Faith Lutheran Church
Bellingham, Washington
A "Reconciling in Christ" Congregation of the ELCA.
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December 2012 Newsletter
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS
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ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
Third Sunday in Advent
Sunday, Dec 16, 2012
John the Baptist teaches the preparation for God's reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity.
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Sunday, Dec 23, 2012
The children will lead us with a Christmas Program they have been preparing, following the star, as we journey ever closer to Bethlehem.
Wednesdays in Advent
Throughout the season, after Wed. Family Supper (6:00pm), we'll gather for a simple prayer service (7:00pm), with readings, singing, silence, and candlelight.
Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24, 2012
5:30pm Service of Holy Communion
The children will help tell the story.
10:00pm Service of Holy Communion
Candlelight, hymns, and special music.
Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
10:00am Simple service of Holy Communion and hymns.
Second Day of Christmas
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Join us for party & pub food for supper (6:00pm), followed by Root Beer & Hymn Sing!
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BABY FOOD DRIVE
THROUGHOUT ADVENT
As we anticipate the coming of the Christ Child, please bring your donations of baby food to church each Sunday during Advent for donation to the Bellingham Food Bank. Monetary donations are also acceptable.
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CAST UPDATE
Thanks to Pastor Cheryl Fear and the people of Garden Street Methodist Church (1326 N Garden St, Corner of N Garden & Magnolia), the CAST program has a temporary winter home while the renovations continue at the usual location of the Interfaith Clinic. For a while our temporary hosts were the Opportunity Council on Cornwall Avenue, but as the weather worsened it was clear that a more sheltered location was needed. Thanks neighbors!!
Additionally, the following will be the serving schedule effective through the winter:
MONDAYS 5:30-6:30PM
TUES-THURS 6:00-7:00PM
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PRAYER VIGIL FOR THE MIDDLE EAST
Faith will be hosting this monthly vigil on
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Still looking for an easy gift idea for friends or family members? The youth still have peace t-shirts (adult, child, and baby onesies) for sale in a variety of colors!
SALE PRICE: $10 EACH
Contact Jessie Twigg-Harris or the Faith Office to pick yours up!
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Weekly Sunday Worship
10:00am
Wednesday Supper & Prayer
Every Wednesday
6:00-7:30pm
Adult Choir Rehearsal
Every Wednesday
7:30pm
Parish Council Meeting
Mon, Dec 10
Mon, Jan 14
6:30pm
Faith Women's Breakfast
Wed, Dec 12
Wed, Jan 9
8:30am
Youth Serve CAST
Wed, Dec 12
Wed, Jan 9
6-7:30pm
Women's Study on the Book of Luke
Last Session
Thurs, Dec 13
6:30-8:30pm
Christmas Photo Scavenger Hunt
Faith Youth
Wed, Dec 19
7:30pm
Men of Faith
Thurs, Dec 20
Thurs, Jan 3
6:00pm
Worship Committee Meeting
Tues,
5:30pm
Children's Christmas Program
During Worship
Sun, Dec 23
10:00am
Christmas Eve Services
Mon, Dec 24
5:30pm
10:00pm
Christmas Day Service
Tues, Dec 25
10:00am
Second Day of Christmas Celebration
Root Beer & Hymns
Wed, Dec 26
6:00pm
Interfaith Coalition Annual Meeting
at Faith Lutheran
Mon, Jan 28
5:30pm
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NEXT FOOD DRIVE SUNDAY:
Sun, Dec 16, 2012
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
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LIFE AT FAITH
Go. Remember. Serve.
As we have begun our Advent journey this season, we are led by each other down the road to Bethlehem. The children helped create a beautiful new Advent banner and are helping us tell the stories and light the Advent candles each week. The youth have welcomed special guest St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who reminds us of the importance of secret gift giving. We've celebrated 80th birthdays and met to share supper and prayer. We've had countless photos taken for the new church directory. We've prepared ourselves for the coming of winter and the use of the building to house guests of the severe weather shelter. And guests of Maple Alley Inn were serenaded by horns playing Christmas music while having lunch. And all of this in the collective hope and anticipation of the coming of the One who turns the world upside down! May your Advent journey continue to be filled with wonder.
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MUSIC at FAITH
The schedule for Advent includes:
Adult Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays, 7:30PM
Chime Choir Rehearsal First & Third Sundays, 11:30-Noon
THANKS TO FAITH CHOIR...
We are grateful to the members of the choir who have faithfully continued to
lead the congregation in song and provide occasional offertory music during this interim period, following the Renee King's resignation. Special thanks to Carmen Bean and Lexi MacNevin for their leadership and to staff musicians Darrell Markwood and David Campbell for their support.
A job will be posted after the holidays and we will hope to have a new choral music coordinator in place by mid January at the latest.
Faith Choir Ensemble in Advent
Members of Faith's Chime Choir
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FAITH QUILTERS
Each Monday, the Gathering Room at Faith buzzes with the sounds of sewing machines and quilters chatting while working on quilts to donate to local organizations who support people in need of respite, safety, and warmth. In November, quilts were draped over pews in the sanctuary during Sunday's service for the people of Faith to bless before they were sent out. Among other places, quilts were sent to the YWCA, and below you can see the worship space scattered with quilts and a note send from the YWCA in thanks for the donation.
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WINTER EDUCATION SCHEDULE
SUNDAYS 8:45-9:45am
GODLY PLAY (Godly Play Classroom)
A Montessori-based children's religious education curriculum, richly rooted in the stories of the tradition, designed to allow sacred and creative space for children to develop their own ideas about God and the universe. All children are welcome.
Upcoming...WINTER "INTENSIVES"
SIX SUNDAYS
Sun, Feb 3 - Sun, March 10, 2013
We will be offering a variety of classes after church for all ages: Elementary, Confirmation, High School, and Adult. Child care and activities will be offered for the youngest ones. Watch the January newsletter and bulletin boards for course details.
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FAITH YOUTH 
Youth Serve CAST Downtown
Second Wednesdays monthly 6:30-7:30pm
(Followed by regular program at the church--upcoming dates: 11/14, 12/12)
Christmas Photo Scavenger Hunt
Wed, Dec 19, 2012 7:30-9:30pm
Meet at Faith. For this activity, we will be driving to various locations throughout Bellingham. All youth participating must have current permission form/medical release on file.
Contact Jessie Twigg-Harris for more info:
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NOTE FROM THE PASTOR
I cut my liturgical teeth on the Oxford Book of Carols - we were each given our own copy in primary school - from that little red and white book I learned most of the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany hymns that I know today.
"People, look east," by Eleanor Farjeon (1881 - 1965) was requested by the editors of
The Oxford Book of Carols (1928), where it first appeared. It's one of my favorites and I was glad when it finally made it into some of our Lutheran resources, coupled with the same lilting French carol tune, "Besancon."
The version that comes to us in Evangelical Lutheran Worship depicts Love variously as Guest, Rose, Star, and Lord, promising at the end of each verse that Love is on the way. They left out verse 3 of the original text, however, which I always liked:
Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God, for fledgling time has chosen.
People look East and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
The hymns of the Advent season are rich in imagery, giving us fresh and wonderful ways to picture the coming of the Light into our world as we journey through the season.
Soon we shall be at the manger. In the words of Karl Rahner, "It is both terrible and comforting to dwell in the inconceivable nearness of God, and so to be loved by God that the first and last gift is infinity and inconceivability itself. But we have no choice.
God is with us."
May God be with you all,
Sharon
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