St. John/Norrona News
December 2024
Please have any reports or information to be included in the newsletter, submitted by the 24th of each month to stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net. Thank you.
If you would like to receive your newsletter by email, please send a message to: stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net
Pastor Richard D. Schulz
Pastor’s Cell (306) 725-1401
Parish Phone (306) 725-3113
Email – stjohn.norrona_pastor@sasktel.net
Mailing Address: Box 505
Strasbourg, Sk. S0G 4V0
Website: stjohnnorrona.com
Scripture Lessons
December 1, 2024:
Jeremian 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36
December 8, 2024:
Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6
December 15, 2024:
Zephaniah 3:14-20 Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18
December 22, 2024:
Micah 5:2-5 Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-55
December 24, 2024:
Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20
December 25, 2024:
Isaiah 62:6-12 Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:1-20
December 29, 2024:
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52
Advent: The Waiting is Over
I found this article by Kurt Struckmeyer and I thought it was such a good explanation about Advent that I decided to share it with you this month.
The season of Advent is upon us. For most people it is a flurry of activity to prepare for the Christmas and New Year holidays: a time of decoration, a time of shopping, a time of baking, a time of lights and candles. For some, it is simply the most stressful time of the year. But historically, advent has been a time of inward preparation in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. It recalls the themes of a late-term pregnancy: waiting and suspense, hope and expectation. Advent literally means “arrival.”
During the season of Advent, the church celebrates Christ’s coming into the world and watches with expectant hope for his return. We are reminded that we live in a time between Arrival One and Arrival Two.
In the biblical story, especially in readings from Isaiah, Advent reflects a people waiting for a messiah—an anointed conquering king—who will save them from oppression and despair. Themes of darkness and light, of night and a new dawn, provide metaphors for a dramatic change to come. In Christian theology, Advent reflects the idea that God is coming into our midst, that a divine child is arriving who will restore creation and set things right—to make us better individuals, to heal our broken relationships, to transform our world with justice and peace. Those were the promises of Arrival One.
However, things are not better—injustice is the norm, wars persist, the poor continue to suffer, the planet is in crisis. The world is still mired in darkness and despair. Arrival One was insufficient. So we wait for Arrival Two—for Jesus to return and set things right. Ultimately, we are looking for a supernatural messiah to save us from the toxic mess we created. And so we wait. And we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
But perhaps we have it all backwards. Instead of waiting for God to act to set things right, perhaps God has been waiting for us to act. The message of Jesus is that we are the ones who are called to make a better world. If you are looking for a messiah, wait no longer; simply look into the mirror.
The readings for Arrival Two remind us that Christ will come again, and we are to prepare for the momentous day. But perhaps the return of Jesus is not found in the future. Maybe his return is found daily in those who follow him and embody his message and mission. Christian theology, beginning with the Apostle Paul, reminds us that we are the body of Christ. Jesus has returned in us and through us and among us. We are the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus. If the spirit of Jesus is to be manifested in the world today, we are the divine actors who will play the role. The truth is that Christ is always coming—through us.
The message of the Arrival Two lessons is one of preparedness. Be vigilant, we are told. You are to be the light of the world. Keep your lamps trimmed and burning. Prepare for the task ahead, and do so quickly. For soon the seasons of Advent and Christmas will be over and as Howard Thurman wrote, then “the work of Christmas begins.”
“When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.”
God is waiting. We have much work to do. What are we waiting for?
God’s peace and blessings,
Pastor Rick
St. John Lutheran Church
Monthly Financial Summary
October 2024
Revenue
Total regular offering (includes for our
Church, CLWR, Benevolence, Kinasao
and pre-authorized monthly giving) 8,508.00
Total other revenue (e.g. rental property,
donations, interest, etc.) 2,265.09
Total revenue 10,773.09
Expenses
Pastor Payroll (e.g. salary, benefits, EI,
mileage, etc.) 4,587.73
Missions (e.g. Benevolence, Sask. Synod,
etc.) Fundraising 801.00
Worship and services (e.g. Pulpit Supply,
travel time, mileage, worship and office
supplies, Organist, Secretary, Treasurer,
Envelope, Secretary, etc.) 2,129.16
Church properties (e.g. power, telephone,
natural gas, bank service charges, line of
credit, insurance, church maintenance,
etc.) 1,543.61
Total expenses 9,061.50
Net Gain $1,711.59
NOTE: On line donations for this month $485.00
Christmas Food Hampers
Food donation bins are located at the Strasbourg Coop, Strasbourg Family Foods, Govan Coop and the Silton General Store. For any questions, request or to order a Hamper please call/text Ashley Scholefield at 1(639)914-7088.
Worship Service at the Last Mountain Pioneer Home
Pastor Rick will be leading worship at the Last Mountain Pioneer Home on the following Wednesday Mornings from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
– December 11th
Subscription Announcement
Canada Lutheran and Eternity For Today subscription costs are paid as a congregation expense on behalf of those using the publications. Those wishing to help with paying for this cost can include it with your offering. Please mark your envelopes accordingly.
Subscription costs are:
Canada Lutheran – $21.00/year
Eternity for Today – $13.25/year
Lamp
If anyone would like to donate to LAMP (LAMP is a cross-cultural ministry sharing Jesus Christ with God’s people in remote areas of Canada), this can be done by mailing cheques payable to LAMP to 4966-92 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4 or visit www.lampministry.org.
Prelude to Christmas
Prelude to Christmas will be on Sunday, December 1st at 2:30 p.m. at the Strasbourg Community Hall.
Norrona Lutheran Church
Financial Report – October 2024
Norrona Revenue
*Regular Sunday Offering (envelopes,
loose) $ 750.00
benevolence/missions (including CLWR) $ 145.00
Total Revenue $ 895.00
Norrona Expenses
Paid to St. John
Offering donation $ 340.73
Outstanding to St. John $ .01
*Norrona Congregational Expenses (e.g.
maintenance, insurance, utilities, worship
& office supplies) $ 409.26
*Missions of the Church (e.g. Sask. Synod,
CLWR, and other Norrona specific mission
projects) $ 145.00
Total Expenses $ 895.00
Balance $ 0.00
Norrona’s Family Christmas Service
At our last parish council meeting it was decided to have the Norrona family Christmas service as a parish event on Sunday, December 22 at Norrona (7 pm). There will not be a morning service at St. John that day.
I am looking for young people willing to participate in the service either by greeting, reading lessons, or lighting the advent candle, as well as children willing to be involved in the ‘nativity’. They will be asked to dress in the main characters and walk to the front of the church as their part is read. They will not be asked to speak so no pressure to learn lines. So parents and grandparents, if you have young family members who would like to be involved please let me know as soon as possible. I realize the next day is a school day so we may not be able to have too many children there, but we will involve everyone who comes. Any questions, please let me know. Thank you.
Brenda Small
Worship Committee Report
Thank you to Peter Barry and James Hoffman for their willingness to lead worship services on November 10 and 24th respectively. They both do a wonderful job, and it is greatly appreciated!
Names are still being added to the list for lay service leaders. If you are interested, or would like more information, please speak to Pastor Rick, or email stjohn.norrona_pastor@sasktel.net.
Service Leaders for December:
*All services are at 9:30 am unless noted otherwise.
November 24 – James Hoffman – lay service
December 1 – Pastor Rick – communion service
December 8 – Jan Schulz – lay service followed by hot dogs & caroling at LMPH and the Manor
December 15 – Pastor Rick – communion service
December 22 – Parish Family Christmas Service at
Norrona 7:00 pm. No morning service.
December 24 – Pastor Rick – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with communion 7:00 pm
December 25 – Pastor Rick – Christmas Day Service at Norrona with communion 10:00 am
December 29 – No service
January 5 is the second Sunday of Christmas so there will be lots of Christmas carol singing during the service.
You may be learning more about a Jesse Tree during coffeetime in December.
There was good discussion with the eight people who attended the Worship Workshop on Saturday, Nov 2.
If you have topic suggestions for future workshops or would like to read lessons, run the powerpoint, be a greeter, help with communion, set up or provide flowers for the altar, make coffee, or provide special music occasionally, please speak to Pastor Rick, Orva or Rhonda, or send an email to stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net.
The Adult Lutheran Enquirer’s Class is being held on Thursdays at 1:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of the classes.
Mark your calendars for the annual potluck and dessert auction on Sunday, February 2.
The next Worship Committee meeting is Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 1:30 pm at St. John. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings.
Submitted by Rhonda de Hoop