PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH

44 CHAPEL ROAD – KENMORE, NY 14217

(716) 875-5485

A Congregation in Mission, Community and Service

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS DECEMBER 2016

PASTOR: Rev. Ben Eder SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:00 AM

EDITOR: Mary Werth TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY: 9:30 AM

ASSOC. EDITOR: WORSHIP: 10:00 AM

Truth Incarnate

The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to

talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so

fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.

—J.I. Packer

Jesus is the Word

To say that Jesus is the Word is another way of saying he is God speaking to us. While we struggle with

our clumsy words, God needs only one Word to perfectly communicate the depth and mystery, the passion and

the overwhelming grace of who he is. By that Word, Light became a living being. Manna became man. Wisdom

became a person. In him, Life came to life; all that God is came to us in that One Final Word we call Jesus.

—Michael Card, Immanuel: Reflections on the Life of Christ

• “Because of his boundless love, Jesus became what we are that he might make us to be what

he is.”

—Irenaeus, third-century Christian apologist

• “The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ.”

—Thomas Merton

• “The Word must come in human form, in God’s redemptive plan. A Babe takes every heart by

storm, but who will heed the Man?”

—Fred Pratt Green, “The Word Became Flesh”

SUNDAY SERVER SCHEDULE

DECEMBER 2016

DATE Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 25

READER Wes Wiers Carolyn Alessi

Mary Werth

USHERS Peggy Clark

* George Alessi

Naomi George

* Harvey Caldow

Mike Weurch

* Dianne Weurch

Colvina Colvin

* Tyrone Bryant

*

COMMUNION ASSISTANT

Jack Hambridge

George Alessi

Frank Alessi

Jim O’Brien

NURSERY Amber Trimmer

Ruth & Gabby

O’Brien

Linda Eder Gary Smith

Pilgrim hosted the first of the midweek Advent services on Wednesday, November 30th.

Dinner started at 6 pm, followed by the hymn sing at 7:15 pm and the service at 7:30 pm. The

rest of the schedule is as follows:

December 7th – at Holy Cross in Clarence

December 14th – at St. Luke in Cheektowaga

Paul Holway Dec. 2

George Alessi Dec. 4

Sarah Hinterberger Dec. 7

David Porter Dec. 16

Greg Jakubowski Dec. 28

Advent traditions

“The way you celebrate Christmas can be a gift in itself,” said Fred Rogers, “handing on

traditions that will give your child a feeling of continuity, comfort and joy in all the Christmases

to come.” In American homes, common Advent traditions include wreaths, calendars and logs.

Did you know about these European traditions?

• In Normandy, children used to set fires in fields during Advent. The flames killed caterpillar

eggs and drove away rodents. The tradition reflected good conquering evil, just as God’s perfect

Son rescues us from sin.

• On December 13, Scandinavian countries honor Saint Lucy (or Lucia), a third-century martyr

who, according to legend, brought food to people in the catacombs during winter. For light —

and to be able to carry as much food as possible — she wore a wreath of candles on her head.

On St. Lucy’s Day, the oldest daughter gets up early and brings sweet rolls to family members.

The tradition reminds Christians that Jesus is a gift of light and love for our dark world.

ESTHER CIRCLE

Our next meeting will be on Monday, December 12th, at 6:30 p.m. After a brief meeting, we will have our annual Christmas cookie exchange. All are welcome to attend. Please bring at least 3 dozen cookies (without nuts) to exchange. We will also pack “cookie tins” for our shut-ins.

There will be no Esther Circle fellowship hour this month as it falls on Christmas Day. Meetings will not be held in January or February. Our next business meeting will be on March 13, 2017.

Keep sending in your Dash’s tapes, canceled stamps, and pennies. Have a blessed Christmas season.

The monthly Community Dinner will be held on Friday, Dec. 2nd, from 5 to 7 p.m. The

menu is baked ham with orange marmalade glaze, oven-roasted sweet potatoes and fresh

green beans with almonds served with salad and assorted desserts and beverages. These

dinners are sponsored in part by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Come and join us

for good food and fellowship.

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Where’s your security?

When A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted in 1965, religious references were unheard of

on television. Yet the show’s climax features the Christmas story verbatim. As Linus begins

reciting Luke 2, he’s clutching his ever-present blue blanket. Yet, as pastor Jason Soroski points

out, Linus drops it right as he utters the words “fear not” (Luke 2:10).

Soroski believes the timing is intentional and that “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz

sends a simple, brilliant message. “The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears,” Soroski

writes. It “frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves. The birth of

Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to

trust and cling to him instead.”

CALLED HOME

On November 23rd, Roger Watkins went home to be with Jesus. He was active in

service to Pilgrim for many years in groups or on various committees. He will be greatly

missed.

(I would like to write more about him, so I am asking all who knew him well to send me

any memories or background facts so I can write an article for the January 2017 newsletter.

– Mary Werth)

For the dark times

Lighthouses are now a popular decorating theme for living rooms, calendars, cards, screen savers, towels and

more. Many images are infused with shimmering light to symbolize Christian faith and hope.

Yet the purpose of a lighthouse isn’t to look pretty against a sunny sky — although it does — but to illumine a

ship’s way beneath heavy, dark clouds or a moonless night. Indeed, the lighthouse itself doesn’t even light up

until its surroundings grow dark!

Surely Jesus loves to share our joys, and we praise his glory during life’s bright times. But God’s primary

purpose for coming to live among us was to save us from the storm of sin; to illumine our path through the

darkness of death, in all its forms; to be the light guiding all people safely home. Jesus’ light shines for us day

and night, rain or shine, to bless us with faith and hope.

CHRISTMAS

As shepherds watched their flock by night

There was a star so glorious – bright;

In mystery they followed through

To seek if what they’d heard was true.

They traced the star through many days

They found a babe. They offered praise!

For Whom this star did condescend

Was truly man’s best, truest Friend.

And now we celebrate the day

Where shepherds led their sheep astray;

The Stranger in the wheaten sod

Was truly there! – the Son of God.

As Jesus in the manger lay

Sweet Mary raised her hands to pray;

The star shone brighter that dark night

To tell the world that all is right.

12/17/2008 Doris V. Neumann

During this Holy Christmas season, I wondered if anyone would like to purchase my mom’s book about

the Lord’s Prayer, entitled, “God’s Rainbow of Promise”. It’s an uplifting gift to give to friends and family.

Please let me know and I will get you a copy. The cost is $14.00. You can call me at 835-9075 and I can return

your call if I’m not able to answer. Thank you.

I wish everyone a Blessed Christmas!

Marilyn Schneck

Christmas transformation

The earth has grown old with its burden of care,

but at Christmas it always is young,

the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair,

and its soul full of music breaks the air,

when the song of angels is sung.

—Phillips Brooks

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE JANUARY 2017

NEWSLETTER IS DECEMBER 26TH, 2016.