Dear beloved in Christ Jesus our Savior,

Winding down. Winding down 2014. Winding down after a busy December. Winding down today. By 4:00PM, I am beginning to feel the mental drain, if not physical drain from the day’s activities. (Sometimes it can be tiresome to think so hard! At least, I like to convince myself of that. Like maybe there are only a few more kernels left in the popper to pop, so time to wind down. Tomorrow is a new day.) Winding down. Winding down. Winding down in life. Winding down as we get older. Winding down as we gradually dismiss the things we used to love to do–like for me: play pond ice hockey or water ski or play a competitive game of tennis or tackle football or volleyball or sit on a crazy rollercoaster. Winding down…until that moment in life when we take our last breath.

Time passes swiftly. In many ways, it seems like yesterday that I took down our Christmas tree last January, and here it is up again. It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in my cabin at Pineshore Bible Camp back in July. It seems like just a breath ago that Kari and I were romping around trying to keep up with our boys’ activities. You parents and grandparents know what I mean. Time passes swiftly.

God gives us a great gift in His gift of time. What a treasure from His gracious hand! The ordering of our days on earth follow the repetitive cycle from the first days of creation–of morning and evening–season after season–and year after year (all 365 days of each). Surely God’s commodity of time is precious! He blesses us by giving it to us. But actually, all time is HIS TIME. And His gift of “our” time is just for a time. So there will come a time when “our time” is finished. And the Lord God calls us home.

While here, the Lord calls on us to make the most of the time that He gives to us. Not: “Eat, drink, and be merry…for tomorrow we die!” Not: “Be a lazy bum!” But rather: “Lord, show me and move me to use Your gift of time wisely–to the glory of Your name. Let me work when I need to work. Allow me to play when it is good and right for me to play. Let me relax when I need to relax. Above all, let me worship You as You call me to do so–to receive Your gifts in Word and Sacraments, to be strengthened in the faith, to be empowered for kingdom-service–to go forth and tell others about Jesus. Help me, O Lord, to make good use of the time I am here on earth–the time that You give me TODAY–the time that You give me in this coming year–the time that You give me for the rest of my life. Keep me faithful to Your Word. Make me a vessel of Your grace and mercy to others. Equip me. Use me to be a blessing to my family, my church, my friends, to others.”

Beloved, take nothing for granted. May we live with the awareness and joy that truly “[our] times are in [His] hands” (Psalm 31:15).

In Christ’s love and mercy, completely and forever. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A great “THANK YOU” to all, including Holy Trinity congregation, who sent/gave us Christmas cards and gifts. Thank you to the Christmas Committee for the kind gifts. We appreciate all of your kindness and love!
Pastor and Kari

Speaking of time, there really is no better place to be than right here as we say good-bye to the year 2014. We are not planning to be here at midnight, but you can come join us for New Year’s Eve Vespers at 7:00PM.

This Sunday is Divine Service without Holy Communion as we offer our monthly Signed Service for the Deaf. We will also be observing The Epiphany of Our Lord–the coming of the Wise Men to Jerusalem in search of the Christ-child. Continue to pray for the Lord to graciously open the way for other deaf people to come and join us for worship on the first Sunday of each month. Pray people pray!

The church office is closed this Thursday–January 1.

Please check your mail box this Sunday for the January Newsletter (and possibly other stuff!).

Our normal weekly calendar of events resumes beginning this Sunday, January 4th. Divine Service at 9:00AM with Sunday School and Bible Study at 10:30AM. All Bible studies resume next week. Jr. Confirmation class resumes on Tuesday, January 6th at 6:30PM.

As the cold weather sets in once again, the warmth of God’s love at Christmas be yours–in the Savior who came to rescue us.

The peace of God be with you always in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Have a blessed week in the Lord and safe and joyous “new year” celebration!

Pastor Kotila