December 28, 2023

Name of Jesus

Scripture readings

for Sunday, Dec. 31

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Psalm 148

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:22-40

REFLECTIONS

Pastor Ivy Gauvin is on vacation.

When the shepherds arrived, they came upon a scene not unlike that in many nativity sets: Mary and Joseph, gazing adoringly (and sleepily, no doubt!) at the manger between them. This holy family, at once biological and chosen, encourages us to think with compassion and divine creativity about our own definitions of family and belonging.

Jesus, in both his name and his very being, was known and loved well before his conception, birth, or ritual entry into the community. This heir of God and adopted son was known and loved deeply and given a mission and purpose in the world.

We also, as heirs of God’s mysteries, and as adopted children, are named, commissioned, and blessed, not because of our lineage, our ancestry, or our family affiliation, but because God is love. Through the infant Christ, we can see and know ourselves to be part of the family of God for which we and all people have been chosen.

This and all holiday seasons carry many cultural expectations and assumptions about families and family gatherings. How can our communities of faith, in this season and beyond, take special care to notice, include, and be transformed by the gifts of those who are single; those who are childless by choice or circumstance; those who are separated, divorced, or widowed; multigenerational households; same-gender couples and families; those who find family in places of congregate living; those who find kinship with communities of grief, recovery, or shared interest? How can we recognize and care for those in our communities who need to be embraced, included, seen, and loved for who God created them to be?

May the nontraditional nature of the holy family help us recognize familial love in all relationships where belonging is fostered, trust is built, encouragement is given, and joys and griefs alike are shared. May we see ourselves and all God’s children as kin and kindred: one body, with its many diverse and beautiful members.

From sundaysandseasons.com.

• For our community of faith as we seek to do God’s work in the world.

• For those in our congregation and community who suffer silently with illness, financial burdens, and family obligation.

• For people affected by coronavirus, their families, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.

• For the family and friends of Bob Lindberg, Ann Saar, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Adam Hull, Pastor Phil Roushey, Pastor Gerry Zimmerman (Bethel, Portville and Shepherd of the Valley, Wellsville, James Dieter, Marty Wittstrom, Sarah VanStaalduin, Joe Gauvin, Emerson Allaby, John Gingrass, those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Sean Pecuch, and Ben Wickerham, those caught up in violence and war who have no safe home in which to live.

• For all children, that the love of Christ may reach them through all of us who have resources to love, protect, pray and provide for them.

• For the ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Names will remain of the Prayer List for a month - at which

time it will be taken off unless, or course, there is still a continued need

for our prayers and we’re asked to keep the name on.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This week…

Dec. 31 Lessons and Carols Church Service

Jan. 3 Healthy Bones

Jan. 4 Tai Chi 9 :30 am and 12:00 pm

Jan. 4 Choir 5:00 pm

Greetings. Pastor Timothy Hoyer will be available in case there’s a pastoral care need while I’m on vacation (12/25/23-1/1/24). His contact info is:

(716) 490-5731 (Cell)

(716) 665-2102 (Bethlehem).

Pastor Ivy

Caring and Sharing

Ministry Returns

St. Timothy is excited to announce that the Caring and Sharing Ministry is starting up again under the guidance of Trish Pecuch. The goal this year will be to send a little token or basket to our shut ins on holidays to say, “Hi. We’re thinking about you.”

If you can join us, please let Trish or Kristie Bloomquist know.

Trish Pecuch – (716) 673-5510

Kristie Bloomquist – (716) 485-3931

***Committee Heads: It’s time to get your year-end

reports into St. Timothy office for inclusion in the annual

report. Reports can be hand written and left on the office

desk or typed and emailed to sttimothy2015@gmail.com.

Please submit by Jan 10th.

5 & 2 Ministry

***We continuously collect food items for the

5 & 2 Ministry. Bring your donations and place

in the black bin in church narthex. Lists detailing

items needed are available in the narthex and online

at this link. Monetary donations welcome! Contact

Gale Svenson-Campbell for details

gales1949@gmail.com.

***ONLINE GIVING now available at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards. 3 ways to give:

- Go directly to our website at www.sttimothybemus.com

- Use our QR code with the QR reader on your smartphone

- Download the app ‘GivePlus Church’. Create an account.

For further information, see Kathy Carlson on Sundays or call her at 485-1316.

The Ashville Hewes Center has a new project brewing - a Food/Clothing/Hygiene Closet! Whether it be a basic need for these items, an upcoming job interview, an upcoming school or personal event, a dress code concern, or a need for appropriate work attire for our vocational programs - we will have these resources on hand for all our students on the Hewes Campus to have their basic needs met. The students will create and vote on a name for the closet and make it their own! It will also be run by the students as they learn basic work skills. Alissa Rinaldo is our contact person here at St. Timothy, as well as the representative for the Hewes Center for 5 & 2 Ministry and Packing.

Below is a list of items they are requesting. For clothing, please keep in mind that these are middle/high school students ages 14-18 and what they would wear. Any donations can be brought to church and placed in our bin or hung on the Fellowship Hall coat rack. Alissa will pick them up when she comes to pack for the month. THANK YOU.

- Men’s & Women’s Clothing- casual, business & workwear

- t-shirts

- sweatshirts

- sweatpants

- leggings

- winter necessities- coats (casual & business), hats, gloves

- jeans - work jeans

- shoes & boots - casual & work footwear

- scrubs

- work outerwear - flannels, work coats, work gloves

- business apparel for job interviews or formal school & personal events

- women’s and men’s undergarments