December 26, 2024

Luke 2:41-52

Scripture readings

for Sunday, Dec. 29

1 Samuel 2:18-20,26

Psalm 148

Colossians 3:12-17

Luke 2:41-52

Wandering Away

“Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). Such bold questions for a tween Jesus to press upon his worried parents! Clearly Mary and Joseph face some significant challenges as they sort out how to parent the Son of God.

If you were to wander away from your travel companions in an unfamiliar city, where would they find you? Might you duck away in search of a bookstore or a café or a particular type of museum? Would you gravitate toward a public park or cathedral or riverbank? Might you return to your room for a nap?

We can question the wisdom of wandering away from one’s group without giving notice. But perhaps we can also empathize with Jesus’ desire to meet his spiritual needs, and with the attraction of a place his spirit feels most at home. He takes himself somewhere he can draw close to God.

We also might identify for ourselves those times and places our spirits feel most at home, the practices in which we draw close to God in unique and personal ways. We can do this alone or with others. We can do this in explicitly sacred spaces; often, we find what we need in communal worship, shared ritual, and the study of scripture. We may also crave nourishment from art, nature, literature, music, rest, creative outlets, silence, movement, meditation, tears, and laughter . . . so many things.

Throughout his adult life, Jesus will regularly separate himself from groups to rest and pray because these things refresh his soul. What places and practices renew your spirit? How can you create the space you need for such prayer, reflection, and rest? How can you become as attuned to the needs of your inner life as Jesus was to his?

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 Judy Kelly, Ann Saar, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Heather Miller, Bryan Dahlberg, Roland Lepier, Lois Rumfelt, Nick Johnson, Eileen Beichner, Tom Dellapenta, Pastor Karen Larson, Pastor Gerry Zimmerman, James Dieter, 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 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

CALENDAR

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service 4:30pm

Adam McKillip will join us again with his O Holy Night solo!

Pastor Timothy Hoyer will be covering for Pastor Ivy while she on vacation from 12/26/24-1/1/25. His number is 716-490-5731.

***St. Timothy’s annual Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, January 26th following worship in the Fellowship Hall. Mark your calendars.

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 Loaves & 2 Fish Backpack Ministry

23/24 School Year

If you are currently a volunteer, we would love to have your support again this year. If you're looking for a wonderful way to give back to your community, please consider volunteering 1 time a month packing bags of food for area students. Our next packing date is January 28.

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 also available in the narthex. Monetary donations welcome! Contact Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details gales1949@gmail.com

If you can volunteer, please contact Gale Svenson-Campbell at the link above. Thank you!!

CARING AND SHARING……

Caring and Sharing will be meeting on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, at church to plan for the new year and begin our Valentine's project/baskets! Contact Kristie or Trish if you have any questions. We're always looking for new people to join together with us! All our welcome!

Many thanks for my beautiful flower and goodies from the Caring and Sharing group!

Also thank you so much for my gift card from Santa! I really appreciate all of your thoughtfulness!!Marge Merry Christmas!!

Christmas greetings from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8nj1yxC2vA

We invite you, as an individual, household, congregation, or conference, to join us for our "Advent is for Ambulances" Giving Challenge. Throughout the Advent and Christmas season, congregations will be raising money for new ambulances for our companion church in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. Each ambulance is $40,000 and we are striving to raise enough support for up to four vehicles. Your support will save lives and support the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe.

Special thanks to The Rev. Dr. Daniel and Debra Hoffman for providing a $20,000 matching gift! Pr. Hoffman's time with our siblings in Zimbabwe transformed his life and he witnessed the work of the Lutheran Church hospitals and clinics and the necessity for these emergency vehicles. The first congregations to give $1,000 will have their donations matched! Thank you, Pr. Dan and Debbie!

Click Here to Give Online through "Tithely" and click on "Zimbabwe Ambulance Appeal" from the drop-down fund menu.

Click on this link to register your congregation's participation and self-report your progress!

Click here for Labels and Click here for Thank You Notes

Thank you in advance for your participation!

From ELCA World Hunger: Celebrate the excitement, anticipation and wonder of the birth of Christ with this Advent calendar. Each day is a reminder of the reason for the season with hymns, prayers, Bible verses and information about how ELCA Good Gifts make a difference in the world.

From Global Health Ministries:

Global Health Ministries is delighted to offer this four-part series of meditations for Advent, written at our invitation by Old Testament scholar and theologian Dr. Walter Brueggemann.

Dr. Brueggemann’s reflections on neighborliness have particular resonance for GHM, a Lutheran non-profit committed to the conviction that all people, no matter how remote their village, should have access to health and the opportunity to thrive.

Anyone that has any pictures or stories that they would like to share? Send them to sttimothy2015@gmail.com

REFLECTIONS

Pr. Ivy Gauvin

Pastor Ivy is on vacation this week.

Pastor Ivy Gauvin