December 2019 Newsletter
Advent/Christmas Season
St. Peters Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
316 S. Main Ave. / P.O. Box 125 Wentworth, SD 57075-0125
Office Phone: 605-483-3129 Fax: 605-483-1302 Pastor’s cell number: 307-221-1256
Church e-mail: stpeter@itctel.com Pastor’s e-mail: adwelton@gmail.com
Website: www.stpeterswentworth.com
Our Mission Statement:
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.” Psalm 105:1
Tuesday, December 24 thru Thursday, December 26 Secretary will be out of the office – Friday, December 27 secretary will be in the office regular hours 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. Wednesday, January 1 – Thursday, January 2 secretary will be out of the office. Friday,
January 3 secretary will be back in the office regular hours 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.
I wish each and everyone of you a very Merry & blessed Christmas season and a Happy New Year!!!!
A Time for Reflection
“Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens
Dickens is remembered at Christmas time for his novel A Christmas Carol. Telling of Scrooge who cared about only himself but is visited by three ghosts who change his ways. Scrooge was called on to reflect on what his past had been like. What his present life was like, and finally what his future life would look like if he continued down the road he was on. Dickens likes to call his readers to reflect upon the situation of life and how it measures up and Dickens makes no exception in this quote. Dickens in the quote above wants us to reflect upon our present blessings and not to be too caught up in the past. His advice is to see the current blessings as out numbering the misfortunes we might have suffered before. Not bad advice. But it seems almost lacking. Almost short of something important.
Dickens wants us to see our hope in the good things in our lives. Dickens is counting on an oft quoted piece of logic going something like this: “The good in your life will always outnumber the bad in your life.” The problem with this logic is it seems to fall short. We all know people who seem to have more bad in their life than good. Things seem to go wrong more often than right. The assumption relies on a balance affect over time. If you live long enough more good than bad will happen. We should reflect on the blessings we have from God. They are gifts from God and good for us. As we enter the Advent and Christmas season, we should try reflecting on something different.
Christmas is the time for reflection. Not just on our blessings but on ourselves. Christmas is a time to see our reflection in the mirror of the law and see the sins we have committed against God. Sins, which have separated us from others. Christmas provides the reflecting pool many of us need to see us as we truly are. To see our lives as they have been destroyed by the sin we have committed. Christmas provides the perfect time of reflection for us to see our need for a Savior to come.
Christmas provides the time of reflection on the birth and death of our savior. We reflect on the work God accomplished coming into flesh and blood to save us. This time is given to us in the music we hear, the shows we watch, and the way we spend our time. Christmas music, movies, time, and etc. can be divided into two categories. The first is the secular. Think Santa Claus and Lifetime movies. The second is the sacred. Think Christmas music and movies which point us to the birth of Christ. When we hear and see these movies we are being given time to reflect on our sin and God’s work of forgiving it in Christ.
This Advent and Christmas season be encouraged to take a moment of reflection when you hear music which points you to the birth of Christ. When you watch movies which point to the birth of Christ. Take a moment to look into the mirror of the law and see your need for a savior. Also, look into the reflecting pool of Christmas and see how God has already accomplished your forgiveness in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Take time to come and hear His Word and receive this forgiveness.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Welton
St. Peters’ Annual Community Christmas Caroling
Saturday, December 21 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Men, women and children – young and old are encouraged to join
(Even if you feel you can’t sing)
We’ll start at Bethel Nursing Home, make other stops around Madison and will end at Pastor Adam and Kayla Welton’s home for an
From 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Pastor Adam & Kayla Welton
420 NE 6th St.
Madison, SD 57042
If you are unable to make it caroling, please join us for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Newsletter Article – December 2019
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, is teaching those who follow Him that worrying about the necessities of life is idolatry: worshipping a false god. This is because worry and anxiety show what we care about. Our anxiety reveals what we love and to what we’re devoted. It reveals what we trust in.
This is why our Lord begins this section with an overarching principle: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
But you say: “I must eat and drink. I must have clothing to wear and have a home in which to dwell.” Yes, all these things you need. And Jesus says that your Father in heaven will ensure that you have them. He demonstrates this with a simple argument.
Your Father in heaven feeds the birds of the air, who neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns. He clothes the lilies of the field, who neither toil nor spin but are arrayed more luxuriously than Solomon in all his glory. If, then, your Father in heaven feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, how will He not also feed and clothe you when you are worth more than they are?
For you know that you are worth more than them. You are worth infinitely more. You are worth the price of the eternal Son of God. Did the Son of God come down from heaven and become a lily? Did he descend and take on the form of a bird? No!
He came down from heaven and became a man: flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone. He is one of us, our brother. And what did He do when He became flesh to dwell among us? He gave His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, that you might be His own and live under Him in His kingdom forever.
God became man in Christ Jesus. He lived the life we failed to live, and He died the death we deserve because of it. He was raised again on the third day to overcome sin and death … for us. He was crucified for our transgressions and raised for our justification. So, if your Father in heaven has given His Son to die for us in order that we might live with Him eternally, how will He not also give us all things to support this body and life?
To be anxious about the necessities of life, to devote yourself to food and clothing, to care about this and find security in it, is to serve another god. It is to deny that you will live forever because Jesus, the Son of God is risen from the dead, lives and reigns for all eternity. It is to believe that God – who created you, redeemed you by the death and resurrection of His Son, and sanctifies you by His Spirit – will not keep His promises of sustaining you in this life.
Jesus says this: Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. God’s kingdom is His rule among us. His rule among us comes when our Father in heaven gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. This is what we ask God to do for us in the prayer Jesus taught us.
Your Father in heaven knows what you need – food and clothing, house and home, etc. – and He promises to give it to you. Chief of the things you need is His grace and mercy in His Son, Jesus Christ. So, seek after that. Those who seek will find. And all the necessities of life, our Lord says, will be added to you.
Christmas Concert
Bell, Brass, & Adult Choirs
Plus Christmas Hymns By All
December 14, 2019
2 PM
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
2200 S Western Ave
Sioux Falls SD
A Freewill Offering for the ORLC Music Department
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Did you know….
During the Fiscal Year 2018-2019….
- Approximately $44.5 million worth of donated humanitarian aid, food and disaster relief assistance was distributed.
- 287 full shipments (40 or 53 ft. containers) of donated relief supplies and food were shipped within the United States and internationally.
- 166 – 53 ft. full semi-loads were distributed to domestic locations.
- 121 – 40 ft. shipping containers went to 24 different countries overseas.
- Total of 113,230.60 volunteer hours were given with a value of $1,019,075.40 if paid $9/hour.
Orphan Grain Train has 27 regional locations from California to Connecticut collecting and distributing reusable goods and food. Since 1992; 69 countries and at least 37 states have been served. More than 31 million fortified rice meals have been distributed since 2007. More than 3.8 million hours have been volunteered to help serve those in need worldwide. We do all of this with only using 1.7% of all donations for administrative and marketing expenses which means 98.3% of donations go toward helping those in need. Thank you for your support of OGT.
The Orphan Grain Train movement is a loving response to Jesus Christ’s example as a servant and His love for us.
Check out their website, www.ogt.org for more inspirational stories on where the Norfolk, NE branch sends help or just check out the bulletin board in the Narthex.
2019 Advent Series – by Kevin S. Golden
God’s own Son is born a child . . . ; God the Father is reconciled.
What peace is found in those words. As the Church draws nigh to the Nativity of Our Lord, many also draw nigh to the harsh reality of broken families and friendships. The sting of estrangement intensifies in this season as many delight in family gatherings—a delight that is glaringly absent for others.
We long for reconciliation—a marriage healed, the return of a prodigal child, the open arms of a formerly harsh parent. Advent is just the season for reconciliation. It is a penitential season, calling us to examine ourselves, acknowledge our sin with contrition, and trust that our sin is forgiven for the sake of Christ. Such self-examination reveals that the fault for our broken relationships is not one-sided. The sin visited upon me by another has driven a wedge between us, but so has my sin. Part of the distance between me and others is due to my sinful actions—my sinful refusal to forgive, my sinful pride that will not admit my fault, my sinful contentment with a cold shoulder.
Advent calls us to repent of our divisions. Advent calls us to rejoice in reconciliation. Though you can forgive another even when he refuses to acknowledge his fault, reconciliation is found when both parties are willing to admit their culpability, seek forgiveness, and amend their ways. That can seem so difficult. It is hard enough for one sinner to confess his sin and trust that the Lord purges it from his life. How much more challenging it is for two sinners to do so. Yet that is exactly what Christ works among and within us. He grants us confidence in His forgiveness so that we forgive one another, receive one another’s forgiveness, and are thus reconciled.
Reconciliation with some remains ever elusive. We hunger for it; we pray for it. Yet the distance remains. When a parent apologizes to a child so that they embrace for the first time in decades, we rightly rejoice. When our longing is not realized, sorrow results.
The only consolation amid such sorrow is the certainty of your reconciliation to the Father. It is certain because it is not dependent upon sinners humbling themselves in repentance. It is certain because it is dependent upon the sinless Son of God humbling Himself to take on human flesh and be born of a virgin.
That is the glorious, biblical proclamation found in “The Quempas Carol.” We are blessed to hear therein the refrain, “God’s own Son is born a child . . . ; God the Father is reconciled.” This is not wishful thinking driven by our longings. It is reality driven by Christ.
You are reconciled to the Father. Each stanza of “The Quempas Carol” announces our reconciliation to the Father in Christ. Wednesday of the first week in Advent will greet us with the first stanza, in which the angel of the Lord makes known that reconciliation is had because Christ has come “For You and All the World.” The second stanza will serve us on Wednesday of the second week in Advent as we hear that Jesus reconciles us to the Father “To Set You Free from All Your Sorrow.” Then, our ears will be filled with the promise that we are reconciled to the Father because Christ comes “For You, to Bear Your Flesh in Weakness.” Our joy will find its climax at the Nativity of Our Lord, when we hear the fourth stanza’s message that Jesus’ birth is the Lord’s visitation of “All the World with His Free Grace Supplying.”
Behind it all is the Word of God that the Spirit might quicken in us faith to trust these promises.
Behold the Child—Resources for Advent-Christmas Preaching and Worship from Concordia Publishing House includes fully customizable resources for the pastor and musician. It is designed to lead the Christian congregation through the season of Advent in preparation for the Christmas celebration, and it consists of the following components:
Sermon Series
Wednesday, December 4 of Advent 1
Sermon: For You and All the World—Luke 2:8–20
The closing line of stanza 1 provides the theme. The angelic announcement to the shepherds is chosen as the text, for therein we hear of Him “whom shepherds once came praising” (stanza 1, line 1). The text provides foundation for the theme as the angelic message is both universal—“good news of great joy . . . for all the people” (v.10)—and personal—“for unto you is born . . . a Savior” (v. 11).
Attending Readings: Genesis 12:1–3; 1 John 4:9–14
Wednesday, December 11 of Advent 2
Sermon: To Set You Free from All Your Sorrow—Matthew 2:1–12
The closing line of stanza 2 provides the theme. The visit of the Magi is chosen as the text, for therein we hear of Him “whom sages, westward faring . . . humbly worshiped” (stanza 2, lines 1 and 3). The text provides foundation for the theme as sorrow was banished when the Magi found the Christ Child and “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (v. 10).
Attending Readings: Micah 5:2–5a; 1 Peter 1:3–9
Wednesday, December 18 of Advent 3
Sermon: For You, to Bear Your Flesh in Weakness—Luke 1:46–55
The closing line of stanza 3 provides the theme. The Magnificat is chosen as the text, for we “sing with Mary, virgin mother” (stanza 3, line 1). The text provides the foundation for the theme as He “exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things” (vv. 52–53).
Attending Readings: Isaiah 66:1–2; James 4:6–10
The Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25
Sermon: All the World with His Free Grace Supplying—John 1:1–14
The closing line of stanza 4 provides the theme. John’s account of the incarnation is chosen as the text, for therein we hear that the Word became flesh, thereby “of Mary manhood gaining” (stanza 4, line 2). The text provides foundation for the theme, for He “was in the world,” bearing the Father’s glory “full of grace and truth.”
Attending Readings: Isaiah 52:7–10; Hebrews 1:1–6 (readings appointed for the Nativity of Our Lord in Year A of the three-year lectionary)
Greetings to our Brothers and Sister in Christ:
On November 9, 2019, St. Peters Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League met with three members present. Each person answered roll call with the answer to the question “Other than family, what are you most thankful for”?
Pastor led the bible study from the ‘Fall 2019 Quarterly’, “I am Trusting Thee Lord Jesus”. There are extra Quarterly’s on the LWML table if you would like to read the bible study. LWML purchases extra subscriptions for anyone in the congregation. Please help your self to them.
Many of you may not know that St. Peters LWML is working along side the ‘Quilting Guild’ to make prayer quilts. At our meeting, we discussed donating some of these quilts to the Domestic Violence Network (DVN) home in Madison. Most people that need to utilize these homes are in a situation where they have to leave in a hurry and bring nothing but themselves and their children. These quilts would be useful to them and they are a size that is good for children and adults alike. Each quilt would have a tag with a verse of comfort or encouragement. We would like to get the quilts tagged on December 14th. If you would like to take part by making a tag or card to include on a quilt, please join us or make them and put them on the LWML table.
It is time to make preparations for ‘The Gathering’ meal in Madison. We are awaiting confirmation of the date January 20th and will confirm this in the bulletin once we know. Please prayerfully consider helping with the preparation of the meal and serving. Once we have a confirmed date a sign up sheet for bars and helpers will be set up on the LWML table.
We also discussed sponsoring an 8-week bible study on ‘God’s Armor’ with Donna Pyle. This bible study will include a DVD that goes over Ephesians 6:10-18 verse by verse. LWML will provide coffee and cookies. A time and date are not yet decided. We will post the information in the bulletin, on the calendar as well as the LWML table.
The ‘Annual Ladies Tea Party’ date is set for February 15, 2020. Plans for this are in the making but mark your calendars for the date.
Our Mission of the Month for October was a $50 donation to Option 1 at the Brooking Zone Fall Rally. Mission of the month for November will be to purchase four $25 gift cards for the Seminary COOP for Christmas.
To God Be the Glory!
Your Sister’s in Christ,
Delorus Limmer and St. Peters LWML members
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If anyone wants to donate a poinsettia, please bring it to the church one week before Christmas!
Altar Guild
2019 Advent Schedule
Bells & Sunday school
Sunday, December 1 – Sunday school Christmas Eve Rehearsal until 12:00 pm
Wednesday, December 4 – 4:00 pm Bell Choir practice
7:00 pm – Advent I Service
Sunday, December 8 – Sunday school Christmas Eve Rehearsal until 12:00 pm
Wednesday, December 11 – 4:00 pm Bell Choir practice
7:00 pm – Advent II Service
Sunday, December 15 – Sunday school kids sing during Worship Service – Have kids at church by 8:30 am
Sunday school Christmas Eve Rehearsal until 12:00 pm
Wednesday, December 18 – 4:00 pm Bell Choir practice
7:00 pm – Advent III Service
Bell choir plays (Have kids to the church by 6:40 pm)
Sunday, December 22 – Sunday school Christmas Eve
Rehearsal until 12:00 pm (Dress rehearsal day)
Tuesday, December 24 – CHILDREN MUST BE AT THE CHURCH NO LATER THAN 5:30 PM. ESPECIALLY IF THEY NEED TO GET INTO COSTUME.
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There will be NO Bell Choir practice the months of January and February
To read the Bible in one year:
SUGGESTED BIBLE READINGS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
DATE FIRST READING SECOND READING
December 1 Luke 1:46-55 Revelation 1-2
December 2 Psalm 1 Revelation 3-5
December 3 Psalm 2 Revelation 6-8
December 4 Psalm 3 Revelation 9-11
December 5 Psalm 4 Revelation 12-14
December 6 Psalm 5 Revelation 15-17
December 7 Psalm 6 Revelation 18-20
December 8 Psalm 7 Revelation 21-22
December 9 Psalm 8 Isaiah 1-3
December 10 Psalm 9 Isaiah 4-6
December 11 Psalm 10 Isaiah 7-9
December 12 Psalm 11 Isaiah 10-12
December 13 Psalm 12 Isaiah 13-15
December 14 Psalm 13 Isaiah 16-18
December 15 Psalm 14 Isaiah 19-21
December 16 Psalm 15 Isaiah 22-24
December 17 Psalm 16 Isaiah 25-27
December 18 Psalm 17 Isaiah 28-30
December 19 Psalm 18 Isaiah 31-33
December 20 Psalm 19 Isaiah 34-36
December 21 Psalm 20 Isaiah 37-39
December 22 Psalm 21 Isaiah 40-42
December 23 Psalm 22 Isaiah 43-45
December 24 Psalm 23 Isaiah 46-48
December 25 Psalm 24 Isaiah 49-51
December 26 Psalm 25 Isaiah 52-54
December 27 Psalm 26 Isaiah 55-57
December 28 Psalm 27 Isaiah 58-60
December 29 Psalm 28 Isaiah 61-63
December 30 Psalm 29 Isaiah 64-66
December 31 Luke 1:46-55 Mark 1
DECEMBER BAPTISMAL BIRTHDAYS
December 1, 1991 Mason Kenneth Lindholm 46002 233rd St. Wentworth, SD 57075
December 1, 1957 Diana Lee Maas 46332 231st St. Wentworth, SD 57075
December 2, 1979 Jason Norman Fischer 45358 230th St. Madison, SD 57042
December 2, 1979 Lori Beth Lindholm PO Box 51 Wentworth, SD 57075
December 2, 2009 Olerick Philip John Welton 420 NE 6th St. Madison, SD 57042
December 5, 2004 Rachel Rebekah Lindholm 46038 234th St. Wentworth, SD 57075
December 6, 1987 Adam Paul Limmer
December 8, 1953 Luanna Marie Shuck 600 East 2nd St. Colton, SD 57018
December 9, 1958 Darlene Christine Iverson c/o Terry Iverson 1338 5th St. Brookings, SD 57006
December 9, 2018 Rilynn Elizabeth Zillgitt PO Box 53 Wentworth, SD 57075
December 13, 1942 Dick DeJabet 934 E. Maplewood Dr. Madison, SD 57042
December 14, 2005 Ella Rose Fischer 45358 230th St. Madison, SD 57042
December 14, 2008 Olivia Rose Cacho 2913 E. 15th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57103
December 16, 1945 Kathleen Rae Dorow 46075 234th St. Wentworth, SD 57075
December 19, 2007 Grace Elizabeth Feige 45955 230th St. Wentworth, SD 57075
December 22, 1991 Matthew Stephen Tweet 24078 459th Ave. Chester, SD 57016
December 23, 1979 Brett Louis Schneider 45076 233rd St. Madison, SD 57042
December 24, 1997 Marryn Elise Brown 24131 465th Ave. Chester, SD 57016
December 27, 1953 Arla Jean Baumberger 46019 234th St. Wentworth, SD 57075
December 28, 1946 Terry Dean Feldmann 24056 462nd Ave. Chester, SD 57016
Happy Baptismal Birthday!
From your brothers and sisters
in Christ ☺
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” Mark 16:16a
DECEMBER WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Mr. & Mrs. Terry & Deb Reck December 1, 1972
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn & Gina DeGroot December 3, 2004
Mr. & Mrs. Kasey & Lacey Gehrels December 6, 2013
Mr. & Mrs. Dick & Arlene DeJabet December 16, 1956
Mr. & Mrs. Dan & Bonnie Lindholm December 20, 1974
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Dec. 3, 2011 Addison Limmer
Dec. 4, 1936 Lyle Johnson
Dec. 5, 2007 Grace Feige
Dec. 7, 2005 Ella Fischer
Dec. 8, 1963 Loren Lindholm
Dec. 8, 1993 Mathew Voy
Dec. 13, 1942 Shirley Hess
Dec. 13, 1979 Brett Schneider
Dec. 15, 1997 Marryn Brown
Dec. 16, 1953 Arla Baumberger
Dec. 16, 1954 Gale Maas
Dec. 17, 1960 Kay Mendel
Dec. 18, 1928 Darlene Iverson
Dec. 18, 2004 Kadyn Gehrels
Dec. 20, 2006 Kaelie Lindholm
Dec. 22, 1980 Heidi Schneider
Dec. 22, 2005 Parker Gerry
Dec. 25, 1942 Carrol Olson
Dec. 27, 1958 Marlys Arneson
Dec. 27, 2004 Logan Reck
Dec. 28, 1983 Rev. Adam Welton
Dec. 29, 1998 Garret Olson
Dec. 30, 1962 Kimberly Hemmer
Dec. 30, 1986 Justin Baumberger
Dec. 31, 1969 Noel Wareham
Dec. 31, 2015 Cade Fischer