RE-FOCUS A Publication of Reformation Lutheran Church

Volume 33 December 2013 Number 12

Advent and Christmas Worship Schedule

Advent Worship

Wednesdays, December 4, 11, 18 Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

Worship at 7:00 p.m. Come and gather in this season of

darkness as we prepare for the coming Light of Christ. Plan to make space to eat, pray, and sing together as we greet the surprise, expectation and scandal

of God coming close. For more information, see page 3.

Christmas Eve December 24

5:30 p.m. This service will include carols led by the Rise music ensemble,

Holy Communion, a children’s message and candle lighting.

8:00 p.m.

This service will include carols led by the organ, piano, parish choir and hand

bell choir, Holy Communion, a children’s message and candle lighting.

Christmas Day December 25, 10:00 a.m. A service of lessons & carols

with Holy Communion.

Bethlehem Bound Family Faith Experience

Sunday, December 15, 4:00-7:00 p.m. What do you get when you put together Reformation’s families, a familiar script with a star named baby Jesus, and a little bit of creativity? It’s an instant Christmas play! In just one evening, we’ll create props, rehearse, present a full Christmas production—and share dinner together! Designed with your busy family in mind, this no-stress event includes dinner, fun rehearsal time, creative costume making, a fantastic Christmas show and ends with joyous singing of Christmas carols. Could there be a more fun and faith-filled family evening to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Who should come? This event is our celebration of Advent and Christmas for everyone…Kids of all ages, moms, dads, grandparents, neighbors, aunts, uncles, and friends. Invite them all! Please RSVP by Sunday, December 8 to reserve your spot for dinner. Questions? Contact Pastor Kristin Neitzel 634-0586.

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Location Location Location

Lowell Michelson Senior Pastor

God knows

location

is vital.

Why else

would Jesus

have come

to take up residence

among us?

Travel, like business, is all about location, location, location. You can read all the books you want about New Orleans, but until you walk the streets of NOLA, eat a beignet in the sticky heat, and savor the second line rhythm of a brass band, you haven’t experienced the Crescent City. When you stand at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, one begins to understand why photographs cannot begin to capture the majestic expanse of this natural wonder. And is there anywhere else to eat a big, greasy slice of New York-style pizza other than in the heart of NYC? Being on location connects us to the sights and sounds and smells of a place or occasion in a way that a detached and distant observation never would accomplish.

Twenty years ago this month, I was in the Holy Land for a four week study tour called Story in the Land. An undergraduate class put me on location in Egypt, Israel and Jordan for a first hand look at the places where many of the biblical narratives occurred. We stood in the fields where the heavenly hosts descended to greet the shepherds and we meandered along the banks of the Jordan River. In the early morning hours, our group sailed across the Sea of Galilee. We wandered the cobblestone streets of old Jerusalem, stood on the ancient Temple Mount, prayed with the masses at the Wailing Wall, hiked through Gethsemane and then up to the top of the Mount of Olives. I imagined sharing conversations with Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, kings and servants. It was an Advent like no other.

One of the passages of Scripture that will show up a few times in the coming weeks of this Advent is the Magnificat. This prayer of thanks, spoken by Mary the mother of Jesus early in the Gospel of Luke, proclaims, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he

has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant… the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” This moment of magnification draws us into the story of God for a closer look, so close that we begin to recognize that we are part of the action. Jesus’ story is our story.

We may not be able to catch a plane to Israel next week, but that doesn’t mean that we are left out of the action this December. Without leaving South Central Kansas, we can be on location in far away lands and share in conversations with our sisters and brothers in the faith. We’ll join Isaiah as he tells about the power and might of our God. Jesus will encourage us to keep awake. All that hollerin’ is John the Baptist in the wilderness calling for people to mend their ways. We’ll wonder along with Mary as her tummy grows. Their pleas for peace and salvation echo through the ages and right into our lives.

And just when the darkness grows deepest around the winter solstice, the illumination of the Advent wreath will grow brighter and brighter, reminding us that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

God knows location is vital. Why else would Jesus have come to take up residence among us? Rather than only showing us signs of great love and compassion, God sent Love to come among us, to live with us – Emmanuel, God with us. As the great hymn declares:

“Love has come ‒ a light in the darkness! Love explodes in the Bethlehem skies.”

Isn’t it amazing that God still chooses to not only travel to where we are, but chooses to make a home with us and dwell among us?

O come, O come, Emmanuel.

Magnificent! Oh, oh, magnificent! I was born, I was born to be with you in this space and time. After that and ever after… Only love, only love can leave such a mark. ~ U2 “Magnificent”

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Surprise. Expectation. Scandal. Midweek Advent Worship

Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. December 4, 11, 18

Meal 6:00 p.m. – A community meal served for all Worship 7:00 p.m. – Holden Evening Prayer and a reflection Advent is a season of hoping, waiting, yearning, and preparing, but for what or whom and how? During these weeks, the future and the past mingle together as we celebrate the Christ who came and is yet to come. Memories, inherited through scripture and tradition, are sparked in order to feed tomorrow’s hope. December 4 – Surprise Salvation always comes as a surprise. It's what happens when God does for us what we could never do for ourselves. So when God comes close it is always unimaginable, yet God asks us to expect it.

December 11 – Expectations How do we know when God has come close? What if it's not what we were expecting? Advent asks us to adjust some of our hopes and expectations.

December 18 – Scandal More often than not, when God comes close it results in a major scandal. Our sensibilities are offended and misunderstandings fly about. When "God is with us" it's likely that public disgrace and secret dismissals will soon follow, because, essentially, when God comes close life gets disrupted. Come and gather in this season of darkness as we prepare for the coming Light of Christ. Plan to make space to eat, pray, and sing together as we greet the surprise, expectation and scandal of God coming close.

Ask. Seek. Knock. Adult Learning on Sunday Mornings, 9:45 a.m.

Asking. Seeking. Knocking. We do lots of all three of those things every day, both in our lives of faith and in more concrete ways. Our questions may range from why the sky is blue to why Jesus had to die. We may seek healing in a relationship or search for our keys. We may feel like we need to do everything in our pow-er to get God’s attention, or we may be knocking on the door of a friend for a visit. But we aren’t the only ones asking, seeking, and knock-ing. God is finding a way into our hearts and minds through every possible avenue. Jesus asks us to follow him. God seeks us out, even in our deepest darkness. And the Spirit continues to knock on the doors of our hearts and minds each and every day. As we lean into Advent and toward the celebration of the birth of Christ, we will think more about what it means to ask and be asked, to seek and be sought, to knock, and to answer the door.

Yoga at Reformation Mondays, December 2, 9, 16 5:45-7:00 p.m.

This Advent season, calm your mind, strengthen your body, and open your heart with yoga. Beginning December 2, Reformation member and yoga instructor, Hannah Mell, will provide an opportunity to stretch and pray on Monday evenings.

Please wear comfortable, stretchy clothes, and bring a yoga mat and water bottle. You may also like to use a thick towel and/or blanket to modify certain poses. The class will be geared toward adults, but interested children are welcome to give it a try, too!

All are welcome. $5 suggested donation. If you have any questions, please e-mail Hannah

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Best Times of Life Featuring the Voices of the Heart Monday, December 9, 12:00 p.m.

Best Times of Life (BTOL), will meet Monday, December 9 at 12:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, for our monthly meeting and luncheon. Voices of the Heart is the select small ensemble from the Heart of America Men’s

Chorus. This is the 11th season for the chorus, which includes men ages 18 and up. They will be providing seasonal music for our meeting. Bring a covered dish to share and your own table service. Please call either Jolene Dougherty (776-2068) or Doris Moden (636-8996) with your reservations. We can then know how many tables to prepare. Join us for tasty food, good company and a great program.

Hawaiian Luau Progressive Dinner December 8, 5:30 p.m.

Mark December 8 on your calendars to attend the annual Reformation Progressive Dinner. We are having an Hawaiian Luau and the WSU Steel Drum Band will be providing our musical entertainment. It promises to be a very

interesting and fun-filled evening. Corporate Caterers will once again provide the dinner. The youth will be serving dinner and offering child care. The official time of the event is 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Child care will begin at 5:15 p.m. and must be arranged when you sign up to attend the event. Please make certain your children have been fed or have them bring along a sack supper. We will have three routes with one stop for appetizers. We will then join at the church for the salad, entre e and dessert. There is the option of just coming to the church at 7:00 p.m. for the salad, entre e and dessert. The cost is $20 per person. Sign up forms are available in the narthex. Please plan to join us for an evening of food, fellowship and fun. What a great way to begin preparing for the holiday season!

WELCA Christmas Lunch will be held on December 3 at 12:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall at Church. Lunch will be served and a short meeting held. We will then put baskets together to be delivered to our shut in members. All women of the Church are invited to attend.

Yellow Bag December Challenge All Things Baby Related

In the month of December we celebrate the birth of Jesus. In honor of Jesus as a baby, this month's Yellow Bag Challenge is all things baby-related! Jars of baby food, baby cereal, diapers, formula, anything that might help a baby in

need. These baby items will help another baby during this special season! Place your donations in the shopping cart inside the Parish Hall.

Your donations will be delivered at month's end to Open Door. Please contact Christi Leewright Patry (214-1879) with questions, suggestions, or to partner in this ministry.

Women of Reformation Calendar All activities are held at the church unless otherwise noted.

December 2 Blanket Makers, 9 a.m. December 3 WELCA Christmas Lunch, 12 p.m. December 10 Cornerstone Ministry, 3 p.m. at Via Christi Village

December 12 Rebecca Circle, 10 a.m. Donna Moyer, Hostess and Lesson Leader December 16 Blanket Makers, 9 a.m.

December 18 Dorcas Circle Christmas Potluck 12 p.m. at the church December 30 Blanket Makers

All reports to be included in the Annual Report of the Congregation for 2013

are due by January 6, 2014. Please e-mail your reports to Debbie.

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Dear Reformation Family,

The Carson family wishes to thank you for your support during Garry’s hospitalization and then his final days at home. It was so nice to have Pastor Lowell, Pastor Kristin, Jette and Barbara being with us every step of the way. Your visits with Garry provided all of us with so much love & comfort. We also want to thank all of the volunteers who gave of their time before, during & after Garry’s service, and church staff that made that day a little easier for all of us. It is truly a blessing to have such a wonderful supportive family here at Reformation. Much love & Peace, The Carson Family + Thank you for your support, cards, and prayers at the death of our Dad and Grandpa, Leland Randall. Thank you to Pastor Lowell and Pastor Kristin for being there for us at the funeral. Daddy is so dearly loved and will be forever missed. Dan & Kathy Wegner Nicole & Stephan Meynier Allison & Evan Marshall

+ "Thank You" to the following members who have helped in so many ways this fall with Soul Food. They have set tables, cooked food, served food, washed dishes — and their help and support is sincerely appreciated. Gene Bowers, Michele Groves, Bob and Carol Weaver, Marcia Werts, Adrienne Hultman, Susayn Brandes, Pam Lyford, Tredessa Schrader, Mark and Carmen Saunders, Angela and Abby Davis, Lynette Wetta, Eva Whetstone, Barb Lee, Bryan Barr, Linda Godwin, Marsha Sears, Annette Kazungu, and Reformation's Stephen Ministers.

If you would like to help with Soul Food when the regular schedule resumes after the New Year, please contact RuthAnn Koepsel (648-9654).

Oaks Angel Tree

The Oaks Angel Tree has been placed in the narthex by the Service Board and is decorated with silver angels just waiting to be selected by a member of Reformation. Each angel represents one of 24 children and their Christmas wish list. There are also angels for the 3 cottages and the cottage parents. This is one way we can share Christ’s love for us all with our friends at Oaks Indian Mission.

Located in Oaks, Oklahoma, the Oaks Indian Mission, by God's grace, partners with Christian communities and tribal nations to help prepare Native children to lead and serve.

If you choose to take an ornament, you are not required to purchase every item on their lists. These are just suggestions, sizes, favorite colors, etc. Please sign the sheet on the table, so we are able to ensure that each child receives a gift. We ask that you return your gifts wrapped and labeled to church by Sunday, December 8, so we can get them delivered before their Christmas Party. If you purchase Wal-Mart gift cards for the cottages or cottage parents, please label them and put in Service Board mailbox in the church office. If you have any questions or would like to deliver the gifts to Oaks, please contact Jerry Whetstone at 681-2007.

Get Wild. Get Crazy. Get the Message.

HS Youth Zone MS Youth Quake January 31-February 2 February 7-9 Capitol Plaza, Topeka, KS Hyatt Regency, Wichita, KS

High School and Middle School students—Are you ready for a fun weekend, filled with awesome speakers, great musicians, and a chance to dress up super crazy? Then you are ready for Youth Zone and Quake!!!! These events are just a couple of months away and we need to register soon!

High School families will be receiving registration information via email soon. Middle School information is as follows:

All 6th, 7th & 8th graders are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of this awesome weekend!

Cost: $75 deposit, due Sunday, December 15. (total cost: $154 - church covers the balance)

Turn in your deposit to Pastor Kristin. If this deposit is a hardship for your family, please talk to Pastor Kristin.

Additional Costs: Meals – will be figured out as the event gets closer (families will help provide)

Sponsors: Parents—are you interested in being a part of the fun as one of the adult sponsors? Let PK know!

Questions? Contact Pastor Kristin (634-0586).

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Stephen Ministry

"Everyone from time to time needs a little boost. If you see a turtle on a fence post, remember he had some help getting there." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

If you or someone you know needs "a little boost" during

this Christmas Season, consider Stephen Ministry which provides confidential, one-to-one ministry by trained and caring Christians. Stephen Ministry is a free service open to all church and community members. For more information, please call Lotus Gerards (683-8602).

Book Club January 14, 7:00 p.m.

The Reformation Book Club will not be meeting in December. On January 14, 2014, we will be discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The book club meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Quarters at Cambridge Clubhouse located on the south side of 21st Street, approximately 1/4 mile east of Webb Road. For additional information contact Martha Deines (214-4414).

Music Notes Recently I saw a quote from Martin Luther; "Next to theology, I give to music the highest place and honor. It is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us." This seems especially true when we approach Christmas. The story of Jesus coming to earth wouldn't seem to have the same impact without "Silent Night", "Away in a Manger" or "Angels We Have Heard On High." We delight in listening to the tunes and singing the words that are so familiar. We would like to share this gift from God and composers of the past with you during the Sundays and Wednesdays of Advent, and especially on Christmas Eve. This year at Reformation's two Christmas Eve services there will be music for 20 minutes before each service. Please consider coming early to worship so that you may quiet your hearts and minds and truly be ready to meet the Christ Child. In November Rhea Hartley and her daughter Maya both played violin as Saturday night special music. November 17, Abby Davis played a lovely version of "Homeward Bound" for both services. Rachel Kanak, Kierra Koeber, Maya Reed, Tara Rindt, Eden Michelson and Bridget Greb began a Youth Choir and sang beautifully in church the same day. Twyla Hill and Hannah Mell were soloists. It is always a treat when special music becomes a part of our worship services. Please consider our musical offerings as our gift to you this Christmas. Glennyce Reimers

Reformation Lutheran Church Financial Results as of October 31, 2013

Budget Actual Last Year

Income $406,375 $375,026 $385,700

Expenses $406,375 $380,636 $413,984

Income Less

Expense

-0- ($5,610) ($28,284)

Average October

Attendance

2013

293

2012

272

Orders are now being taken to purchase poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. Envelopes for your order and payment are available in the narthex on the usher’s stand. Cost this year is $10.00. Deadline to place your order is December 15. If you are purchasing your poinsettia for a special occasion, please be sure to write the reason on the front of the envelope.

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Pastor Ivan Gonzalez from El Salvador begins Hispanic Ministry in Planeview

A new Latino ministry is unfolding in Wichita!

About three years ago, Hector Carrasquillo, director of Latino Ministries in the ELCA, several area Latino leaders, and Pastor Dave Fulton (St. Paul’s Lutheran) met to share conversation about the church’s role as a partner with the growing Spanish speaking population in Wichita. Additional meetings followed in the Planeview neighborhood, hosted by the Brookside United Methodist congregation and many other leaders in Planeview.

Throughout the last 18 months of conversation, Pastor Chad Langdon (Christ Lutheran) says, “ there was a growing sense that the Holy Spirit was up to something.” At the forefront of the discussion and discerning was the possibility of a Spanish speaking mission in the Planeview neighborhood of Wichita.

After hours of dialogue and months of building relationships, it was proposed that the ELCA would provide for the clergy and the United Methodists would provide the space of their existing building at Brookside UMC. Looking ahead, there is also a hope that St. Paul's, which sits on the southern edge of the El Pueblo neighborhood, might become a second site for Hispanic ministry and mission.

At the Area 5 annual meeting on October 13, those assembled unanimously voted to approve this ministry opportunity and that all congregations in Area 5 be invited and encouraged to support this new mission in whatever way they are able. Pastor Phil Vickers, Dean of Area Ministry 5, noted, “While these are difficult financial times, we believe that a lack in resources does not serve as an excuse to curtail mission, but rather that [it] only spurs us on to serve with more gusto those who are in the most need.”

We are pleased to announce that Pastor Ivan Gonzalez has been called to Wichita under the auspices of the ELCA Central States Synod as a mission developer. He is a native of El Salvador and was a Roman Catholic priest for 9 years in New York. He was recently married and is now in the candidacy process with the ELCA. I encourage you to pray for Ivan and for this new ministry.

Significant funding has already been received as seed money for this exciting new ministry: $30,000 has been committed from the ELCA, $12,500 from the United Methodist Great Plains Conference, $1000 from Christ Lutheran, $1532.50 from the Gloria Dei Anniversary Fund, as well as a $2000 mission grant from the Reformation Endowment.

Special thanks to Pastor Chad and Pastor Dave who have shown great leadership and initiative in this effort, working diligently with the Central States Synod and our Methodist and Episcopalian communion partners. As Pastor Dave exclaimed, “The Holy Spirit is on the move!

Mark your calendars! A special worship service will be held to officially install Pastor Ivan as the Mission Developer on Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran (925 N. Waco). This will be followed by a reception/fiesta at Brookside United Methodist in the Planeview neighborhood (2760 S. Roosevelt Street) at 4:00 p.m. All are invited to both events as we celebrate this new beginning. Our new bishop, Roger Gustafson, will be participating, so please come and meet him. In the coming months, there will be requests for support and participation for ministry partners on a variety of levels. If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Pastor Lowell (634-0586).

Do You Have an Article for the Re-Focus? Please E-Mail Debbie

or leave in the office mailbox. Deadline for the August Re-Focus is July 15, 2013.

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Weekend Worship Saturday: 5:30 p.m. Sunday: Rise Worship, 8:30a.m. Learning for all Ages, 9:45 a.m. Worship, 11:00 a.m. Office Hours Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. How to Reach Us Reformation Lutheran Church 7601 E. 13th Street N. | Wichita, KS 67206 634-0586 phone | www.reformation-lutheran.org Reformation Staff Lowell Michelson, Senior Pastor

Kristin Neitzel, Associate Pastor Debbie Stephens, Office Administrator Nancy Martin, Organ and Piano

Glennyce Reimers, Director of Choir

Danielle Chinn , Communication Coordinator

Carole Lyons-Osborne, Custodian Megan Roser, Childcare Provider

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Wichita, KS

Permit No. 688

REFORMATION LUTHERAN CHURCH

“A Stephen Ministry Congregation”

7601 East 13th Street North

Wichita, KS 67206-1278

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

December

Top: Danielle Chinn, Nancy Martin, Debbie Stephens, Megan Roser, Pastor Kristin Bottom: Glennyce Reimers, Pastor Lowell, Carole Lyons-Osborne

Happy Advent from the Reformation staff!

As we wait with eager anticipation for the coming of the Christ child, we pause to thank God for the many ways that you support and encourage us as your partners in ministry. It is a privilege and joy to serve and learn among you.

As you prepare for the Advent season and Christmas celebrations, we pray that the promise of hope, born in Jesus Christ, fills your hearts and homes with peace and joy.