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On Sunday, December 22, we will celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent, and the gift of Love! Scripture (Luke 1:26-56) will be read as reader’s theatre as we listen to the story of Gabriel greeting Mary with the news that she would bear Jesus (known as the annunciation). Following this Mary greets her cousin Elizabeth and upon hearing Mary’s greeting, the baby Elizabeth is carrying (John the Baptist) leaps with joy! Then Mary declares her joy (known as the Magnificat). Join us for this special Sunday of scripture, candles, Christmas carols (including the favorite, ‘O Holy Night’), and a reflection on this beautiful story of Mary and Elizabeth. Invite your friends to join us as well!
For today, I leave you with this prayer by Steve Garnaas-Holmes (unfoldinglight.net):
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God of life,
something in us leaps for joy
when we sense you near.
Blessed are we, and blessed is the fruit of our hearts
when we listen.
In the silence, and in the Word, speak to us.
Come to us.
Be born in us.
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A Look Ahead
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Dec. 20 Newsletter articles due to Admin Assistant
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Dec. 24 7 pm -- Christmas Eve worship w/Holy Communion
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Dec. 29 Celebration of Rich and Ruby Pleva Worship and Potluck
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It's Rich and Ruby Sunday--December 29
We are happy to have our former pastor, Rev. Rich Pleva and his wife, Ruby joining us on December 29 to celebrate their ministry at Zwingli. As many will remember, Rich retired in the midst of Covid and although we gave them gifts and our thanks, we weren't able to have an in-person worship and party.
Please plan to attend a special service of recognition and thanks. Pastor Rich has agreed to offer the sermon that day to make this even better! Following worship, we will have a potluck and time to visit.
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Cookies for Kelsch:
Many thanks to all those who provided goodies and/or helped to prepare gift trays! They were delivered on Monday and Debbie says the staff was drooling!
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Update on Heifer Project
Thank you to all who are making donations to the Heifer Project! We are inviting you to help us donate flocks of chickens, bags of garden seed, goats, and maybe a water buffalo ($$$). It is exciting to see what donations Zwingli will be able to make because of you! We will continue to receive donations through the end of December – and will keep you updated.
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If you are in town for Christmas Eve, we hope you will join us for this special Worship service. Our focus will be on the gift of the Light of Christ into our world (John 1:1-5): “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”! Invite any friends who might not have a place to worship but might be touched to be invited and included. If you need a ride, please contact Petra in advance (608-527-4155) who is offering rides. Thank you Petra! (Communion includes grape juice, and gluten/dairy free delicious bread. We will also be using flameless candles for the safety of our community.)
This Christmas, we are painfully aware that there is no peace for many in our world - and one of those places is the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, as well as the rest of Israel and Palestine. We pray that the peace of God might come to this Holy Land and to all the ‘holy lands’ of other peoples in our world where there is no peace this Christmas. As our prayer, we share this video version of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Shawn McDonald.
This short song video of the carol was filmed at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem by Ethnographic Media for their documentary ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’, which follows the story of three men, each from a different religion, who grew up in the Holy Land amidst perpetual war and constant conflict. Each of them has pursued peacemaking in their own way. The Palestinian Christian voice in the documentary is the founder and Executive Director of the Holy Land Trust. If you want a link to watch the documentary for free, let me know.
This song video shows scenes of Bethlehem today – with a special visual of the separation wall reminding us that Christ’s Light comes even to this land of great suffering. There are so many people on all sides of the wars and conflicts in our world, who are peacemakers. 'Blessed are the peacemakers', said Jesus. This video (and the documentary it was made for) invites us to give thanks for the peacemakers, and to pray for and work for peace and justice in our world today. Christmas is the gift of the Prince of Peace, The Light of the World, and his presence is still needed in today’s world.
Christmas Blessings,
Karla
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Funeral Service for Marly Tollefson
Zwingli is deeply saddened and hold the family of Marly in our hearts and prayers, as well as this community, as we bless Marly who has now entered her heavenly home. We give thanks for her life and for all that she was to the people who loved her.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 27, 2024 at Zwingli United Church of Christ-Paoli, 1338 County Rd. PB, Belleville, WI with Rev. Karla Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in the Verona Cemetery.
Marly's obituary can be viewed at www.bealfuneralhomes.com where online condolences can also be made.
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Blue Christmas Worship Service
Sometimes the Christmas season can be a sad time, especially if we are grieving the loss of someone we love or are having a hard time in any way. If it would be meaningful for you, Washington Reformation United Church of Christ (N6026 Church Rd. Monticello, WI 53570) is offering a special Worship Service for those who are grieving during this holiday season: Blue Christmas, Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 10:30AM. Zwingli members have been invited to attend if this is something that might be meaningful. Please know that Pastor Karla is also here for you.
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Interfaith "Longest Night" Gaza Vigil
When: Saturday, December 21 | 4-6 PM
Where: West Lawn Plaza near Trader Joe’s,
1810 Monroe St, Madison
The “Longest Night” is a service that has taken place in the Christian tradition on Winter Solstice, just a few days before Christmas. It began to help those who are struggling during the Advent and Christmas season. For more info: https://orucc.org/dec-21-vigil/
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The Christmas Fund is one of four annual UCC special mission offerings. At Zwingli, we will receive donations through the end of December. Checks should be made out to Zwingli, with “Christmas Fund” in the note section. | | | | |
