Since 1948

The TELCO Online Congregational News of Trinity Lutheran Church - Wellsville, NY

Since 1948

Monday, November 17th did not start out well for me. We had our first snowfall overnight. Of course, when I left home to come to the church, I had to clean the snow off the truck. Well, I had to struggle opening the door because it was partially frozen shut. As I brushed the snow off the window, I got it all over myself. When I got into the truck, the snow on me got all over the seat. After I started the truck, I had to get back out and free the windshield wipers because they were frozen to the window. By the time I finally got going, I was mumbling to myself, “I’ve had enough of winter! I’m ready for spring.” Unfortunately, there are at least 4 or 5 months of winter left.

Many people, even Christians (myself included) develop the same attitude for Christmas. It is so very easy to get caught up in all the preparations of the Christmas celebration—the buying and wrapping of presents, the decorating of the house and tree, the baking, the parties, the family gatherings, and on and on it goes. It becomes such a horrendously busy and expensive time of the year that we can become exhausted even to the point of collapse. And we may say “I’ve had enough of Christmas! I cannot wait until it is over.” To put it another way, instead of experiencing the peace, joy, and hope of the season that we so often talk and sing about, we say with Scrooge “Bah Humbug!”    

The problem for many of us is that in the hustle and bustle of the season, we lose sight of what Christmas is really about. Oh, we Christians know that it is the birth of Jesus our Savior, but do we really stop and try to comprehend what this means? Christmas is, in reality, a direct and clear revelation of God’s love for the world, for you and for me! Christmas is the Second Person of the Trinity—God, Himself, coming into this world as a human being, as one of us. Why? God in a dream to Joseph told him, “You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Upon the birth of Jesus the angels announced to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) Yes, this is God coming to the world as a human being, as one of us, to save us from our sins. He comes to be our substitute. He comes to live the perfect life for us. He comes to suffer God’s anger over our sins in our place. He comes to be forsaken by God and die on the cross to pay the punishment of our sins in our place. He comes to rise from the dead to open for us the gates of everlasting life in the perfection of heaven. Without Christmas, we would be lost in our sins. All we would know is utter despair and hopelessness for we would have to suffer eternally in the torture of hell. But because of Christmas, there is peace, joy, and hope for through faith in Jesus as our Savior all our sins are forgiven, God is with us, and we will live eternally with Him in heaven.

When it comes to Christmas, we need to keep the “main thing the main thing.” We need to keep the birth of Jesus our Savior in the forefront of our hearts and minds this Christmas season. This is possible as we immerse ourselves in the hearing, reading, and studying of God’s Word, remembering our baptism daily, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper. I urge you to attend worship regularly this Advent/Christmas Season—not only on Sunday, but for our Midweek Advent services.

Our midweek Advent/Christmas schedule is as follows:

Midweek Advent Services every Wednesday:

• Soup and Sandwich Dinner at 5:30PM in the Fellowship Hall.
• Service at 6:15 PM in the Sanctuary.

THEME: Christmas—How Great God’s Love Is For Us; A Study of Luke 2:1-20

1. Wednesday, December 3: “God Comes To This World As One Of Us” St. Luke 2:1-7   
2. Wednesday, December 10: “Peace For Mankind” - St. Luke 2:8-14
3. Wednesday, December 17: “A Savior For All” - St. Luke 2:15-20       

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Wednesday, December 24:

• Special Christmas Music at 7:00PM and then our
• Special Candlelight Service with Holy Communion at 7:30PM

I pray that all of us will have a Christ filled Christmas.

As we enter this very busy time of year, may you find peace and joy in knowing that our Lord and Savior has come! I would like to take this opportunity to ask for prayer. In following the ACTS format please pray:

• Adoration
• Confession
• Thanksgiving
• Supplication

Adoration: Praise God for loving us enough to send his only Son into the world to die on the cross and take away our sins. Praise Him for adopting us as His beloved children. Praise him for our faith to believe in Him. Praise Him for giving us eternal life.

Confession: O Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for life, friends, family, your church family, freedom, and anything else you can think of. (This should take a while)

Supplication: Bring before God all that is in your heart, but especially pray for Sheba and the children in Hyderabad, India. Enclosed in this TELCO issue, you will find the newsletter from Sheba. As you can see, it is very dangerous to be a Christian in India. Our goal has been to raise $200,000 to purchase 4 acres of land. This is desperately needed by Sheba and the children. Please pray that God will provide the rest of the money so that we can finish paying for the land. In little over a year $165,000 has been raised from churches, organizations and individuals from all over Western New York and northern Pennsylvania. The land will allow them to move to a safer area where they can build an orphanage and school, grow food, and raise a few animals.

Thank you for your prayers. God’s Will Be Done!
Betty Wood, DCO

ROAD SIGN:

A priest and a minister are standing by the road, pounding a sign into the ground. The sign reads:

“The End is Near! Turn Yourself Around Now Before It’s Too Late!”

A car speeds past them, the driver yelling, “Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” There is the sound of screeching tires followed by a big splash.

The priest turns to the minister and asks, “Do you think the sign should just say “Bridge Out?”

December Birthdays

6 Sandra Wright
11 Lew Wright
14 Ben Cornelius Sr., Ryan Gallman
15 Melissa Aldrich, D.J. Helmer, Linda White
17 Amy Hurd
19 Barry Dunne
20 Luke Duttweiler, Howard White
21 Pat Kaake
22 Anita Cornell
24 Heidi Mangels
25 Robert Wade
26 Ian Flurschutz
27 John Vargo
29 Jon Farwell, Gary Link, Virginia Scott
31 Marilyn Palmer, Stephen Vossler

December Anniversaries

13 Bill & Michele Rech
19 Rich & Gwyn Shear
26 Kato & Carole Aldrich
30 David & Guelda Carberry

TRINITY CHRISTIAN DAYCARE

With November’s mixture of pumpkins, bells, and chocolate-painted turkeys, the daycare tots have been busy with a variety of activities.

The Fright less Halloween Party was a major success with a full crowd of daycare children and parents plus others from the local community. All enjoyed dressing up and doing the grand costume parade. Many games were played; raffle prizes given; and hotdogs and cider consumed. Fran, Edna and June enjoyed sitting in the hallway doorways giving out treats. Many thanks go to all the church members who assisted, whether with candy treats, pumpkins, providing and/or cooking the food. Appreciation goes to Thrivent for a matching $100.

With Thanksgiving the big event for November, much focus has been given to being thankful. The preschoolers have made a thankful-friendship paper quilt. The children have been eager to thank God for the many things and people in their lives. Our turkey dinner with parents invited took place on November 21.

Infant teachers Nancy Link and Barb Delity got their little ones into messy action painting Thanksgiving turkeys. Their “paint” was absolutely yummy to the tummy! Just imagine their tots lined up in highchairs, each with a large turkey cut-out, and smearing on the brown glob with their hands. Of course the “brown” also covered their faces, bellies, . . . . But so tasty! The paint was an approved safe version—chocolate pudding!

Betty Wood has added a great spiritual element to our programming. She, and sometimes Pastor, do “Wednesday Church” for the toddlers and preschoolers. (Although it must be said that the chocolate treats are saved for Sundays) Betty’s current theme is praising God with music. Last week the children learned about the organ by hearing loud and soft sounds, and different orchestral instruments as mimicked by the organ. Three children at a time got to sit on the organ and play “beautiful” music. This week Betty demonstrated the hand bells. The children were allowed to touch and sound the chimes, a more kid-appropriate “bell”.

As the TCD Director I must wholeheartedly commend our staff. They are very committed to the children, doing the best for them with activities and ensuring a safe and caring environment. On one occasion this week, the toddler room had a complete and thorough cleaning bee with no children onboard. As overheard from a couple staffers talking: “We’d rather have our lively children here running around, being noisy. They are so much easier than cleaning.”

Carol English, TCD Director

LADIES AID

We opened with devotions read by Barb Delity. In keeping with Veterans Day, her theme centered on us “as followers of Christ, we are in battle all the time—the battle against evil”.

A monetary report was given by Treasurer Eleanor Cott. We received a check from the Men’s club, did well selling knives at the sauerkraut supper and we’re doing well with the shelf sitters. We only have eleven shelf sitters left.

President June reminded us of the upcoming Turkey & Ham party Fundraiser on the 22nd. December 2nd at 7:00pm will be our Christmas Party. Please bring 2 1/2 dozen cookies, hats, scarves, mittens and a toy for the Salvation Army.

President June thanked everyone for their help at the supper and at the luncheon for the Doris Heysham family.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Snacks were leftovers from the luncheon.

Respectfully,
Sally Dannheim, Secy.

SENIOR CITIZENS WILL MEET
AT NOON ON DECEMBER 4, 2008 AT CHURCH.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE JUNE HELMER, DOROTHY HERKE AND EDNA LEHMAN.

DORCAS

Dorcas met November 10th—Martin Luther’s 525th birthday. The ladies tied one large quilt, Betty pinned edges on one large quilt.

Our thanks to Ginny Scott for her very generous gift to Dorcas! Betty gave the devotions—Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. A donation was sent to Bethesda Lutheran Home in memory of Doris Heysham who died November 6th. Doris was a long-time member of Dorcas.

Next meeting Nov. 24th and the only meeting in December will be December 8th. Why not come and tie a knot?

Submitted by June Helmer

MEN’S CLUB

The regular monthly (October) meeting of the Men’s Club was held at the fellowship Hall with 16 members present. A delicious spaghetti dinner was enjoyed by all. Thanks Kato and crew.

After dinner everyone enjoyed looking at mementos and photos of Duane Cornish’s recent Military reunion trip to Korea.

A short business meeting was held to discuss the upcoming sauerkraut dinner and everyone was asked to volunteer some time to help make it a success.

The November meeting of the Men’s club was not held. December’s meeting will be the annual Christmas Party on December 16. Watch the church bulletin for more information in the coming weeks.

Paul Vossler, Secretary