What’s New At Incarnation?

Friends of Church of the Incarnation, Thank you so much for a most meaningful Advent and Christmas together! Not only was the music outstanding, the children and youth programs delightful, and the candlelight service worshipful, but we sold (or shared) all of our Christmas trees, fed the hungry, shared our toys with children from Chicago to South Dakota, collected sweaters for the children of Palestine, and laughed and cried together! Thanks for this time of waiting and watching for the Promise and the New Birth. Truly this has been a time of receiving the gift of life and new beginnings that God offers in the incarnation of the Christ in our world and our lives. Sunday, January 3 begins a New Year, and it is our Epiphany Sunday. Epiphany reminds us that God comes to us in Jesus Christ, and with the Magi we see the Divine in new ways. The scriptures are: Isaiah 60: 1 - 6 and Matthew 2: 1 - 12. The Magi will join us on the journey! The sermon is: “Going Home Another Way.” We will celebrate Holy Communion to begin a new year. Children will join us for the entire service this Sunday, and nursery care is available. The Finance Committee and Administrative Council will be meeting, and inviting the congregation, to gather after church for a short meeting to make a decision about fulfilling our commitment to the United Methodist Church for 2009. We want to support the Northern IL Conference and worldwide missions financially. All apportionments that are sent to the Conference in January will go to worldwide ministries, and they are needed badly this time of year. Finally, on Christmas Eve, we heard from Pam Rasmussen, (daughter of Bill and Penny Bailey) who was traveling to Cairo, Egypt and to Palestine (Israel), the Gaza Strip to try to bring needed assistance to a people blockaded off from the world. She is now in Cairo with Freedom Marchers from all over the world, 1300 people. Please read her update (see link) from Cairo, and thanks to all who donated the 22 sweaters for the children and youth in Gaza. We pray they will reach their destination in spite of political pressures otherwise. Keep Pam in prayer. http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10977.shtml Keep praying and working each day for peace in this New Year! January 1, begins 40 Days of Prayer in 2010 for Incarnation, and we invite you to join us for prayer and dialogue whether you are reading the daily reflection book, Welcome Pastor or not. Have a warm and healthy holiday. Your Friend and Pastor, Rev. B.J. Birkhahn-Rommelfanger

Friends of Church of the Incarnation, This is the week for the music of Christmas.   The women of New Beginnings will present one more concert tonight, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. with Songs of the Season to definitely brighten your life.  Thanks to all Incarnation women who bring us this gift of joy.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, at 10:15 a.m. we “Celebrate the Season!” with a Cantata by Joel Rainey directed by James Brownold, Music Director and presented by our Chancel Choir.  The music of Amy Leach and the Incarnation Sound, led by Frank Lee, with Joel and Jody Hartland, Eloise Brittain and Wade Lee will lift our spirits as we prepare for Christmas. There are solos by Mary Tris and Dottie Bissell, and our young liturgical dancers will give glory to God.

Bring a friend, and bring a sweater.  The missions committee is collecting sweaters up until Christmas Eve to send with Pam Rasmussen to the children and youth of the Gaza Strip in Palestine.  Immediately following the refreshment time on Sunday, Penny Bailey will lead an educational with a 15 minute DVD on Israel and Bethlehem.   Come and learn what is happening in modern day Bethlehem and how we can help.

Note, there is no Sunday School this week for children or adults. Nursery care is available, and young children will have activities during worship.  I thank the youth and children for an amazing worship experience last Sunday!  We have so much talent!

Finally, we are sending a note from our Lay Leader, Nancy Bavisotto, in response to the visit of Bishop Hee Soo Jung to Incarnation last week.

The Longest Night Service, Monday, December 21 (Winter Solstice) will be at 7 p.m. (not 7:30).

If you need the list to send cards to the homebound of our congregation, let me know. Keep these words close to your heart this time of expecting a new birth of God in your life and our world: “Every time a hand reaches out to help another…  that is Christmas. Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding… that is Christmas. Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other… that is Christmas.”

Peace,   Pastor B.J.

From Nancy Bavisotto:

Hi fellow Eskimos,

 Thank-you!  Thank-you!  Thank-you!  Thanks for braving the cold and coming to our Cluster Meeting with Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Elgin District Superintendent Rev. Oscar Carrasco and Conference Foundation President Harry Nichols.  Wasn’t it a wonderful hour?  Our Bishop highlighted three missions of the Methodist Church. One, we are among half of the conference churches who are engaged in missions in other states and countries.  Some churches have members who are personally present in other countries.  Two, we are rebuilding our churches so we can better reach out to others.  One example is making them accessible.  We are part-way there, but need to work on sheltered access.  Three, new churches are being started and meet in places such as Starbucks, McDonalds, and Community Centers.  We are rethinking how to best use our facility.

The second part of our gathering centered on our joys and celebration.  There was not enough time to share all of them.  Those included were the monies received from the Creative Hands Boutique, Soup Kitchen, and Christmas Tree Sales which help support  Habitat for Humanities, PADS and other charities.  We collected Child Serve gifts.  Ann  thanked Bishop Hee-Soo for the inspiration which he gave us.  Frank told how he has been inspired at the Annual Conference.  There he has seen how the Methodist Church has  a presence in the world.  We belong to a strong ecumenical youth program.  We also have an ecumenical Bible Camp.  Bishop Hee-Soo affirmed the ecumenical effort.  He suggested that we might consider sponsoring one or two youth to go overseas to help them become global leaders.  He was very impressed with our artistic, creative sanctuary which are gifts of Art and Marian with the help of others.  Our strong, inspiring music program was also highlighted. 

 We were asked what we would like Bishop Hee-Soo to include as he prays for us. Our prayer requests included growth with young families and youth, growth in spirituality and growth as we determine what to hold on to and what to let go of.  Pastor B.J. was affirmed and the Bishop expressed his desire for a ten year partnership with her.  We have so much to be grateful for as we look forward with great desire and anticipation for the future of our beloved church.

A special thanks to Jill Wingett for preparing the hospitality table.  The cookies were not only beautiful, but delicious!

Thanks to all of you who were able to participate!  It was a warm gathering on a cold day!

Friends at Church of the Incarnation,

You do not want to miss the next two Sundays.   December 13 is the Third Sunday in Advent and we light the pink Joy Candle.

Be prepared for joy, as the Incarnation Kids and Youth at the 10:15 a.m. Worship Celebration will be presenting a special Christmas program:  “The Great Christmas Broadcast.”  Travel back to 1940 and gather around the radio to join the children in a search for Christmas! The memories of past times will put a smile on your face and the joy of finding the true meaning of Christmas will put a smile in your heart.   This is under the direction of Carol Larson, Christian Education Director, and Danny Moore, Youth Director.

December 20, 10:15 a.m. is the Choral Cantata, “Celebrate the Season” which is full of the spirit of Christmas!  This is directed by James Brownold, Choir Director.

Thanks to everyone who made the Boutique and the Soup Kitchen such a success.  We raised more money this year for Habitat for Humanity,  $1600 was donated.  We also raised more money for our PADS ministry through the Soup Kitchen.  I understand we are ahead in selling Christmas trees this year which will help us to pay our mission giving (apportionments) and other commitments for 2009.  Just a note that our Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings are designated this year for our mission/outreach through the United Methodist Church apportionment.  Your gifts, and many hours of work (and fun!)  made all the difference!  

Thanks to all who participated in the Meadows Christmas Party with our friends.   A good time was had by all ages and abilities as we sang carols together in the spirit of Christ’s love!

Looking ahead:   December 17 & 18 at 8 p.m  (Thursday and Friday) New Beginnings Concerts in the Sanctuary. 

December 21, 7:30 p.m. is a Service of Healing and Hope,  The Longest Night Service.  Come and invite a friend.

December 24, 7:00 p.m.  Christmas Eve Service of Carols and Candles, with story of the “Gift of the Magi” for the Children, and living nativity

Beginning January 1,  We invite you to join in 40 days of Prayer and Reflection using the book,  “Welcome Pastor.”  This is for personal prayer and reflection, with 4 dialogue sessions with pastor and people beginning Wednesday, January 13, at 6:15 - 7:25 p.m.  Pick up a book before January 1.,   Joel Hartland and Pastor B.J. will be leading the dialogue. 

It is not even Christmas, and the baby is born! Thanks for all the congratulations and prayers at the birth of Jerry and my first grandchild,  Seneca Marie Lyonsmith, born to our son and wife, Daniel and Angela Lyonsmith, December 4, 2009.  I will get a picture soon! 

I will be on a few days Spiritual Retreat this week,  Tuesday, December 15 - Thursday, December 17,  If an emergency need for a pastor should arise,  please call the pastors at First UMC in Arlington Heights. 

May the Peace of Christ be with you.

Your Friend and Pastor, B.J. Birkhahn-Rommelfanger