Greetings Siblings in Christ,
You are a blessing.
If you hear nothing else,
If the wind howls,
if your brain runs amok,
if rebuttals and denials lineup like little toy soldiers,
then hear this –
you are a blessing. ~Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed, Words for the Beginning: Advent Devotional, p.3
These words comprise the initial stanza of a poem for the First Sunday of Advent published by A Sanctified Art. The Advent Devotional, Words for the Beginning, was mailed from the church to each household in November. You will find the rest of the poem there (if you need a copy please check with the office).
For me, these words suggest the barrage of advertisements, emails, catalogs, mailers, etc., that infiltrate our lives from late October through December enticing us to buy more, spend more, bake more, party more, do more. We are pressured to live out the consumer mindset that surrounds us in our daily lives. Some enjoy the hustle and bustle while others experience heightened stress and feelings of inadequacy, or perhaps a bit of both.
The church season of Advent, though, runs counter-cultural to our worldly narrative. The poem goes on to remind who we are, whose we are, and how we came to be. Filled with the very breath of God we are empowered to rest, to refocus our perceptions, and to dwell more closely with God as we prepare for the arrival of Jesus, again. We can resist the tumult of the world by centering ourselves in the birth of Christ, the Savior of the nations.
Joyfully, we celebrate the gift of Jesus by giving gifts to family, friends, and neighbors who bless our lives. For some though, the ability to gift others is restricted not by desire but by time, finances, and situations. FLCOC children and youth engage in projects to extend their giving to strangers during the season of celebration. All are invited to support their efforts!
Christian’s Toy Box: Since 2016, First Lutheran members have supported Child and Family Services at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, through the annual opportunity to donate to Christian’s Toy Box, named after a young boy who fought Cancer, Christian Osen. When children are experiencing medical challenges, their outcomes improve with not only excellent medical care, but also emotional, social, and spiritual support.
Again this year, your contributions of new toys, games, art supplies, books, other creative activities and gift cards will be welcomed at FLCOC! No gift-wrapping needed! The confirmation students will sort, count, and deliver all donations to the Child Life Associates at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital on Sunday, Dec. 8th, 2023.
Yours in Christ,Watch for the toy box at FLCOC between November 24 and December 8 to put donations into or drop off checks or gift cards at the office (mailing them is fine too!). Checks should be made out to Children’s Hospitals & Clinics, MN, with Christian’s Toy Box written on the memo line. To give online, please follow this link; www.givemn.org/story/Christian-S-Toy-Box
Your donation truly helps sustain a hurt or sick child through another procedure, a holiday spent hospitalized, or just another day of ongoing treatment. You let a child know they are cared about and loved, lift their spirits and brighten their day.
Adopt-a Family: FLCOC Sunday School Children will help others celebrate by adopting-a-family for Christmas again in 2024! They will select gifts for each family member and wrap the gifts. On Sunday, December 1st, the kids will host a Hot Cocoa Stand as a fundraiser for their project. Please stop by after worship to enjoy a treat and support the efforts of our Sunday school students!
YOU ARE A BLESSING. I am grateful for your generosity and support of our children and youth. Thank you in advance for your help with these projects!
Blessings and peace for Advent and Christmas,
Deacon Kirsten Kessel
