Immanuel Messenger - Friday, 3 December 2021

The Immanuel Messenger

For the Week of 5 December

From the Pastor

The Christmas Creep

It’s not a somebody, it’s more of a some-thing, an attitude, a way of preparing for the celebration of the coming of the Christ Child, the Babe born in Bethlehem.

Long before Thanksgiving, we were seeing the beginning of the Christmas season, and it has been starting earlier and earlier over the years. Apparently, this is called “The Christmas Creep”, and Merriam Webster defines “The Christmas Creep” as:

"The gradual lengthening of the Christmas season with earlier displays of Christmas decorations and music, along with earlier holiday sales, advertising, and other displays of consumerism."

Not so in the Church. In the Church, the Christmas creep is defined a bit differently. Instead of putting up all the decorations at once, we slowly decorate in preparation for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Church creeps toward Christmas, preparing slowly, and gradually.

This is Advent after all. We sing Advent hymns. We certainly do not celebrate Easter during Lent and Holy Week. Instead, we patiently wait for the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection.

So too during Advent. Advent is a penitential season – a season of repentance and renewal. There is plenty of time to celebrate Christmas – during the 12 Days of Christmas!

The world celebrates. The Church waits. Confess your sins. Eat the Body. Drink the Blood. Christ is truly present. Here. Now. Christ will come again. He promised! So, we wait, patiently.

See you Sunday!

+Pastor Gaub

Sunday's Propers

Collect

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Readings

Malachi 4:1-6

Romans 15:4-13

Luke 21:25–36

Hymns

334 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

508 The Day is Surely Drawing Near

331 The Advent of Our King

333 Once He Came in Blessing

336 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

This Week @ Immanuel

Sunday, 5 December

9:00am - Divine Service

10:25am - Sunday School Opening

10:30am - Sunday School and Bible Class

Wednesday, 8 December

5:30pm - Dinner

7:00pm - Evening Prayer

View All Events

Copies of the church membership directory are available in the Narthex

If you need to update any information, please call the church office.

Advent Midweek

Wednesday, 8 December

Dinner at 5:30pm

Menu: Tostadas

Dinner is sponsored by the Board of Elders.

Evening Prayer at 7pm

Weekly Memory Verse

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

Let Us Pray

For those suffering from cancer:

Carla Faske

Jim Froehlich

Susan Hayden

For Evelyn Robinson who awaits a blessed death in Jesus.

For Erwin Zander, that Christ the Good Shepherd would continue to watch over him, and grant him strength of body and soul.

For the calling of a faithful pastor.

For Sandi Hrozek, that the Lord Jesus would grant her full healing.

For Winnie McNamara, that she would be granted strength and healing.

For the family and friends of David Meng, that they would be granted peace and confidence in the resurrection.

For the families of our ECE, that they would be granted the peace which passes all understanding.

For those serving in the armed forces.

Submit a Prayer Request

If you have suggestions about things that you'd like to see in the Immanuel Messenger, please let the church office know. We would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Rev. Richard Gaub

Vacancy Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church and ECE

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Immanuel Lutheran Church and ECE

1440 Cortlandt Street,

Houston, Texas 77008

713-864-2651