December 2014
The Pastor’s Ponderings Pastor David’s cell phone—765-330-4170 and email address —fleeneda@gmail.com Every now and then, end-of-theworld hysteria grips our nation. Most recently (that I recall), Harold Camping, the now-late leader of Family Radio, predicted that the Church would be “raptured” to heaven on May 21, 2011, at 6 PM local time in each place. The Earth’s destruction was to occur five months later. He put up billboards, warning humanity of the “day and hour”. He dedicated his radio broadcasts to preparing for the end. Some members of his organization gave everything they had to Family Radio, hopeful that the end would come as their leader said it would. And of course, it didn’t. May 21st came and went, the same as every other day. There were no great earthquakes. There was no “rolling rapture” by time zone. Just like every other end-times prediction, this one ended with a whimper.
Christmas Eve Service
Zion’s Christmas Eve service will begin at 7:00 p.m. with music provided by members of our congregation. Pastor Fleener will lead our service of Lessons and Carols with a celebration of Holy Communion. The service will close with candle-lighting and the hymns “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World”. Offering received at the Advent services and on Christmas Eve will be divided between Wernle and our local Food Pantry.
Despite Jesus’ warning that “about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32), there has always been an element in the Christian faith concerned with the end of time. The big theological word for this is “eschatology” - study of the end times. And though we don’t know the day of Jesus’ return, we are commanded to “keep watch” and “keep awake” in hope, not fear. Advent is an eschatological season. While we look back at Jesus’ first Advent on earth, we await his second. Perhaps it’s poetic that Advent is celebrated at one of the busiest times of the year. We are (hopefully) compiling Christmas lists; we are finalizing travel plans over the holidays; we are scrambling to do what needs to be done before we can enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Jesus, for his part, tells us that life will look pretty normal before his return - he com-
pares his second coming to the days of Noah: “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark....” (Luke 17:26-27). Amid all the busy-ness of the season, we are commanded to watch and keep alert. We keep alert not just for his return at the end of all time, but for the ways in which he returns to us now. In the ways he is revealed in the stranger, in the suffering, and in those we love. One might liken this to Luther’s interpretation of the Third Commandment: we honor the Sabbath by taking time to “gladly hear and learn” God’s Word. Taking time to hear the Word of God - not just at worship but in those around us - is a way to keep watch in this busiest of busy seasons. God grant you strength to stay awake and keep watch for his coming. See you in church! Pr. David
December Lectionary Readings Advent 2 - December 7th 1st Reading - Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 2nd Reading - 2 Peter 3:8-15a Gospel Reading - Mark 1:1-8
Advent 4 - December 21st 1st Reading - 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Psalm: Luke 1:46b-55 2nd Reading - Romans 16:25-27 Gospel - Luke 1:26-38
Advent 3 - December 14th 1st Reading - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 2nd Reading - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Gospel - John 1:6-8, 19-28
Christmas 1 - December 28th 1st Reading - Isaiah 61:10—62:3 Psalm 148 2nd Reading - Galatians 4:4-7 Gospel - Luke 2:22-40