Friends-
Luke tells us Jesus was born of Mary.  John tells us that the Father sent the Son.  So which is it?  Born or sent?
Of course, it is both.  And that is the central paradox and mystery of our very paradoxical and mysterious faith.

It points to the reality that Jesus is both human (born) and Divine (sent from the Father).  We celebrate this mystery every year not just because it is a great story (it is!), but because it is true.  God, in the person of Jesus, humbles himself to become one of us in the form of a little baby boy.

We've had three baby boys of our own.  And each was a wonderful and mysterious event in itself- two cells become this person!  Amazing!  Now consider Jesus- he didn't even start from two cells.  I don't know just how God made this happen, except that God being God, nothing is impossible for him.  We don't exactly know how.

But we can know why.  And in this season that can easily miss the point in all the frenzy of gift giving, parties, travel, and all the rest, it is important to remember the point, the why.  Jesus came to set us free, to restore us to the Father, to deliver us from darkness and death, and to offer us eternal, abundant life.  That's why.

And it all begins with this mysterious paradox.

This month, let God amaze you with wonder.
Gary

Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person and via Zoom.
                 12/3  - New Book Study on Holy Moments - Meet downstairs. Information is below. 9:15 am
                          - First Sunday in Advent
                          - Communion Sunday
                          - Baptism of Elliot Green
                          - Chili Lunch downstairs to celebrate Elliot's baptism

                 12/10 - Book Study downstairs - 9;15 am
                           - Second Sunday in Advent
                           - Short Congregational Meeting immediately following worship.

                  12/17 - Book Study downstairs - 9:15 am
                            - Third Sunday in Advent
                            - All Church Potluck downstairs - see information below.
               
                  12/24 - Book Study is not meeting today
                            - Fourth Sunday in Advent/Christmas service
                            - No Evening Service

                  12/31 - Book Study - TBD
                            - Coin Collection Sunday

                      
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM 

Thursdays - 12/7 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM 

For Zoom links, contact Gary at bridmin@aol.com

Other News - 
Book Study on Holy Moments - 12/3 - We will be starting a study on the book Holy Moments on Sunday, December 3.  Please have the prologue read by that day.  We will meet downstairs at 9:15 am.   See Gary if you still need a copy of the book. We will not meet on December 24 and December 31 is still to be determined. 

Communion Sunday -12/3 - We will celebrate Communion on Sunday, December 3.  If you attend via Zoom, please have your own elements ready if you want to participate. 

Baptism and Lunch - 12/3 - We look forward to the baptism of Elliot Green on Sunday, December 3. Everyone is invited to stay for chili, soup, and cupcakes to celebrate this special day. Plan on coming downstairs after the service. 

Congregational Meeting - 12/10 - Please stay after church on Sunday, December 10 for a short congregational meeting.  Decisions on the budget will be discussed. 

Potluck - 12/17 - We are having a potluck on Sunday, December 17. We hope everyone can come and enjoy being together during this holiday time. Bring a dish or two to share. Plan on wearing a holiday sweater if you have one.  It can be beautiful or ugly!  Most importantly, just plan on coming!

Helping Families - Every year we contact the Caledonia School to get names of people in need. We are helping three families this year.  If you want to help, check out the lists in the fellowship room.  You can also talk to Nikki if you have questions.  Please bring things by December 17.  Please wrap it if possible and perhaps put a post-it note to say what it is. 

Christmas Eve - 12/24 - Christmas Eve falls on Sunday this year.  For several years our evening service has had quite low attendance, so this year, we are just gathering in the morning to celebrate. We hope everyone can come and celebrate the birth of Christ. at 10:30 am December 24th.

Coin Collection -12/31 - Plan on bringing your jars of coins on Sunday, December 31.  These coins go towards our benevolence funds. We vote in January to decide where to spend the money. 

Thanks - Thanks to all who helped decorate the church for Advent/Christmas.  It looks amazing as usual. 

Looking Ahead - 
Annual Meeting and Potluck - Sunday, January 14 will be our annual meeting and potluck held after the worship service.  If you attend this church you are welcomed and encouraged to come.  It is a time to look at the past year and look ahead to the coming year.  And of course, there is always good food.  Get it on your calendar now!

Friends-
All Saints Day can be a forgotten holiday.  It is the reason there is a Halloween.  

Halloween is short for Hallowed Evening.  It is always the night before All Saints Day, the day we honor and remember all of the saints who have given their all for the cause of Christ over the many years.  Catholic tradition says there are saints, then there are the rest of us.  Protestant tradition teaches that all who come to faith in Jesus are saints.  I believe that is true.

ASD is an opportunity to celebrate not only the big names of the Christian faith, but the ordinary folks who have been faithfully doing God's will.  For me, I particularly remember the ones who were and are instrumental in bringing me to faith and helping me to grow and flourish.  And I've got a lot of them!  Including many of you!

How about you?  Who have been saints in your life?  Who helped you get your start with Jesus, and who has helped you carry on?  Those are your saints, and I would encourage you to thank them, thank God for them, and pray for them.  

And, I would encourage you to be such a saint to those God puts before you.  We all need saints in our lives, and we can all be saints, even us ordinary Joes and Janes.

Have a great month!
Gary


Calendar
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study - 7 PM - via Zoom. 
Thursdays - 11/2 - Church Board Meeting - 7 PM via Zoom. 
                      11/23 - Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturdays -11/4 - Daylight Savings Time ends - Turn your clock back one hour tonight.
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom.
                  11/5 - Communion Sunday 
                  11/19 -Thanksgiving-focused  Worship Service
                  11/26 - Decorate the church for Advent/Christmas after the worship service.

Contact Gary at bridmin@aol.com for Zoom links.

Other News - 
Communion Sunday - Communion Sunday is November 5. If you attend via Zoom, please have your own elements ready if you want to participate. 

Upper Room Devotionals - The November/December Upper Room Devotionals are now out at the church.  Be sure to pick one up.  We usually have a few extras, so maybe consider taking one to a friend.

Thanks - Our October potluck was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who came and for the food that was brought.  A special thanks to Curt and Carl for the delicious pasta they made for everyone. Thanks to Judy for the beautiful centerpieces and for getting the other parts ready as well. 

Decorating for Advent/Christmas - We will decorate the church after worship on Sunday, November 26.  Plan on staying if you can. 

Looking Ahead - 
Baptism - Elliot Green will be baptized on Sunday, December 3. 

New Book Study - A study on the book Holy Moments will start on Sunday, December 3 at 9 a.m. down in the basement of the church.