Northfield Presbyterian Church The Good News December 2011 From the Pastor’s Pen… Dear Friends and Church Family, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appear- ance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedi- ent to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 Every year we rehearse again the quaint and well- worn story of Christmas. It’s a wonderful story, but in many churches it’s a tradition, and only a tradition! The story is filled with many fascinating details of angels showing up in places where they were not invited, with messages that were not initially understood or appreciated—at least from a human perspective. There is an inconvenient long trip to be made by a very pregnant girl in order to satisfy a government demand to register for taxation. These things and many more capture our attention. But if we were to be asked to tell the story, would our source be the songs we sing and hallmark Christmas cards that arrive in our mailboxes? Or would our story sound more like the Bible’s accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke? It is amazing how the songs and even hymns we sing and the cards we receive are based on assumptions! The Bible’s ac- count is full and rich with lessons and meaning; but it is also rather Spartan with many of the traditions we have accepted not found in the Bible at all. For instance consider these ques- tions: What mode of transportation carried Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? How many Wise Men does the Bible say visited the new born King? What did the Innkeeper really say to Joseph and Mary? Was the baby’s name “Jesus” or “Immanuel”? During this Advent season, as we await the celebra- tion of the Lord’s birth and anticipate his return to this world, allow me to encourage you to read the story again from the Bible. You’ll find it in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. While you are reading see if you can find the answer to the questions above. But go beyond the questions to see how many Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. But most of all consider why Jesus came into this world and for whom he came! As you have probably already figured out, I am preaching on the four themes that coincide with our bulletin covers: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and on Christmas day, Christ! May your discoveries in your quiet times and our cor- porate worship fill your heart and mind with the true wonder of the Incarnation. And may you personally encounter the One who left heaven to be your Savior. In His Grip, Art Helin
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Northfield Presbyterian Church
The Good News December 2011
From the Pastor’s Pen…
Dear Friends and Church Family,
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not count equality
with God something to be grasped, but made himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness. And being found in appear-
ance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedi-
ent to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8
Every year we rehearse again the quaint and well-
worn story of Christmas. It’s a wonderful story, but in many
churches it’s a tradition, and only a tradition! The story is
filled with many fascinating details of angels showing up in
places where they were not invited, with messages that were
not initially understood or appreciated—at least from a human
perspective. There is an inconvenient long trip to be made by
a very pregnant girl in order to satisfy a government demand
to register for taxation. These things and many more capture
our attention.
But if we were to be asked to tell the story, would our
source be the songs we sing and hallmark Christmas cards that
arrive in our mailboxes? Or would our story sound more like
the Bible’s accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke? It
is amazing how the songs and even hymns we sing and the
cards we receive are based on assumptions! The Bible’s ac-
count is full and rich with lessons and meaning; but it is also
rather Spartan with many of the traditions we have accepted
not found in the Bible at all. For instance consider these ques-
tions:
What mode of transportation carried Mary and Joseph
to Bethlehem?
How many Wise Men does the Bible say visited the
new born King?
What did the Innkeeper really say to Joseph and
Mary?
Was the baby’s name “Jesus” or “Immanuel”?
During this Advent season, as we await the celebra-
tion of the Lord’s birth and anticipate his return to this world,
allow me to encourage you to read the story again from the
Bible. You’ll find it in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. While you
are reading see if you can find the answer to the questions
above. But go beyond the questions to see how many Old
Testament prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. But most of all
consider why Jesus came into this world and for whom he
came!
As you have probably already figured out, I am
preaching on the four themes that coincide with our bulletin
covers: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and on Christmas day,
Christ!
May your discoveries in your quiet times and our cor-
porate worship fill your heart and mind with the true wonder
of the Incarnation. And may you personally encounter the
One who left heaven to be your Savior.
In His Grip,
Art Helin
Ladies Christmas Tea
Northfield Presbyterian Church Saturday, December 10, 2011 Ten O’clock a.m.
All Ladies of Northfield Presbyterian Church of junior high age and up are invited to attend
our annual Christmas Tea. We will celebrate the season with food, fellowship,
special speaker, Cynthia Wessel & music provided by Zeger Verhage, Debbie Langford
and Chelsea Josephson Please invite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to join us for this entertaining holiday event.
Registration forms are on the Church website or on a table in the narthex.
Our church family recently said goodbye to
two longtime members.
Dave Kerr joined Emily in heaven on Novem-
ber 12th. He had been an elder and vital mem-
ber of our church family for many years. A
funeral service was held here on Nov. 17th.
Margaret Frost went home to the Lord on No-
vember 24th. Her service was also held here at
NPC on November 29th. Margaret was active
in choir and the Women’s Association for
many years.
Special Christmas Musical Service
Sunday, December 18th
10:15 a.m.
Beginning with the children’s performance of
“The Dream”
Directed by Patty Fenn and Patti Maholm
Followed by
the Church Choir and special Musical Guests leading us in a dy-
namic
Advent Worship Experience!
Under the direction of Zeger Verhage
You won’t want to miss this. Invite a friend.
Dear Members and Friends,
We are presently looking to the coming year and
working to create a budget for 2012. In order for the Ses-
sion to pull it together, we need your input in the form of
your commitment to your church family.
Our budget, however, is not the goal. Rather, serv-
ing the Lord, caring for people, reaching out into the com-
munity, and proclaiming Christ throughout the world are
the goals. The budget is only one tool necessary to accom-
plish these goals. Funding these ministries is crucial.
Without our investment in God’s work here, there wouldn’t
be the Sunday School, Adult Education, Music, Worship or
Mission Programs as we know them today.
Others created a future for us that they never saw.
What we enjoy is the legacy of another generation. It is our
turn to create one not only for this generation, but the one
coming after us. We have enjoyed the faithfulness of our
forefathers.
Because we are a smaller congregation, we offer a
size, a style, a theology, and a family that is desirable to
many. We draw from a radius of fifteen miles. People
drive past many other churches to be part of this faith com-
munity.
Thank you to all our members and friends who are
investing in the Lord’s work at NPC for the coming year.
He calls us to tithe to Him (Malachi 3:10) and test His
faithfulness to provide for every need we have. Read the
passage. Open your minds to what God is saying. Open
your hearts to receive God’s love. Be prepared for the
doors God opens for you. Open minds plus open hearts
equals open doors. That is God’s promise.
Please prayerfully consider God’s Word to you and
honor Him by making your commitment for 2012.
Sincerely,
The Stewardship and Finance Committee
November
Income: $ 20,834 Expenses: $ 13,501
Year-to-date
Income: $ 186,310 Expenses: $ 182,543
Thank you for helping us end the year strong!!!
Stewardship Update
There will be no December meeting this year. Take
the time to prepare yourself for the holidays. Meet-
ings will resume Monday, January 9th at 10:00 a.m.
The Association provided coffee
and cookies to voters at the re-
cent election. They were very
well received by all. Thanks to
all who baked and helped keep
the table supplied throughout the
day!
Also, thank you to all who gen-
erously supported the Project
Christmas Tree program this year. We helped to pro-
vide a Christmas for 4 local families though the Mace-
December 18th 10:15 a.m. Children’s Pageant &Special Musical Service December 24th 6:30 p.m. Family Candlelight Service December 24th 9:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service December 25th 10:15 a.m. Worship January 1st 10:15 a.m. Combined Casual Worship Service/Continental Breakfast in Fel-lowship Hall (watch for details in upcoming Sunday Bulletins)