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Selected Readings

The world, as we live in it, is like a shop window into which some mischievous person has got in overnight, and shifted all the price-labels so that the cheap things have the high-price labels on them, and the really precious things are priced low. We let ourselves be taken in. Repentance means getting those price-labels back in the right place.

–– William Temple

Repentance is not a popular word these days, but I believe that any of us recognize it when it strikes us in the gut. Repentance is coming to our senses, seeing suddenly, what we've done that we might not have done, or recognizing ... that the problem is not in what we do but in what we become.

–– Kathleen Norris in The Cloister Walk

Luther Quote of the Day

Great God, what do I see and hear! The end of things created! The judge of mankind doth appear on clouds of glory seated! The trumpet sounds; the graves restore, the dead which they contained before; prepare, my soul, to meet Him!

The weekly deadline for The Chimes

is 8:00 a.m. Thursday.

Upcoming Events

Christmas Concert by Muhlenberg Choirs

The annual Christmas music program presented by the choirs of Muhlenberg will be held next Sunday evening, December 17, at 7:30 p.m. There will be music by the Combined Choirs, the Folk Choir, the Children’s Choir, and the Handbell Ringers. Also included on the program will be a solo, an organ/piano duet, and an opportunity for the congregation to sing several carols. Please join us as we tell the message of the Christmas story in song and prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christ’s birthday. “There’s a Song in the Air.”

Christmas Caroling

On Friday, December 21, at 5:30, we will have a meal provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and then go Christmas Caroling to visit our shut-ins. This is a fun evening and a special time for those we visit. Sign-up on bulletin board in the hall.

Advent season:

a new worship booklet

and the year of luke

The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of a new church year. This year (cycle C of the 3-year lectionary) focuses on the Gospel of Luke.

Today we use a musical setting of our liturgy which reflects the mood of Advent: a time of waiting, preparing, and hoping. It prepares us for the celebration of the coming of Christ at Bethlehem, it refers to Christ’s coming to us today in Word and Sacrament and in the communion of the Church, and it is a time of sober preparation for Christ’s coming again at the end of time.

Therefore, our worship reflects some of these moods. Our expectancy is symbolized by the Advent wreath, which marks the weeks until the celebration of Christmas. Because Advent is a season of soberness and restraint, our worship provides a marked contrast with the festive character of Christmas Worship. We omit processions and recessions and the Hymn of Praise. We use hymns for the Alleluia Verse and offertory. Because Advent is a season of hope, we use blue paraments, following the Scandinavian tradition in which blue is a symbol of hope and expectation. In anticipation, we also begin the nativity scene with only a bare stable, which will be added to each week.

What will we do this year to prepare for the coming of Christ? Will we make room in our lives and holiday preparations for daily devotions, lighting an Advent wreath, or a work of love and mercy for someone in need? O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Bell Ringers

MLC’s newly confirmed 9^th grade students and their mentors are going to ring bells for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 16. They would like to invite any members who would also like to ring the Bells to be part of this serving experience. If you are interested in serving as a Ringer, please contact Tim Peifer (438-9167) or Diane Bayer (434-3496) for more information.

Capital Campaign

Special Giving

There will be special offering envelopes in the pews throughout Advent for a year-end gift towards the building of the new gathering area. If God has so blessed you, please prayerfully consider making a special gift.

Free Pizza for

College Students

This Sunday, there will be pizza in to-go boxes provided for college students. Meet in the campus ministry room after the 11:00 liturgy to pick up free pizza and exam kits.

Calling All Cookie Bakers

If you can donate two dozen cookies for the goodie bags for Christmas Caroling to our senior members, please sign up on the bulletin board and bring cookies to the MAC kitchen before 11 a.m. Dec. 17^th. Thanks from the CARE Committee.

A note for the

Simply Giving Program

If you participate in the Simply Giving Program and plan to change your pledge for 2007, please make your changes as soon as possible and give to the church office for processing. Simply giving forms are available in the narthex. Mark that it is a change and you do not need to send a voided check.

Christmas Concert

The Shenandoah Valley Choral Society will be presenting a program of Christmas Music on December 15^th at 7:30 pm at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. See Bulletin Board for details.

Ministries Night

Tomorrow night, December 11, all committees will meet at 7:00 for their monthly meeting. New committee members are always welcome. Join us at 7:00 p.m.

Lutheran Heritage Tour

To Germany

Pastor Vought is working with the ELCA Lutheran Center in Wittenberg, Germany on an itinerary for a Lutheran Heritage Tour in the latter part of July. This 11 – 14 day tour would visit many of the major sites of Luther and the Reformation as well as provide an opportunity for us to meet and visit with a German-Lutheran congregation. If you are interested in such a pilgrimage, please speak with Pastor Joe.

Faith Formation & Youth

J Crew News

Please join us next Sunday, December 17, for a Progressive Dinner. We will meet at the church at 4:30. We will finish back at the church for dessert and to set-up the Chrismon tree. For more information, call Karen Thomsen at (828-2808)

Alpha Teens News

service project

We will be wrapping Christmas presents for Mercy House this Saturday, December 16. We will meet at the old Ron Martin building (across from Costco) at 9:00 a.m. for more information contact Tim (438-9167) or Saundra (433-0291.

JAMers News

(Elementary youth group 2-5 grades)

There is no meeting today as we met last week and did our service project as part of the Advent-ure Sunday activities.

Children’s Christmas Program

There will be a Children’s Christmas Program next Sunday, December 17, at 10:15 in the MAC. All Sunday School Classes not participating are invited to attend, this includes the adult classes. The pastors will conclude the 9:30 Liturgy at 10:15 so members may attend the program.

Weekly Health Report

A full Health Report is printed monthly in The Red Door and posted on the church bulletin board.

RMH – Dennis Burchill, John Oren

Home – Jordan Parmeter

If you desire a visit in the hospital or to be placed on the prayer chain, please be sure to call the church office.

Weekly Report

December 3, 2006

Attendance:

8:00 Worship 126

9:30 Worship 112

11:00 Worship 225

6:30 Worship 16

Total 479

Total Regular Offering: $12,669.00

Designated Receipts:

Capital Campaign II...... $ 8,048.00

Year-end Capital Campaign Gift $2,575.00

Sasonal Offerings........... $ 35.00

Building Use.................. $ 200.00

Miscellaneous Income-Hymnals $10.00

Flower Fund.................. $ 70.00

World Hunger................ $ 120.00

Maintenance & Repairs. $ 4.00

Shoes for Central America $250.00

Bethlehem Gift............... $ 20.00

Vision 06....................... $ 10.00

People Helping People... $ 20.00

Ford’s Theatre Trip....... $ 53.00

Music Program.............. $ 20.00

Sunday School: Rwanda School $13.66

GRAND TOTAL.......... $ 23,917.66

“BUILDING THE DREAM”

Thanks to God and the generous stewardship of the Muhlenberg Family, all outstanding debt on the MAC, church renovations, and Garber property has been covered! All gifts received now go towards building our new Gathering Area.

Total received for the Gathering Area:

$57,069.00

Daily Devotions

“Praying Our Faith Together!”

For use by individuals and families at home, at the office, at mealtimes, over that morning cup of coffee or before bedtime. Scripture citations taken from the Three Year Daily Lectionary in the new ELW, pages 1121 to 1153, (Year C).

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(The Apostle’s Creed)

Mon. Romans 8;22-25

Tues. 2 Peter 1: 2-25

Wed. Luke 7: 18-30

Thu. 2 Corinthians 8: 1-15

Fri. 2 Corinthians 9: 1-15

Sat. Luke 1:57-66

Sun. Luke 3:7-18

Weekly Calendar

December 11 — December 17

Mon.6:15 p.m. Executive Committee

7:00 p.m. Ministries Meetings

Tues. 6:00 pm Folk Choir Rehearsal

6:30 pm EFM

7:00 pm 8:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal

Wed. 7:30 am Bible Study

10:00 am Staff Meeting

12:00 noon Holy Communion

6:30 pm Children’s Choir

6:30 pm Handbell Ringers

7:00 pm Lutheran-Cath. Bible Study

7:30 pm 11:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal

Thurs.5:30 pm Partners in Prayer

7:30 pm Teen Choir

Sat. 7:30 am Women’s Breakfast/Bible Study

7:30 am Men’s Breakfast/Bible Study

10:00 am All Choirs Rehearse

Sun. 8:00 am Holy Communion

9:30 am Holy Communion

10:15 am Children Christmas Program

11:00 am Holy Communion

6:30 pm Holy Communion

7:30 pm Choir Christmas Program

Published weekly by Muhlenberg Lutheran Church

281 East Market Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801

V Phone: 540-434-3496 V Fax: 540-574-4023