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OVER THE HANDLEBARS... with Pastor Dana | |
How do you feel about snow globes? You know, those glass balls with some water, some kind of white stuff and some Christmasy figure inside it. Most, in my opinion, are pretty cheesy. They have a cheap-looking Santa and poorly painted reindeer or a red and green manger scene (seriously?). Then, every once in a while, in the midst of the cheesiness there comes one that is genuinely beautiful. We had one for years that had escaped the Curse of Christmas Tacky, beautiful snow geese, realistic snow and a nice quality pedestal. I enjoyed looking at it for many years and was disappointed when the geese had discolored to the point that it was time to say goodbye to it.
Maybe I'm stretching here, but it seems to me that the season itself is a lot like those snow globes. Most of what we see every year at this time resembles those tacky globes-designed for a quick smile but nothing really important-and wholly without beauty. You see them everywhere...especially in the big box stores.
Then, just when you think The Curse of Christmas Tacky has completely taken over, something of true beauty appears, something that reminds you that the core of this holiday season is not some shoddy decoration but the beauty of the presence of God among human beings. Emmanuel-God with us-is the beautiful message of Christmas, a message not gilded with fake gold leaf but wrapped in plain cloth; not boxed in paper and ribbon but laid gently in manger straw. The beauty of Christmas is simple, unadorned and bare, yet it is without equal.
Once you see the beauty of Jesus, born on Christmas because of God's unfathomable love, you yearn for the true beauty of Christmas to push aside the singing snowmen and the second-rate snow globes, and to fill your heart with a warmth that is not fleeting but will last a lifetime.
May this Christmas season fill you with the true beauty of the presence of God in the baby Jesus!
~PD
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VIEW THE COMPLETE NEWSLETTER | |
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WORSHIP FORETASTE
~December 2011~ | |
Sunday, December 4
Theme - A Voice from the Wilderness
Organ & Handbells
Sunday, December 11
Theme - Jesus, Name Above All Names
Christmas Program
Sunday, December 18
Theme - Count Me In
Recorders
Saturday, December 24
~ Christmas Eve ~
3pm - Live Manger Scene/Candlelight Service with Rejoice!
4:30pm - Candlelight Service with Choir & Handbells
6pm - Candlelight Service with Choir & Handbells
Sunday, December 25
~ Christmas Day ~
Worship Time: 10am
Theme - Your God Reigns
Organ
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| CHRISTMAS PROGRAM | |
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" is a powerful message. Join our Sunday School students, Adult Choir and Shepherd's Song on Sunday, December 11th at 8:15 & 10:30 as we hail Jesus' name through scripture, song and the Christmas story. Yahweh! Immanuel! Yeled! Jesus! King! Bright Star! |
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| SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH...MacKenzie Tabor | |
 What is your favorite book of the bible or bible verse/story?
My favorite book of the bible is Matthew. My favorite story is about when Jesus was born.
What is your favorite memory of SOTH?
My favorite fun memory of SOTH is when me and my Aunt Holli made "Adam" in Sunday School class. My other favorite memory is when we got to make crafts for Advent a few weeks ago.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My favorite things to do in my free time are to ride my bike, play Wii with my cousin Whitney, play games and watch movies with my mom and sister Teleah, and hang outside with my friends. My favorite subject in school is Math .. and of course PE and recess. I have a hamster named "JB" ...which is short for Justin Bieber :)
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| WORSHIP AT SOTH | |
Worship at SOTH is a family affair-we use a variety of styles and music choices in order to provide many opportunities for people to be lifted up as we praise God in worship. We base our worship life in our tradition of using the organ and the hymns of the Church but we are not afraid to branch out from there. Every service has music that praises God, Scripture, sermon, prayer, and Holy Communion. It is our hope that we can give glory to God in all of our worship experiences.
Beginning in January, 2012, the second Sunday of each month will have a traditional ELW service at 8:15. Bible Song will happen at 10:30 and will continue to be led by Shepherd's Song and our Sunday School students.
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| STAFF GIFTS | |
The SOTH staff are greatly appreciative of the gifts from the congregation, especially at Christmas time. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that our friends at the IRS are making it impossible for gifts from individual members of the congregation to be made to the SOTH staff through the church. We cannot do what we have done in the past without creating tax implications for both the church and staff members. We would suggest that if you want to make gifts to staff, that you give them directly to individual staff members. Any checks made to the church for that purpose will be returned. Thank you! Sam Walker, Council President.
Staff members are:
Dana Peterson, Pastor
Amy Toomey, Office Manager
Kari Fedde, Parish Associate & Music Director
Jenny Kalous, Young Adult Ministries Coord. & Youth Director
Joel Navejas, Custodian
Leonard Smith, Organist
Sue O'Grady, Financial Associate |
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WORSHIP WITH US! | |
Sundays: 8:15 and 10:30 am
Sunday School for ALL Ages: 9:30 am |
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Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church1200 S Taft Hill Road Fort Collins, CO 80521 970-482-9692 P 970-482-9782 F office@sothftc.org |
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