Worship Livestream
We routinely live-stream our Sunday services, as well as some other special events, on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/elimlutheran.church.3/) and on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ElimLutheran/streams
Please join us there, if you cannot join us in person!
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Elim Extra for Sunday, December 17, 2023
Pastor’s Reflection
This Advent, we have been exploring how we encounter God – or, since Holy Mischief is active, how God encounters us. The Holy Spirit hints, tugs, points, and, this Sunday, shouts as we encounter “proclamation.” Our church is called to proclaim the good news – but how easy is this to do in daily life?
One thing I love about doing the sung liturgy is how participatory it is. My former parish priest says that when we sing the Great Amen, we are signing our names to what Jesus has done. We are joining in Jesus’s offering, pledging to make an offering of love with our own lives. I enjoy sharing this priesthood duty with Assisting Minister Stephen and each of you.
You may have noticed that I have been elongating our lectionary selections lately. As a preacher, I am privileged to encounter scholarship that places our readings in their literary context, and sometimes I can’t resist giving you the same chance to hear the scripture in full. With longer readings, it is sometimes necessary to employ multiple readers to highlight the structure of the text. I enjoy sharing the task of proclamation with you!
with love, Pr. Chelsea
This Sunday we will take a vote to spend our Restoration Fund ($23K) on a new sanctuary furnace.
Holiday Caroling: Please join us Saturday at 10 AM to assemble cookie plates or Sunday at Noon to go caroling at the residences of our homebound members! Contact Deanna if you can donate cookies, sugar free candies, or wrapped treats. Don’t forget your Santa hat and scarf!
Our snow blower got stolen from the shed earlier this year. Does anyone know of a used snow blower to donate, or would like to gift a small new one to the church? We are legally responsible for keeping our large street corner clear of snow and ice for pedestrians.
A member of the Elim family is still in need of some furniture delivered to his new home near Elim – an upright dresser and a double bed box spring. Can pay. Please contact Pr. Chelsea.
Elim and Ascension teamed up to provide plastic pillows for the local homeless shelter. These are more hygienic and economical to clean! Other churches of the ELCA Utah conference are doing the same for the Salt Lake shelter.
Dec. 24 at 10 AM – The Christmas Story with Cookies and Carols: Request your favorite Christmas songs. Bring a small plate of cookies to share if you like. Candlelight service at 5 PM.
Elim Extra for December 10, 2023
Pastor’s Reflection
At worship this Sunday, we will be talking about how God provides what we need when we follow our vocation to “be the church.” Last Sunday, Joan shared that our church furnace is getting old and dysfunctional, and there is a bid on the table to replace it with a new furnace which would last us many years. Members, please come to church on December 17th to cast your vote for this major expenditure. Your earmarked financial contributions toward this purpose are also most welcome!
Big thanks to Steve Munson and the church council for all their research during this process. How fortunate we are to have a Restoration Fund to provide for our church and ensure warmth in our sacred space. From revelation to invitation, from provision to proclamation, God acts in the world to warm our hearts during Advent. I look forward to sharing a cozy candlelit Christmas Eve with you on December 24th at 5 PM!
with love, Pastor Chelsea
Christmas Eve services this year will be at 10 AM and 5 PM.
Caroling Update: We are going to be delivering Christmas cookies to some of our homebound members who are living in group residences. Baskets will be assembled on Saturday morning, December 16th at church. Please join us in a car caravan after worship on Sunday December 17th to make the deliveries! People who like to sing are encouraged to join in. Thanks to Deanna for coordinating!
Big thanks to the folks contributing to Elim’s meal for Family Promise in December: Kay, Gloria, Joan D, Peggy, Lucille, Joan T, and also thanks to all who have supported this ministry (Pam, Jennifer, Leslie and Cindy, Bonnie, Rosemary, and others). Please check out the link to learn more about this great program in Ogden:
https://familypromiseofogden.
A new Bible Study on First Corinthians has begun at Elim on Tuesdays at 6 PM in the Fishbowl room, led by Pastor Steve and Lynn Tharpe of First Baptist Church. All are welcome!
Giving Tree: Please bring new winter clothes for clients of the Rescue Mission and Lantern House. Gifts will be delivered in January!
All are welcome on Sundays at 9 AM for Bible study. This week’s book study assignment: read chapter 4 and 5 of Leading Faithful Innovation.
Elim Extra for December 3, 2023
Pastor’s Reflection
I am very grateful to Pr. Rick for leading worship while I was sick. Advent may be all about waiting, but I was NOT happy to have to wait another week to enjoy our gorgeously decorated Christmas sanctuary with all you beautiful souls! Hopefully you got up to some “holy mischief” without me. Likewise this Advent, we are looking for signs that God might be “up to something.”
Our Scripture readings last Sunday gave us some “Holy Spirit Hints” that God is indeed active in our world. Isaiah said to God, “you are the potter, we are the clay.” If you have ever gone through an experience that changed your way of seeing the world, this is a hint that God is still working in our world by shaping you. Likewise, the gospel of Mark talked about the fig tree putting out tender green shoots that indicate summer is near. The Holy Spirit gives us a sense for what fills us with life and energy instead of depleting it. God is still working in our world by cultivating relationships that are life-giving. Finally, a third type of Holy Spirit hint is insomnia – staying awake simply because we can’t rest. What keeps you up at night? What keeps your neighbors up at night? The truth is, our souls are troubled by what is not right with the world. God is stirring us up to make us long for something better.
These metaphors would fit well into an ancient First Aid kit: clay, leaves, and insomnia tablets! Let us look around us for clues that God is transforming people, giving them energy, and filling them with longing for things to be better. That is how we know God is still about the business of healing in our world.
Love, Pastor Chelsea
Announcements:
This Sunday we will hear about the church’s need for a new furnace, with a congregational vote on the leading bid scheduled for December 17th during worship.
A new Bible Study on First Corinthians will begin next week on Tuesdays at 6 PM in the Fishbowl room, led by Pastor Steve and Lynn Tharpe of First Baptist Church. All are welcome!
Christmas Eve services this year will be at 10 AM and 5 PM.
Giving Tree: Bring new winter clothes for clients of the Rescue Mission and Lantern House.
A member of the Elim family is in need of a place to live. A room, apartment, or house to rent. Can pay up to $2000 per month. Please contact Peggy if you have any leads. Thank you!
Bible study assignment for 12/3 and 12/6: Read chapter 4 of Leading Faithful Innovation (Online group: Page 22)