Heritage Herald – December 2024 Edition
From Pastor’s Desk
The Season of Advent
The term ‘Advent’ derives from the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’, and holds deep significance in Christian traditions. The period of Advent spans the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, beginning on the Sunday closest to November 30th (St Andrew’s Day), and culminating on December 24th (Christmas Eve).
For Christians, Advent symbolizes the anticipation and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and the hope and anticipation of his Second Coming. This significant time also marks the start of the liturgical year in Western Christianity – the church’s annual cycle of feast days and Scripture readings.
The practice of Advent dates back centuries and has evolved over time. Beyond religious contexts, it has gained cultural prominence, featuring secular festive celebrations as a fun and exciting countdown to Christmas.
Early origins
Advent’s roots can largely be traced back to the 4th and 5th centuries, notably in Gaul (modern-day France), Spain and northern Italy, where churchgoers observed a preparatory period preceding Christmas, involving fasting, prayer and reflection.
In Tours, France, Bishop Perpetuus (461-490) established a 3 day fast each week leading to Christmas, starting from 11 November (St Martin’s Day). This preparation became known as Advent, evolving into a 5 week ‘St Martin’s Lent’ that included fasts and abstinence. Indeed in 567, the Council of Mâcon in Tours mentioned an Advent season, ordering monks to fast throughout December until Christmas.
Advent thus first emerged as a season where Christians observed 40 days of fasting (much like with Lent), penance, and prayer in readiness for celebrating Christ’s birth and the baptism of new Christians at Epiphany in January. In the 6th century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the Second Coming of Christ.
Originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas, but over time, Advent’s duration and focus began to shift. The first clear references in the Western Church to Advent are found in the Gelasian Sacramentary (the second oldest-surviving western liturgical book), with writings under Charlemagne confirming the fast was still widely observed in the 9th century.
It was only by the Middle Ages that Advent became linked to Jesus’ birth (his First Coming) at Christmas. This marked a shift in emphasis from penitence to preparing for the Nativity, solidifying Advent’s position as a distinct liturgical season. The practices associated with Advent continued to evolve through the Middle Ages, varying across regions and religious orders, focusing on penitential aspects or joyful anticipation.
– Credit: Amy Irvine, Dec 2023, https://www.historyhit.com/the-history-of-advent/
Savior Of The Nations Come
Heritage Midweek Advent Vespers
2024 Wednesdays in Advent, 6:30 pm.
Dec. 4 – The Savior Comes to the Jewish Nation First – Matthew 15:21-28
Dec. 11 – The Savior Comes to the Enemy – John 4:1-26
Dec. 18 – The Savior Comes to the Outcasts of Society – Mark 2:13-17
-Pastor K.J. Anderson
FY25 Financial Summary
FY25 October Financial Summary
Council Update
Inreach
- Sunday School Christmas program grouped with choir for Dec 22 – 2nd service
- Smaller group this year
- Still lacking Sunday School teachers for preK and 5-6 grade
Spiritual Oversight
- General discussion around service times
- Wednesday 6:30 Advent services with supper beforehand (Dec. 4, 11, and 18)
- Christmas Eve 6:30 Christmas Day 10:00 New Year’s Eve 6:30
School Board
- Summer program progress
- Conferences occurred and discussed with them to gauge their interest
- Flyers have been handed out to Teresa’s parents in effort to retain students for first grade
- One room has TV concerns
- Limit to 10. Open to more but would need to discuss logistics around pricing and staff
- $200 is the # John is recommending to be tuition. ($20,000 for the summer program)
- 8:30-4:30 is discussed vs 8:00-4:00 which was previously proposed
- MaKenna has at least one new student
Outreach
- Open gym was a success – about 4-5 families – all members
- Keep it running and hope that it grows
- Should promote more – perhaps school newsletter and church bulletin
- Synod outreach pastor (Brad Kerkow) will be here Dec 5th, at 6:00 – church council is encouraged to attend
Properties
- Drainage ditch work
- Blinds are hung
- Buckthorn along gym – looking for help to discard (Lyle, Jesse, and Dennis)
- Timmy to repair plumbing – parts on the way
- The piano was tuned
Treasurer
- Wrap up memorial discussion with Katie and Rhonda
Chairman
- Steamline financials in the office with Jodi
- Hoping to create a council calendar to transition to the next person for each respective position to allow eyes on a calendar to make it easier for less-seasoned individuals
- Summer school / mixed-grade classroom flyers to be on the website
TLC/Office
- Bazaar is in full swing
- Christmas baskets for shut-ins
- Gift cards for seminarians
- Advent supper planning
Sunday School & Choir Combined Christmas Service
The Sunday School Children and the Heritage Adult Choir will join forces for a combined Christmas Service on Sunday, December 22nd at the 10:30 am service. The program is entitled “His Name is Jesus” and will feature songs and recitations as we tell the Christmas story. The children will practice their songs and group recitations during the full Sunday School Hour during the month of December. All memorized parts should be worked on at home as we will not have any Saturday rehearsals. The high school students have longer sections that do not need to be memorized and will be read from the lectern. All the children received (or will receive) a red folder with the entire service and their specific parts highlighted. Please have them bring their folder to church each Sunday. Thank you for helping your children learn their memorized parts of the service.
Advent Worship Schedule
o Wednesday Advent services: 6:30 pm – December 4th, 11th and 18th. Supper served on the 4th, 11th & 18th at 5:15 p.m.
o Sunday 12-1 The First Sunday in Advent. Worship services with Communion at 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
o Sunday 12-8 The Second Sunday in Advent. Worship services at 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
o Sunday 12-15 The Third Sunday in Advent. Worship services with Communion at 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
o Sunday 12-22 The Fourth Sunday in Advent Worship service at 8:00 a.m. The 10:30 a.m. service will be the Choir & Sunday School combined service.
o Tuesday 12-24 The Christmas Eve Candlelight song service will be at 6:30 pm.
o Wednesday 12-25 Christmas day service will be at 10:00 am with Communion.
o Sunday 12-29 The First Sunday in Christmas. Worship services with Communion at 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
o Tuesday 12-31 New Years Eve service at 6:30 p.m. with Communion.
o Wednesday 01-01 -2024 New Years Day; There will be NO service as is our custom.
Adult Bible Study Opportunities
Women’s Bible Study.
Men’s Bible Study
The Men’s Thursday Morning Bible Class meets at 9:00 a.m.
Heritage Choir
Choir rehearsal is on Wednesdays starting at 7 pm. New members are always welcome! Please contact Julie Wright or Klaudia Calhoun with any questions.
Volunteer Opportunities Around the Church
Once again the Property Board is requesting Heritage members to volunteer to clean the Narthex, Sanctuary and gym on a weekly basis. Please consider helping to keep our church looking nice by signing up on the volunteer board. The Sanctuary takes about 1 1/4 hours, the Narthex 1 1/4 hours, and the gym 20 minutes. Questions: contact Ruth B. for details and instructions.
Members Helping Members
Properties Board
Thank you to everyone who helps to keep the building looking great! There are a few additional projects/tasks that need to be completed. If you are willing to take on one of these, please contact Ruth B.
Interior:
* Sanctuary –
Vacuum chairs and check for spider webs
Clean video enclosure
* Painting: See Ruth if you would be interested
in doing some painting
Seminary Christmas Gifts
Again this year, we, as a congregation, will be bringing gifts to the seminary students and their families. There is a poster with post-its hanging in the narthex. Gift cards are available for purchase through Katie Henricks (Raise Right/Scrip) and can be put in the office or mailbox #9. If you have any questions, please talk to Rhonda Eisenbeis. Gifts are due December 4.
Companions in Prayer
My Prayer Story
We are entering the “Holiday Season” starting with Thanksgiving, which we just finished, and ending with New Year’s Day. I think it should be called the “Tradition Season”. Everyone, along with their family and friends, has many traditions that make the season special to us. Sometimes it is food – how do you fix your sweet potato – marshmallows or butter and honey? Is it a Christmas ham, turkey or goose – or maybe lutefisk? Sugar cookies or krumkake? Pumpkin or apple? Other times it is activities – Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? When do you put the lights up or take the tree down? Do you watch football or go for outside activities? You get what I mean. While all of these things are fine, we have to remember not to let them become the only focus of our celebration. Just as Jesus chastised the Pharisees for paying more attention to man-made traditions than to the commandments of God (Matthew15:1-9) we must keep the birth of our Lord and Savior in the forefront of our celebrations. Give thanks for all His blessings, give to those in need, and sing hymns of praise – And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:13,14).
Congregation Prayer Suggestions:
Intercessory prayer – prayers on the behalf of others – is a part of a Christian’s life. If you have a request for Companions in Prayer at Heritage to pray for you or someone you know, please contact Alice Schmidt, Pastor Anderson or the Office.
Each of you have a list of those you pray for, but consider adding these to it.
- While we celebrate the Christmas season, we recognize that for many this is a difficult time because of the “empty chair at the table”. It might be the first year or several years. Sometimes it might be an estrangement rather that a death. For whatever reason and for whatever period of time, we ask for God to comfort and grant peace to each of them.
- Many people travel to join family and friends during this time. Ask God to Grant good weather and safe travels.
Serving in December
Click the link –> Greeter Calendar
Greeter Guidelines
To provide a consistent, friendly, and sincere greeting every Sunday to all members and visitors to Heritage Lutheran Church, guidelines have been developed to help accomplish that goal. Following are some of those guidelines:
- Please mark your calendar for the date you are assigned. The date assigned will be published in the Heritage Newsletter for a two-month period.
- Please be ready to greet no less than 20 minutes before each service for which you have been assigned.
- As you greet visitors, please encourage them to sign our guest book. If there are two people greeting, one of you could escort them to the guest book while the other continues to greet. Ideally you should try to introduce them to another member standing nearby. Sometimes this is difficult to do as the service is starting. In that case, try to chat with them after the service and introduce them to other members after the service.
- Stay at the door until the service is underway; visitors quite often show up late and really need extra help in getting bulletins and a place to sit. Feel free to involve the ushers as needed.
- If you have a chance, get their contact information from the guest book or by asking them for it, and then follow up with a thank you text, email, or note sent to them thanking them for visiting our church. If you inform the church office, they could help with this task.
- If you are unable to greet at both services, please ask someone to fill in for you. If you find out at the last minute, text the following who are willing to help – Remus 651-800-5827, Braun 612-237-1064, Fahning 952-200-2870, Eisenbeis 651-230-4423, Barb Oachs 952-465-5272
- If you have a conflict with the date you were assigned, please contact someone from your month or the next month and trade with them. This helps those doing the scheduling with juggling all the rescheduling. Thank You!
December Ushers & Acolytes
Click the link –> Usher Acolyte Calendar
December Recording
12/1 – Stan Miller
12/8 – Libby Paulsen
12/15 – Martin Paulsen
12/22- Stan Miller/? Second Service is Choir & Sunday School
12/24 – Dave Paulsen
12/25 – Martin Paulsen
12/29-Stan Miller
12/31 – Libby Paulsen
December Altar Guild
Shirley Schwanz/Sondra Frimanslund
December Fellowship
12/1 – Siewert
12/8- Open
12/15 – Open
12/22 – Open
12/29 – Open
December Birthdays
4 Paige Chapman
6 Carrie Blom
9 Laura Braun
13 Mel Schwanz
13 Nikalette Balliet
16 La Donna Von Bargen
17 Gavin Sickmann
21 Russ Olson
21 Larry Sickmann
23 Alice Schmidt
23 Holly Sutton
29 Lucca Balliet
29 Lily Meany
29 Londyen Mears