First Sunday in Advent: HOPE

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

Lyrics: unknown German, 16th century
Music: Michael Praetorius, 1609
English translation: Theodore Baker, 1894

German original
Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen,aus einer Wurzel zart,wie uns die Alten sungen,von Jesse war die ArtUnd hat ein Blümlein brachtmitten im kalten Winter,wohl zu der halben Nacht.Das Röslein, das ich meine,davon Jesaia sagt,ist Maria die reinedie uns das Blümlein bracht.Aus Gottes ew’gem Rathat sie ein Kind geborenund blieb ein reine Magd.or: Welches uns selig macht.Das Blümelein, so kleine,das duftet uns so süß,mit seinem hellen Scheinevertreibt’s die Finsternis.Wahr Mensch und wahrer Gott,hilft uns aus allem Leide,rettet von Sünd und Tod.

English version
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming,From tender stem hath sprung.Of Jesse’s lineage coming,As men of old have sung;It came, a flow’ret bright,Amid the cold of winter,When half spent was the night.Isaiah ’twas foretold it,The Rose I have in mind,With Mary we behold it,The virgin mother kind;To show God’s love aright,She bore to men a Savior,When halfspent was the night.O Flower, whose fragrance tenderWith sweetness fills the air,Dispel with glorious splendourThe darkness everywhere;True man, yet very God,From Sin and death now save us,And share our every load.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (Isa. 11:1-2)

Do you remember the first time you heard an amazing tune?

Sue will tell you that I can’t remember where I put my wallet but I can remember a minute detail of events more than 50 years ago. Tis true. (She also says I’ve never forgotten a meal; she’s wrong about that one, for there was that one time back in ’65…)

Some sensory experiences stick with us, to be sure. As I write this, I recall vividly where I was when and whom I was with when I first heard these songs:

1. “Heard it Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye (driving by the Walnut High School football field with my friend Marc Brown)
2. “Can’t Turn You Loose” by the Chambers Brothers (headed north on Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, just past Vonachen’s Junction)
3. “Layla” by Eric Clapton (walking in dorm hallway, first floor, Dolan Hall, IWU)
4. “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming” (sitting outside music room as Mrs. Jeanette Johnson introduced it to our 5th grade music class by playing it and singing it in lovely fashion; I was in trouble, thus my banishment; due to my banishment, I had no distractions and was utterly drawn in by the “unusual” lyrics and melody.  We sang it for the Christmas program. I behaved.)

We’re blessed to both hear and sing this old German Christmas hymn today. Please take it in with both your ears and your imagination. Consider the visual imagery of the lyrics. And be transported by the music…“Isaiah Twas Foretold It” – 700 yrs. Before Christ

News & Announcements:

• Prayer gathering this Wednesday@ church @ 7:00.
• Advocate Bromenn Partners in Prayer Nov. – Emergency Department (ED)The Current ED at the Medical Center has 18 beds, four of which are dedicated to cardiac emergencies and traumas. Approximately 90 patients per day.
• Tonight!!!  Our delightful “Deck the Halls”evening: decorating the church, Christmas music, and pizza@ 5:00
• Attention Jr. High youth and their parents!  We have spots reserved for you and your friends at the Jan. 20-22 ICE CAMP Weekend Retreat at Miracle Camp.  We would love for any Jr. high students and their friends to join us!  More details coming soon!  Email Cary with questions.
• Calling young(er) couples (under 40 – no offense)!  Hire a babysitter and join us for a potluck holiday meal at The Jake on Friday, Dec. 9th at 6:30pm!  Bring a dish to pass and enjoy fellowship with other couples!  RSVP to Cary.
• Be blessed in serving dinner @ Home Sweet Home Mission on December 22. We have been asked to provide eight servers as HSHM provides a Christmas dinner to their clients. Ask Cary for details.

Mary did you know …

Mary did you know…
…that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Did you know…
…that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know…
…that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you’ve delivered…
… will soon deliver you.

(lyrics by Mark Lowry)

I’ve heard from several of you that this has been a worthwhile series. Good! Praise the Author!

These women chosen by God played compelling roles in salvation history.

Each story shows…

• Providence
• Human responsibility
• Utter futility of wickedness

Here’s a worthwhile review:In 5 words or less, please describe each drama.

Eve: ______________________________________________

Sarah:____________________________________________

Rebekah:_________________________________________

Rachel & Leah:___________________________________

Tamar: ___________________________________________

Rahab: ___________________________________________

Ruth: ____________________________________________

Bathsheba: ______________________________________

Esther: ______________________________________

Mary: ______________________________________

News & Announcements:

• No prayer gathering this Wednesday. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
• Advocate Bromenn Partners in Prayer Nov. – Emergency Department (ED) The Current ED at the Medical Center has 18 beds, four of which are dedicated to cardiac emergencies and traumas.  There are one to two emergency trained physicians in house 24×7.  Approximately 90 patients are seen a day in this area.
• Our traditional “Deck the Halls”evening: decorating the church, enjoying Christmas music, and pizza.Sunday, Nov. 27 @ 5:00
• Attention Jr. High youth and their parents!  We have spots reserved for you and your friends at the Jan. 20-22 ICE CAMP Weekend Retreat at Miracle Camp.  We would love for any Jr. high students and their friends to join us!  More details coming soon!  Email Cary with questions.
• Calling young(er) couples (under 40 – no offense)!  Hire a babysitter and join us for a potluck holiday meal at The Jake on Friday, Dec. 9th at 6:30pm!  Bring a dish to pass and enjoy fellowship with other couples!  Who knows, maybe this will be a monthly thing?!  email Cary to RSVP.

Queen of Lawbreakers, Esther the Brave

Ladies First, Story Nine

When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king… Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace… the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown[a] on her head and made her queen…(from Esther 2)

Simply put, Purim (the feast from the Book of Esther) is about “reversal.” We tend to use the term reversal most often as a negative, as in “so and so suffered a reversal.” However, reversal is a neutral word and can refer to a turnaround from negative to positive just as readily as the other way. Purim is about such a reversal.

The women in this series had their own reversals.  Take a moment and jot down how each of these women’s stories include a reversal… and how each is evidence of the truth of Genesis 50:20 – “what you meant for evil, God meant for good.”

Eve: ______________________________________________

Sarah:____________________________________________

Rebekah:_________________________________________

Rachel & Leah:___________________________________

Tamar: ___________________________________________

Rahab: ___________________________________________

Ruth: ____________________________________________

Bathsheba: ______________________________________

News & Announcements

• House Blessing @ Dan and Kaetlyn Hubbard’s Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7:00
• Advocate Bromenn Partners in Prayer for Nov. – Emergency Department (ED) The Current ED at the Medical Center has 18 beds, four of which are dedicated to cardiac emergencies and traumas.  There are one to two emergency trained physicians in house 24×7.  Approximately 90 patients are seen a day in this area.
• Our traditional “Deck the Halls”evening: decorating the church, enjoying Christmas music, and pizza.Sunday, Nov. 27 @ 5:00
• Attention Jr. High youth and their parents!  We have spots reserved for you and your friends at the Jan. 20-22 ICE CAMP Weekend Retreat at Miracle Camp.  We would love for any Jr. high students and their friends to join us!  More details coming soon!  Email Cary with questions.
• Calling young(er) couples (under 40 – no offense)!  Hire a babysitter and join us for a potluck holiday meal at The Jake on Friday, Dec. 9th at 6:30pm!  Bring a dish to pass and enjoy fellowship with other couples!  Who knows, maybe this will be a monthly thing?!  email Cary to RSVP.