Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Petri Messenger
December, 2020
faces, food, spending time with those I loved
The Real Joy of Christmas eating food, Lefse, Krumkake, Rosettes, Fruit
cake, Fattigman, Rommegrot, and of course
This December will mark my
Kringla.
60th Christmas. As I reflect on
all of those holidays from the As far as presents are concerned, they are not
time I was a child, through what is truly important about Christmas. The
young adulthood, and now as a true gift of Christmas is the presence of God
parent, I can picture in my mind so many of among us. And this year I believe we have an
those Christmases past. Some I recall only opportunity to make our Christmas celebration a
because of the pictures, like my first Christmas spiritual celebration of Christ breaking into our
with the picture of me standing with a grin and world with the message of peace and hope that
the Christmas tree fallen over behind me. his life embodied.
I remember getting brand new “Church Clothes” Oh, of course there will be presents, and of
for Christmas, then wearing them to the 10:00 course there will be food (at least there better be
p.m. service on Christmas Eve. One particular ) but all of the changes and challenges that the
year (I was maybe 8 years old) I remember COVID-19 Pandemic has presented us give us an
getting new shoes and a suit jacket. There was opportunity to reflect on what Christ really
snow on the ground and it was very slippery, means for us. In our world full of worries, Jesus
especially with my leather soled shoes, and the life assures us that we are loved. In our world
jacket was totally inadequate for the crisp cold full of alienation and loneliness, Jesus Christ
night. But walking into church I remember reminds us that we are not alone. In our world
feeling the warmth from the boiler, and also the where we feel vulnerable to many dangers, the
many people gathered for worship. Christ Child in the manger gives us confidence
in our future in the hands of God.
And those are the things I remember about
Christmases over the years. I don’t really Though we will not be able to be together in our
remember what the shoes or jacket looked like, traditional Christmas gatherings, we can still be
nor whether I liked them or not (I probably together in spirit and in the knowledge of God’s
didn’t being in 3rd grade or so,) because the love for us. Probably my favorite Christmas
people and the relationships, the joy and the cartoon is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I
anticipation, the experiences of Christmas as a encourage you to watch it together as a family
child are what stay with me. Putting up and this season. It is a good reminder of what the real
decorating the Christmas tree, Christmas joy of Christmas really is.
caroling, hot chocolate, food, music, food, happy P Pastor Scot McCluskey
2 St. Petri Messenger
Family conversation guide for
“A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
December Birthdays
Christmas Candlelight Services with
Dec. 1: Ann Healy, John Hinz
Holy Communion
Dec. 2: Maddy Stevenson
Dec. 3: Carson Barber, Vivian Gossel, Thursday, December 24th
Brian Jones 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 4: Brian Holm, Jean Kailiawa Bring your whole family to
Dec. 5: Lowell Lande this special service
Dec. 6: Mariah Keech, Colleen Lamoreux, and celebrate
Alberta Olson our Savior’s birth
Dec. 8: Carl Fink, David Murken (Pending COVID
Dec. 9: Mark Helland, Beci Lande regulations)
Dec. 12: Patty Hoversten Please RSVP which service
Dec. 13: Mary Peterson you will attend.
Dec. 17: Nicole Bauman, Elin Reisetter,
Mari Reisetter
Dec. 18: Jaxson Fevold, Jo Murken
Dec 19: Tom Klett
Dec. 20: Megan Gustafson, Gloria Tussey
Dec. 21: Doug Braucher, Janet Mitchell
Dec. 22: Brittany Hill
Dec. 24: Mardell Christian
Dec. 26: Brandie Gossel
Dec. 27: Audrey Bauer, Gary Brown,
Larry Reisetter
Dec. 29: Samantha Olive, Sydney Olive
Dec. 30: Barb Frohling
Dec. 31: Cheryl Eddy
5 St. Petri Messenger
If you would like to view St. Petri’s newsletters
online, go to: www.stpetrilutheran.weebly.com. January newsletter
articles are due
Sunday, December 20th.
Winter Begins
Any contribution received and dated
December 21st 2020 will be included in the
2020 budget year.
sheep having no shepherd.” Isn’t that humanity right now? Weary and scattered? I’m not
just talking about the recent election. Even my thoughts in this newsletter feel scattered.
Yesterday’s gospel reading was the Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids, At our international
service, Pastor Adachi shared the following perspective. In Japanese, there is a kanji
combination 油断, read “yudan.” The first Kanji means “oil” and the second kanji means “to
cut.” So, cut-oil. But oil, as you know, cannot be divided, just as our relationship with Jesus is
not breakable. The interesting ‘punchline,’ if you well, is that the word “yudan” doesn’t mean
“cut oil.” It means half-hearted, or negligent, or inattentive. It is so hard to be attentive when
we are weary and scattered!
God’s love has accounted for that, fortunately, in the Holy Spirit. We find our mutual mission
destination in our call to love one another, even those who we disagree with or who are
difficult to love. Joining together as One Body requires that we put aside ourselves and focus
only on God in the spirit of worship. In a very meek and humble attempt to bring you to our
morning chapel service, I uploaded one of the services from our college. It features a couple
of our hand bell players, playing “On Eagle’s Wings.” I was reminded of this service when
the President Elect Joe Biden referenced it in his speech a couple of days ago. The link and
translations of Pastor Che’s prayer are in in the box below.
In our region and the world in the life the threat of the new coronavirus is
imminent, but please give us peace of mind and the power necessary so
that we can first look at the learning and work given to us. And listen to this
prayer so that you can deliver the right help for the people of the region
and the people of the world who live in anxiety. Remember each and
every one of us who will be alive in God's work today. I pray only in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. November 2020 ● 84 ● Bencke ● (96) 344-2642
Please stand for the Benediction. The Lord will bless you and protect you.
The Lord will shine on you with his face and bless you. The Lord will turn his
12 St. Petri Messenger