This Sunday on Advent 4 we are having the christmas pageant at 10 am and Greening the Church immediately after the 10 am service.  Come and join the fun.  God bless,  Fr.  Mike

Just a reminder that Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday12/19  at 7:30am

The Friday 10am liturgy is canceeled tomorrow 12/18 and will not resume until after the new year.  My Grandma is very sick and I am going to be with her.  Please keep my Grandma Laurine in your prayers.  God bless,  Fr.  Mike

Monday: Liturgy @ Haake’s tender care 10am, 7pm Praise team practice

Wednesday: Liturgy 6:30pm Bishop’s Committee 7:15pm

Thursday: Dane County Health clinic 2 to 8pm

Friday: Liturgy 10 am , Bible study 10:45am

Saturday Men’s Breakfast 7:30am Gus’ Diner

Sunday liturgy 8am Rt I, 10am Rt II w/ Christmas pageant 11:30 Greening of the Church.

Have a great week- God bless,  Fr.  Mike

Advent 3

Dessert in the Desert -Rejoice and be ready

Dec. 13, 2009

There once was a lady who knew her death was coming near.  She had been battling a rare disease for some time and she knew she soon would die.  She went to the priest to make her funeral plans.  They picked readings and music and had a good cry together.  Then after they were all finished she said, I have just one more request.  Yes, said the priest.  I want to be buried with a fork in my hand.  Sure said the priest, but Why?

She explained that growing up, she often came to church pot lucks.  As the main course finished some one would always lean over and say keep your fork as the dishes were being cleared.  It was a sure sign something better was coming.  Their mouths both started to drool as she recounted home made apple pies, Carmel apples, cakes and tortes.  She told the priest she wants to be remembered and go to heaven knowing that something better is coming.

Advent is about the tradition of waiting and preparing for God’s cracking into our time and giving us God’s greatest gift. Advent is our fork.  This third week of advent is our pink candle Gaudete Sunday which mean rejoice.  It is our dessert in the desert.  Our reminder that we are on a journey and there is a greatness that awaits us.  That in all things we are to rejoice and be ready.  To prepare and to remember.

Each week of Advent, we are called to focus on a word or thought.  Each week in Advent we receive an opportunity to enter more deeply into the journey toward the Birth of the Christ.

Each year we call ourselves to this period of waiting but advent is not really about waiting as it is about remembering.  Remembering what God has done for us, we remember last year, we remember the end of the story.  If we just wait and have no idea what we are waiting for, if we wait and choose not to remember we are choosing to miss God’s opportunity given to us in this Advent gift.

One piece of the Advent gift is to refocus the questions in our lives.  We often ask this question, what should I do?  How can I help more? How can I accomplish more?  The question of Advent and for our lives is not, what can I do?  The question is: what is God doing?  Advent is the fork that helps us remember what’s coming and what the journey is all about.  Really so is everything about Christmas also to help us remember.  Advent helps us prepare and refocus.

I have an idea for us this Christmas.  What would it be like if we hung a fork on our tree and when people ask why you have a fork hanging from your tree you can tell them the story of  dessert in the desert.  It is to remind us that in the middle of Advent we never forget to rejoice and in the midst of Christmas that the presents aren’t the focus but a sign and symbol of what is still to come,  Prepare, be ready remember and rejoice for the King is coming.

In the name of God

12/23 Wed. Eve Of Christmas Eve 7pm

12/24 Thurs. Christmas Eve 5pm/ 8:30pm and 12am

12/25 Christmas day 9am

1/1/10 New Year’s day 9am

Come join us during the Christmas season or anytime.  God bless and Merry Christmas

The Christmas Pagent will be held on Sunday 12/20 at the 10 am liturgy.  All ages are welcome.  The Practice for the Pagent will be this Sunday after the 10am service.

There will be no friday Liturgy and bible study this Friday 12/11/09.  There will be a liturgy and Bible study next Friday 12/20.  God bless,  Fr.  Mike

Because of the Snow Storm tonight’s scheduled 6:30pm liturgy and 7:15 Bishop’s committee meeting are cancelled.  The Wednesday evening liturgy will resume next week and Bishop’s committee is rescheduled for 12/16 Wednesday at 7:15pm.  Stay safe and warm. God bless,  Fr.  Mike

This Wednesday 12/2 at 5:30pm we will have Turkey vegetable soup and fresh bread in our Advent tradition.  We will discuss Bishop Miller’s Bible study questions on the Gospel of Luke.  Come for soup or discussion or both.  God bless,  Fr.  Mike