Arise, shine, your light has come! The Christmas season is over as we celebrate Epiphany,  the revealing of Christ to the world. Originally this was one of the most important feast-days of the Christian year along with Easter, when baptisms would take place, and the Baptism of Jesus was remembered on this Sunday.  We hear that story from Luke 3:16 – “John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” Luke 3:16

Worship this weekend:  Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel with Holy Communion
                                   Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Holy Communion
                                                 9:30 a.m. – Sunday School, Coffee  & fellowship, Adult Bible Study
                                                10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship with Holy Communion

Be sure to watch for the introduction of the 2013 ELC Benevolence Program at all worship services.

Our preaching text for the week is:  Luke 3:1-22

Time: 27 C.E.

Since Last Week: Luke includes the only story of Jesus as a boy of age 12. According to tradition, boys of Jesus’ age were encouraged to learn Torah and God’s teachings, and to ask challenging questions. When Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple, he demonstrated a deep awareness of himself and his role in God’s kingdom.

Background: John began teaching and baptizing in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. John’s teaching had a sharp edge, convicting those whose manner of living capitalized on the oppression of others. When John spoke against the ruler, Herod, John was imprisoned, signaling the end of John’s prophetic voice, and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Community: How has your lifestyle contributed to the institutionalization of oppression? Take the survey at http://slaveryfootprint.org to discover how many slaves your lifestyle employs.

At Home: Does your baptism inform your actions and behaviors? If so, then how? If not, why not?

Read This Week:
Monday: Genealogy of Jesus, Luke 3:23-38
Tuesday: Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness, Luke 4:1-13
Wednesday: Comfort, O Comfort My People, Isaiah 40:1-11
Thursday: God Will Restore Jerusalem, Isaiah 52:1-12
Friday: Elijah’s Flight, 1 Kings 19:1-9
Saturday: Hear, O Israel, Deuteronomy 6:4-15

Next Week: Jesus Preached in Nazareth, Luke 4:14-30

With all due respect to the ancient Mayans it seems the world did not end.  (I never really thought they had knowledge greater than the one who said:  “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, — but only the Father.”  Matt.24:36)   We have celebrated another Christmas, and now the New Year awaits – so now what?

This past year was a remarkable one in the life of ELC.  We celebrated 125 years in ministry; we completed a long-awaited building expansion, the world around us continues to change and bring new challenges.  The question for all of us is:  How will we move into this New Year?

After the great events of the ascension and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, those first disciples faced a world that was also in an uproar.  They were a minority movement, opposed by the dominant powers of their day.  They lived in a world being shaped by forces from faraway lands and non-believing philosophies.  So how did they respond?  The book of Acts reports:  “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home- and ate their food with glad and generous- hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47)

Rather than sit back and worry, they went about being the people of God in basic and concrete ways every day.  That doesn’t seem like too bad a plan.  In this New Year I believe it is time to commit ourselves to being the people of God in this place.  We have  tremendous opportunities, we have wonderful facilities, and most of all we have the presence of power of God in our midst.

God’s Peace,

Pastor John Twiton

This photo is from Christmas Eve worship at ELC.  It was great to see so many extended families and friends gather for candlelight and Christmas carols!!

We return to regular worship schedule this weekend  –  Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

We draw closer to Christmas this 3rd Sunday of Advent, and we have a great weekend of activities planned for the whole community.

Saturday morning, our youth group will be have krumkake orders ready to pick up, along with fresh lefse and other baked goods beginning from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

Sunday School Christmas program rehearsal will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday evening worship with Holy Communion will be in the chapel at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday morning – Traditional Worship with Holy communion at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult Bible Study and fellowship at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School Program will be at our 10:30 worship time.

Sunday Evening – 5:00 p.m. Christmas at ELC  followed by Chili Supper

Don’t forget our “Christmas at ELC” concert at 5:00 p.m. this Sunday to benefit the Mt. Horeb Area Food Pantry.  A free-will offering will help provide Christmas baskets for families in our area.
The Concert will include many groups and musicians from our congregation, along with audience sing-alongs for everyone.

Following the concert, the Men of the Church will provide a chili supper in the fellowship hall.

Please plan to join us for this wonderful evening, and be sure to invite your friends and neighbors.