1711 Grant Street

Hopewell, VA 23860

The Hometown News www.nazluthchurch.com

The Newsletter of Nazareth Lutheran Church Nov/Dec 2010

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

PEACE
Join us as we receive spiritual renewal through prayer, contemplation, and worship
Inside this issue:

Church Officers 2011 2

of our LORD to receive Grace and harmony between ourselves and God.

Fall Festival Update 3

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Advent Message 4
Wednesday, November 24, 7PM
General Announce- 8
ments

Mid-week Advent I—December 1, 7PM Pastor’s Corner 10

Rev. Art Umbach leads us through a Bible study on prayer
and spirituality followed by a short-prayer service. Soup
supper at 6PM. Youth Activities 12

Midweek Advent II—December 8, 7PM

Lectio Divina prayer service. Soup supper at 6PM.
Midweek Advent III—December 15, 7PM
Lectio Divina prayer service. Soup supper at 6PM.
Midweek Advent IV—December 22, 7PM—12AM
The sanctuary will be open for those who would like to
come for silent prayer with the LORD.
Christmas Eve—December 24, 7PM
Join us for a special Christmas Eve service with a special
children’s message, hymns, and candle lighting.
Christmas Day—December 25, 10AM
Come and sing your favorite Christmas hymns! Do you
have a favorite? Tell us during the hymn sing and we will The Hometown News is
sing it! a publication of
Nazareth Evangelical
New Year’s Eve Service Lutheran Church.
Member of the
Friday, December 31, 7PM Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.
Lectio Divina prayer service
 Page 2 The Hometown News

2011 Church Officers and Board Members

On November 7, the congregation of Nazareth Lutheran Church voted in the following servants
for Christ. As a congregation, we thank you for your service.

President Clint Reierson

Vice President Eddie Hanford
Recording Secretary Jean Joyner
Financial Secretary Janet Antol
Treasurer Kay Grochowaski
Board of Trustees Andy Martin, Raymond Rayner, Benny Soltez
Board of Maintenance Jim Morris
Board of Elders Adrian Slimmen
Bob Dry
Charles Minor
Board of Deacons Thelma Klein, Carol Slimmen, Karen VanWorth
Board of Finance Marilyn Antunes
Board of Stewardship Gene Fistler
Board of Missions & Outreach Kara Canada, Angie Morris
Board of Christian Education Sandy Wunder

ABLAZE FOR GOD’S MISSION! Conversations about Christ

Ken Reiner, of Ballwin, Mo., shares a recent conversation with a Hindu family on an airplane
flight.
This experience took place in September, on a flight from St. Louis, Mo., to Omaha, Neb. The
Lord brought a couple from India to sit next to me. The husband and I began conversing almost
immediately. We shared our work history, etc., for some minutes, and he began asking about the
uncertainty of the next life. He and his wife were Hindu. God helped me share the certainty I have
in Christ--His living the perfect life and covering up my imperfect life. Hindus believe you have to
live a very good life so that you can move on to a better next life. He asked a lot of questions
about how Jesus was God and proof for that. He has a daughter who is a Christian. I suggested
that he might read the Gospel of John. The one hour flight was then over and we said goodbye.
We pray the Holy Spirit sparked enough interest for the two to follow through.
For more stories like this see http://www.lcms.org Look at the guide list on the left and see
Ablaze! Movement.
 Nov/Dec 2010 Page 3

Fall Festival and Yard Sale Update

Sponsored by the Outreach and Mission Board
Article by Kara Canada

What a wonderful event!! We had

lots of help Friday Night and Saturday. What
a wonderful team of people we have here at
Nazareth Lutheran Church. God blessed us
with a sunny day and lots of great people for this event.Yard Sales are a lot of work and
we made it look easy. Thank you so much for your time and efforts.
We all arrived on Friday, Oct.22 at 6:00 p.m. to help price and sort through all of
the items available for the sale. We also priced the bake goods contributed. We were
amazed at how much had been given. Then
on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7:00 a.m. everyone
arrived on time ready to move out the ta-
bles, chairs and set-up tents. Then we
moved all of the items donated out to the
yard on City Point Road and they came. We
had people walking around the parking lot;
while we were setting up, ready to buy.
There was even a little bit of a traffic jam at
the corner of City Point and Grant Street.
Our Youth Group took on the task of selling food and running the games. They
were a huge help in so many areas. We need to be very proud of their extra efforts.
The children that attended were able to play games like fishing and bean bag toss.
They participated in the Cake Walk. They enjoyed making bird feeders and turkeys. They
also decorated their faces with butterflies, flags, animals and flowers at the face painting
station.
At the end of the day we had earned a nice sum of money to place in our Emer-
gency Relief Fund, which I have been informed will be matched by Thrivent Financial. We
donated the remaining items left to The American Veter-
ans and The Shepherd’s Place.
Again, this day would not have been possible with-
out the congregation giving their time and donations.
Thank you so much.

The Lord our God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of
the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. -Deuteronomy 7:6
 Come Lord Jesus
By Pastor Voss

Parousia! Adventus! Advent!

You have officially been introduced to the Greek, Latin, and English versions of “coming”! We look
forward to our annual celebration of Christ’s first coming—Christ’s first Advent.
This year, Christmas is on a Saturday, so within 24 hours after our Christmas Day service, few of us
will be discussing Christ’s first Advent and we will begin thinking about and teaching and preaching the
Christ who has already come.
I’d like to think we could absorb, that is, understand and comprehend and appreciate the First Advent
of Christ for us from now until Christmas Day, but I’m afraid we cannot. The tell-tale signs are all of the
things we do during Advent and Christmas that have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Maybe one of the
reasons there are people who do not enjoy Christmastime is because there is no time to appreciate and
ponder and reflect upon why it exists in the first place.
As a church, we are trying to make it easier for all of us to appreciate the First Advent of Christ by
designing our Advent worship and gatherings with contemplation and prayer in mind. Peace. Renewal.
Grace. These are just a few of the gifts we receive through God’s Word regarding the birth of a heaven-
ly King. The Word and its benefits will be “coming” to you during Advent.
Advent of a son and the Son
I have spent the past month talking to my son William about his birthday. Almost every day I talk
about the plans we have: the friends, the candy, the presents. I do it because I love to see the excitement
in his eyes. I love to tell him stories about when he was born and how much it meant to his mother and
I. I re-enact how we felt and what we said and how special he is to us. I tell him about how God blessed
us with him. The smile on his face grows bigger with every word.
Now is about the right time for all of us to begin talking to our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers,
friends, and strangers about Christ’s birthday. Let’s talk about the plans we have: the fellowship of soup
suppers, the worship, the Christmas play, Christmas Eve service, and Christmas Day hymn-sing service,
the plans we have made in our homes. If we share our excitement over what we are doing for Christ’s
birthday with others, we may see an excitement in their eyes as well. You will find that when you tell
people about such plans, you are not offending them or their beliefs, but sharing a part of what makes
you happy and excited. In faith, we grow closer together as we celebrate the birth of God’s Son.
The idea that Christmas is about more than food and presents is a welcome message. Parents who
welcome a newborn into the world don’t care about how many gifts they receive or how much money
they have on that day, they simply celebrate the life given to them! Simple, pure, joy. Now, this Advent
season, give thanks for the simple, pure, and joyfully message that a child was born for us in Christ Jesus.
 An English Church Music Composer:
Ralph Vaughan Williams
An Article Contributed by Jan Graham

Did you know that Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the best known English com-
posers of the 20th century, also wrote music for hymns? For All the Saints is one
you know well!
Born in 1872, his father, Reverend Arthur Vaughan Williams, was the rector of the
church in Down Ampney. His mother was Margaret Wedgewood, the great-
granddaughter of the porcelain producer Josiah Wedgewood. Reverend Vaughan
Williams died when Ralph (pronounced “Rafe”) was three and the family relocated
to his mother’s family home in Surrey. One of his aunts began teaching him music
when he was six followed in the next few years with violin and piano lessons. He continued his les-
sons in piano, violin, the viola, and music theory at London’s Charterhouse School. Afterward he
attended the Royal College of Music in London where he be-
came good friends with Gustav Holst, and Trinity College,
Cambridge where he received a Bachelor’s degree in music
in 1894 and B.A. in history the following year. He began his
musical career as a church organist, later focusing on teach-
ing, directing choirs, and composing. In the early 1900’s he
traveled through the English countryside to collect folk songs
from singers and musicians notating them for future genera-
tions. Captivated by the beauty of the music and the history
in the lives of ordinary people, he included many folk songs
in his compositions. The English Hymnal of 1906 included
his arrangements of 35 folk songs along with some of his
original hymn-tunes. Also during this time he developed a deep appreciation of Tudor church music
composers, especially Thomas Tallis. His first masterpiece, composed in 1910, was the Fantasia on
a Theme by Thomas Tallis.
When England was drawn into World War I, Vaughan Williams enlisted in the Field Ambulance Ser-
vice and saw combat action as a commissioned second lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in
France and Greece. Extended exposure to artillery fire initiated progressive hearing loss which
eventually resulted in severe deafness when he was in his seventies. As were many of the English
soldiers, he was deeply affected by the carnage of the war and the loss of many close friends in-
cluding the composer George Butterworth.
Vaughan Williams composed nine symphonies, five operas, film music, church music, and works for
chorus and orchestra. Some of the church music included Songs of Praise (1925), Oxford Book of
Carols (1928), and Songs of Praise for Little Children (1933). As the musical editor of The English
Hymnal he composed several hymns that are now known worldwide including the following found in
the Lutheran Service Book: For All the Saints, Come Down O Love Divine, At the Name of Jesus,
Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life, and Hail Thee Festival Day (which we sang on Easter Day).
Several other hymn-tunes – such as Down Ampney, King’s Lynn, Kingsfold, Weston, Forest Green,
and others – are English folk tunes that Vaughan Williams arranged to be sung with the words of a
particular hymn. Hymn tune names are found in the back of LBW.
Although he was quite a celebrated composer during his lifetime, he shunned awards with the one
exception of the Order of Merit, conferred upon him in 1938. After his death in August of 1958 his
ashes were interred at Westminster Abbey near where Henry Purcell is buried.
Sing with joy – alleluia!
 Page 6 The Hometown News

Sincere Thanks!
To the wonderful folks of Nazareth Lutheran Church,
From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for
your charity and your generosity, especially in these
difficult economic times.
Annessa Jones,
School Counselor
Harry E. James School
agjones@hopewell.k12.va.us
541-6408

Dear Friends at Nazareth,

Dear People of Nazareth Lutheran Church,
Thank you for your donations of school supplies.
I just want to thank all of you for all your cards and We truly appreciate your support towards our stu-
prayers during my recent hospitalizations and illnesses.
dents' success!
They were very much appreciated and show what a car-
ing, loving people are at Nazareth. God bless all of you Sincerely,
as He has so richly blessed me.
Dupont Elementary School
Your sister in Christ,
Marilyn

Dear Nazareth Lutheran Church,

On behalf of the Hopewell School Board, I would like to ex-
press our appreciation for the donation of school supplies val-
Happy Birthday!
ued at approximately $180.00 to the students of Harry E. James
Elementary School.
November 6 Joy Voss
Thank you for supporting the children of Hopewell City Public November 10 Juliana Layne
Schools.
November 11 Polly Sodat
Respectfully.
November 14 William Voss
Winston O. Odom, Ed.D. December 4 Jonah Fistler
December 9 Rev. David Voss
A youngster writes: December 13 Borgny Hampton
DEAR NAZARETH LUTHERAN CHURCH,
December 15 Stephen McLeod
December 18 Hobo Logan
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP. WE APPRECIATE ALL
December 19 James Eckenrode
YOUR HELP.
December 20 David Petik
LOVE, H.E.J. December 22 Jordan Hanford
December 27 Bea Schultz
December 31 Thelma Klein
 Nov/Dec 2010 Page 7

Pray for One Another Prayer List updated as of November 6, 2010

For our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in Nursing Homes -

Velma Fleming, HHCC (227)
For our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are home-bound -
Mary Petik
For our members and friends serving our country in the military -
Bruce Layne Danny Petik Chris Graham Dustin Petik James Ecken-
rode David Petik Jeff & Stacey Crossen Jeffrey Head Steve Foxx Brandon
Edwards Mike McKinzie Stacey Wells
For our members and friends away at college –
Landry Doane Casey Davis
For our members who are sick, hospitalized, in need of spiritual care or recuperating -
Evelyn Rayner Rowena Carter Bob and Annette Dry Kathy Beahm Jenny
Graham Marilyn Antunes Lillian Lockton Joey Reierson Nicki Thomas Barney
Hampton Gerald Koren Bob Dry
For our friends who are sick, hospitalized or recuperating
Jonathan Weston Rita Joyner Joann Miller Jeff Walter Suzie & Joe Hilton Dorothy
Kunkel Freddie Gonzalez Kay Slade Bernard Carter
Thomas Slimmen Richard Brinkley, Jr. Carolyn Kennedy Vera Plvan
Chase & Charlie Bennett

For the families of the Saints departed

Bible Study and Adult Confirmation

Whether you are young or old,
visitor or pillar, we have a Bible
Study for you!
SUNDAYS 9:30 AM
Meet in the “Old Church” Room
at 9:30 AM for a Bible Study on
Hebrews led by Al Schneider.
Arnie Slimmen continues to
lead an eight week adult con-
firmation class in the confer-
ence room. If you are new to the
Lutheran faith and/or would
like to join our church, please
contact Arnie to join in.
YOUTH CONFIRMATION
Youth in grades 7—11 are
encouraged to join in our
Confirmation program. You
have two options:
Weekly students meet every
Sunday at 9:30 AM.
Bi-Weekly students meet
every other Sunday at
8:30AM (to 10:30 AM).
Contact Pastor Voss for spe-
cifics. This is a two-year
program which the youth
can join in on at any time.
We now have six confirmation
students! Please continue to
encourage and invite anyone
who has not received this
foundation of Christian teach-
ing.
WEDNESDAYS 7:00 PM
Pastor Voss continues the
Revelation Bible Study in the
church fellowship hall.
Join us at 6PM on Wednes-
days for a meal and fellow-
ship! This Bible study ends on
November 17.
 Page 8 The Hometown News

General Notes
MISSION OPPORTUNITY
In February, a nurse and a nurse anesthetist that I work with are going to Haiti on a medical mission
trip. They are going with the Haiti Outreach Ministry group.(www.haitioutreach minis-
tries.org) From now till the beginning of Feb., I will be collecting the following items to send with
them...Tylenol, Ibuprofen, chewable and liquid Tylenol, Benadryl, cough drops, Monistat cream, anti-
biotic cream, Tums and Vitamins. There will be a basket on the table near the mailboxes for your do-
nations. These people need our help...let's show them the love of God. Thanks, Cindy R.

CHURCH CHOIR
Calling All Choir Members, Past and Present!
Please look around at home and weed out any old
music you have! We are particularly looking for a
music songbook called "Carols Alive". Any ques-
tions please see Cindy R. Many Thanks!

NURSERY HELPER POLICY

We surely do need helpers in our nursery! There
are some times when we are almost overrun with
children. However, we have to abide by the Stand-
ards of Operation for the nursery, which state that
helpers must be 13 years old, in the 8th grade, and
be enrolled in confirmation or else have made ar-
rangements to be enrolled. This may rule out a few eager young people, but it does not rule out adult
members. Please contact Sue Skalleberg at 731-6959 if your are willing to help out. Thanks.

BEAUTIFUL GIFTS THAT CHANGE LIVES

Artisans around the world feel the benefit of our purchases from the Lutheran World Relief Hand-
craft Project. With more than one
thousand beautiful handcrafts to
choose from, you’re sure to find the
perfect item for every occasion!
Shop online at lwr.org/handcraft or
call 888-294-9660 to receive your
free LWR catalog.

CHILDCARE
James Eckenrode’s mom has a child-
care service, and she currently has
some openngs. If you need this ser-
vice or would like more information,
please call Elke at 530-1254 or on
her cell at 691-8369. She will care
for newborns on up in age. Hours
are 6:30am to 6:00pm.
 Nov/Dec 2010 Page 9

Boards of Finance and Stewardship

The boards met on October 17 to complete the 2011 proposed budget which was presented to the Church
Council on October 18. The proposal will be presented to the Congregational Assembly on November 7
for approval. Copies of the budget are available from your mailbox in the annex.
We are now in the program phase of the Consecrated Stewards program. Each week between Oct. 17
and Nov. 14 letters will be mailed to the membership, publicity will be updated, inserts will be placed in
the worship folders, stewardship journeys will be presented, congregational ministries will be highlighted,
stewardship-based Sunday School and Bible study materials will be used and Pastor’s sermons will focus
on stewardship. Our guest leader, Pastor Keith Loesch, led us in Bible study on Nov. 7 and will deliver
the sermon on Nov. 14.
Commitment cards will be handed out by the ushers during the worship service on November 14 and
members will then be asked to make their financial commitment to the Lord’s work. Immediately follow-
ing the worship service, all members will gather in the fellowship hall for a celebration luncheon. Please
mark your calendars for this important event in the life of our congregation.

VISION
A FIVE WEEK SERMON SERIES
JANUARY 2011

TRUSTING IN GOD
EMRACE THE FUTURE
TO THE GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST

Publication Dates for the Hometown News in 2011

ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE PAPER VERSION MAILED

JAN/FEB JANUARY 3 JANUARY 5
MAR/APR MARCH 7 MARCH 9
MAY/JUN MAY 2 MAY 4
JUL/AUG JULY 5 JULY 7
SEP/OCT SEPTEMBER 6 SEPTEMBER 8
NOV/DEC NOVEMBER 7 NOVEMBER 9
 PASTOR’S CORNER
CHURCH GROWTH USING GOD’S METHOD IS KINGDOM GROWTH
I have seen what happens when a church puts “church growth” as their num-
ber one goal. They grow! They will give things away to those who come. They
will remove the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper from worship.
They will preach on glory and self-help and how to succeed and stay away
from such concepts as God’s Law and our sin. This methodology works to
grow membership! People like a worldly looking church and worship, but
through these methods is God’s Kingdom growing? Can God’s Kingdom grow without the Word
preached (Law and Gospel) and Sacraments at the center of Worship (Baptism and the Lord’s Sup-
per)? No. A church can grow in number, but without the Word, God’s Kingdom does not.
At the heart of what we do is, and always will be, the Word of God. Our number one goal is to stay
true to the Word and keep it at the core of all that we do. When we are committed to the Word then
God grows His Kingdom through us!
Isn’t it wonderful to see all of the Baptisms we have had lately? When one child or adult is Bap-
tized, we usually have at least a dozen visitors who are here to see it and hear God’s Word. What
better way to engage the world than through God’s promises of Baptism?!
From the beginning of time, God developed a perfect plan for church growth, and it is bound to his
plan for Kingdom growth which can only come through Word and Sacrament. The same Holy Spirit
that grew the Christian church from dozens to billions can and is using us to reach our community.
His methodologies have always been the same—Word and Sacrament to the glory of Christ.

ONLINE BOOK STUDY: SIMPLE CHURCH

Starting in January, Pastor Voss leads a two-month online book study of
“Simple Church”. We will be reading about how to simplify what we do so that
we can focus our work for the Lord on our mission to share the Gospel. In oth-
er words, we will constantly ask the question, “How can our church organiza-
tion best serve our Gospel mission?!”
Let’s consider how we can de-clutter and focus as we read this highly regard-
ed book. No need to schedule your calendar to participate. This is on online
book study that we will discuss via an online forum.
Order your book through the church office by leaving a message with Karen We will purchase used
books in early December.
Register for this online book study today by going to our webpage:
www.nazluthchurch.com (registration begins November 10). At
the bottom of the web-page you will see the picture on your left
with the books. Simply click on it to register for our online forum.

THANK YOU RECEPTION

I was so happy to have so many of you show up for the thank you
reception. Joy and I truly appreciate all that the servants of this
church have done over the past year. We are so appreciative of all
of you who consider it an honor to serve Christ at Nazareth. God is
using us to make a difference in many lives. We look forward to
hosting this again next year, and maybe next time I will beat Madi-
son at Wii ping-pong. Until then, let us serve with gladness!
 Page 11 The Hometown News

“Skittles?!! Throw it back!

I’m fishing for Snickers.”

Pastor Voss tries to figure out how fishing

poles can actually catch candy.

“Did you sell anything today?”

“Yes! Someone actually purchased my
entire collection of Engelbert Humperdinck!”
“That was me.”
“God bless you.”

“There are 10 seats and only 4 of us. Can a

rational adult please tell me why we all just
can’t sit and start eating the cake?”
 The Hometown News

Thanksgiving Donations

We will be assisting people in need during the Thanksgiving Holidays with food and monetary donations.
Please start shopping for items that will assist them in having a nice Thanksgiving meal. We are looking for turkey
donations and items that allow them to enjoy all the traditional fixings. Here are some suggestions: instant
mashed potatoes, canned green beans and/or vegetables, boxed stuffing, gravy and pumpkin pie mixes.
There will be plastic bin in the Narthex (front entrance of church) that will say “Thanksgiving Donations”
starting Sunday, November 7th. We are asking that the items or donations be brought in by Sunday, November
21st. We will be delivering them to the families before Thursday, November 25th. Please let us know if you are
aware of someone that would be in need of these services.
Outreach and Mission Board
Ann Hanford, Martha Sodat, Kara Canada,
Kathy Petik and Sue Skalleberg

Nazareth Lutheran Church

Youth activity
For Fall and Winter

Yard Sale & Fall Festival, October 22-23

The youth helped with this event by pricing items and setting up on Friday Evening. On Saturday, they sold hot
dogs, chips, drinks and candy bars all day long.

November
The youth will have a gathering at Ann & Eddie’s house on November 6th. They will have hot dogs & chili.

December
The youth will have their annual Christmas Party, gift exchange and Christmas Caroling. More details to follow.

January
The youth will assist in church service. Pastor Voss will help the youth to develop and conduct this service.

On October 1, 2010, Tina Doane met with the youth to identify projects, get togethers and missions for the
coming year. They decided to get together once a month to meet and share in Christian Fellowship. They dis-
cussed exploring the possibility of hosting a week of missions at Nazareth this summer.
 Nov/Dec 2010

BOARD OF OUTREACH AND MISSIONS UPDATE

FALL FESTIVAL
The Board sponsored the Yard Sale and Festival held on October 23rd. Seven individuals requested tables
and others made donations to the church to be sold at the yard sale. There were good a number of vol-
unteers for that day and also some for the day before to help price and organize. The Quilters had their
Open House where they sold their handmade items and tickets for the quilt raffle. Kara Clark has been
instrumental in organizing this event for Nazareth.

CHRISTMAS FAMILIES
The Board decided to adopt 3 families for Christmas. Two of the families are currently attending Nazareth
and the other is a family in which Nazareth helped last year. The request for gifts will be placed on the
Christmas Tree in the Narthex after Thanksgiving. All gifts will need to wrapped, tagged & returned to the
church by December 19th. All unwrapped gifts will be wrapped and delivered on December 20th.

2011 POSITIONS
Kara Clark has agreed to be the chairperson for one of the boards and Martha Staples and Sue Skalleberg
have agreed to serve with her. The boards would like to continue to function as one board for 2011. If
this is not possible Kara would like to the chairperson for the Board of Outreach.
Nazareth Lutheran Church
1711 Grant Street
Hopewell, VA 23860

TO:

Nazareth Evangelical
Lutheran Church
Reaching out to all in faith and love.

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Serving joyfully!