Famous for their parts will be assigned by Dec. 8. The pageant takes place during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 20. First Lutheran Church • 327 S. Dakota Ave. • Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104 • Phone 605-336-3734 • www.flcsf.org 2 First Word • December 2015/January 2016 MISSION STATEMENT Church Council highlights: October 22, 2015 First Lutheran Church If there is an item that you as a church member wish to add to an upcoming Council meeting agenda, please contact welcomes all people into the Marilyn McNeill, Business Administrator, at 339-1983 ext. 236, or [email protected]. Council agendas will be posted on community of Jesus Christ, a bulletin board in the Atrium and on the church website home page, flcsf.org, the weekend prior to meetings. Meetings equipping and sending them are held the fourth Thursday of each month. First Lutheran Church members are welcome to visit meetings. forth to serve and witness in Jesus’ name. Currently, FLC takes in new members twice annually. The need for a fire suppression system was identified around After the first of the year, Pastor Katherine Olson will be the time of our last capital campaign and to date $240,000 identifying ways to connect those who have expressed has been set aside from the campaign. The height and GUIDING PRINCIPLES interest in being members so they do not feel in limbo nature of the ceiling makes this a challenging project to when there is a long waiting period before the next new bid, let alone complete. Midwest Mechanical in Sioux Falls We are grounded in the great member event. has asked for $20K to do an extensive bid proposal for the commandment of Jesus. project with the understanding that the bid would be the (Matthew 22:34–40) The Adult Discipleship board is starting to work on the property of FLC whether Midwest Mechanical ultimately We are grounded in the great Lenten Devotional. wins the bid for the work. The board approved spending commission of Jesus. Pastor Peter Strommen's major focus is in long-range $20K for the bid from the capital campaign dollars. (Matthew 28:16–20) planning through the strategic initiative process. Pastor Marilyn Van Demark, Worship and Music Chair, spoke on We are committed to welcome Blair Anderson was happy with the responses he got behalf of the piano lab and how it serves as outreach by and minister to all people. from the members who participated in focus groups making participants feel part of the church. and interviews. He is developing a report which will be We are committed to equipping presented to the church council on November 12. people for ministry. We are committed to service in our community and world. We are committed to a ministry of Looking back and ahead relationship building. By Pastor Peter Strommen, participation in the Church Assessment identify a shared vision for the future, We are committed to our heritage and Executive Pastor Tool (CAT) and Visioning Workshop, we come to the place where plans often identity as a reforming church. There are times to enlisting a consultant to help lead a stall – in their execution (or lack of it).