DECEMBER 30TH TO JANUARY 5TH, 2013
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REMINDERS —
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2012
CHRISTMAS DAY.
Special Season.
We are in the midst of the twelve day celebration
of Christmastide (night of December 24 through
January 6, Epiphany).
Evangelist, whose long life bore lasting witness
to the Word made Flesh.
• December 28 is the Feast of the Holy Innocents
(color: Red), the commemoration of the deaths
of the infants in Judea in response to news of
the birth of a new King because of Herod's
jealous rage.
Iowa became the 29th state in the United States.
No, it doesn't look this way today - - but give us
a few months and it will all be back.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2012
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY
COLOR: WHITE OR GOLD
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1 SAMUEL 2:18-20, 26
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
The story of the childhood of Samuel, raised by
a priest, who would become the last judge and
the first prophet to the kings of Israel. This
names two pieces of clothing Samuel wears - -
a linen ephod (sleeveless garment) and the
new robe his mother made and brought him
year by year. These clothes publicly marked
him as an apprentice for the priesthood, and
there is every indication here that he was not
just wearing the clothes, but learning the
practices of the craft from Eli year by year.
a sacred linen apron.
19 Each year his mother made him a little robe.
She took it to him when she went up to Shiloh
with her husband. She did it when her husband
went to offer the yearly sacrifice.
would say, "May the Lord give you children by
this woman. May they take the place of the boy
she prayed for and gave to him."
Then they would go home.
He also became more and more pleasing to the
Lord and to people.
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PSALM 148 (UMH 861)
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
All creation is called to join in the praise of God
who has established leadership to deliver and
protect the people.
Praise the Lord
1 Praise the Lord from the heavens.
Praise him in the heavens above.
Praise him, all his angels in heaven.
3 Praise him, sun and moon.
Praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens.
Praise him, you waters above the skies.
5 Let all of them praise the name of the Lord,
because he gave a command and they were
created.
6 He set them in place for ever and ever.
He gave them laws they will always have to
obey.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all of the
deepest parts of the ocean.
8 Praise him, lightning and hail, snow and
clouds.
him.
9 Praise him, all you mountains and hills.
Praise him, all you fruit trees and cedar
trees.
birds.
nations.
Praise him, all you princes and rulers on
earth.
12 Praise him, young men and young women.
Praise him, old people and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord.
His name alone is honored.
His glory is higher than the earth and the
heavens.
14 He has given his people a strong king.
All of his faithful people praise him for that
gift.
All of the people of Israel are close to his
heart.
Praise the Lord.
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COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Paul exhorts the readers to clothe themselves
with practices that embody the peace of Christ
ruling in their hearts and the teaching of Christ
dwelling among them richly. The clothing is
figurative, and the practices are literal. He
several times tells the Christians to "clothe
themselves" with behaviors and practices that
indicate their status as "God's chosen ones,"
like Samuel wearing the ephod and the robe.
These practices include compassion, kindness,
humility, meekness, patience, forbearance,
forgiveness, and love,
"the belt of perfection" (3:12-14). All of these
things take time and practice to "put on."
12 You are God's chosen people. You are holy
and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and
kindness as if they were your clothes. Don't be
proud. Be gentle and patient.
13 Put up with each other. Forgive the things
you are holding against one another. Forgive,
just as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all of those good things put on love.
Love holds them all together perfectly as if they
were one.
15 Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your
hearts. As parts of one body, you were
appointed to live in peace. And be thankful.
16 Let Christ's word live in you like a rich
treasure. Teach and correct each other wisely.
Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing
with thanks in your hearts to God.
17 Do everything you say or do in the name of
the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the
Father through Christ.
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LUKE 2:41-52
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
During the family's annual Passover pilgrimage
to Jerusalem, Jesus, now "of age," stays behind
to engage in rabbinic debate with the teachers
in the temple. The holy habits are developed by
Jesus, beginning in childhood. Many of the
"child Jesus" stories circulating in Luke's day
involved small miracles of one sort or another
that seem to suggest Jesus may be "above the
rules." The story Luke gives us is about
showing how thoroughly Jesus had learned,
knew, and kept the rules.The final verse is
direct reference to today's reading from
I Samuel.
• First, Jesus and his family kept Jewish ritual
tradition.
• Second, while in the temple, Jesus did not
simply read his "Torah portion," but entered
fully into the debate of the teachers of the law,
fulfilling and exceeding the expectations.
• Third, Jesus remained obedient to his parents
and "grew in wisdom and in favor with God and
people".
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem
for the Passover Feast.
42 When he was 12 years old, they went up to
the Feast as usual.
43 After the Feast was over, his parents left to go
back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it.
44 They thought he was somewhere in their
group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they
began to look for him among their relatives and
friends.
45 They did not find him. So they went back to
Jerusalem to look for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple
courtyard. He was with the teachers. He
was listening to them and asking them questions.
much he understood. They also were amazed at
his answers.
His mother said to him, "Son, why have you
treated us like this? Your father and I have been
worried about you. We have been looking for you
everywhere."
49 "Why were you looking for me?" he asked.
"Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's
house?"
50 But they did not understand what he meant
by that.
51 Then he went back to Nazareth with them,
and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all
these things like a secret treasure in her heart.
52 Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also
became more and more pleasing to God and
to people.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 31ST —
NEW YEARS EVE
Office closed today.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 1ST —
NEW YEARS DAY
1863: Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH —
Office closed today.
1885: Dr. William W. Grant of Davenport, Iowa,
performed the first appendectomy surgery.
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May God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Melodee
