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!

To receive the weekly Elim Extra email in your inbox, please contact our office administrator at office@elimlutheran.org to sign up. You can also sign up to receive our monthy newsletter the Scribe at your home address.

Elim Extra for November 26, 2023

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Pastor’s Reflection

Jesus said the kingdom comes like a thief in the night when you least expect it….so if you feel like Advent is sneaking up on you early this year, you are right! This Sunday we are combining Reign of Christ Sunday with Advent 1, so we can finish before Christmas Eve. Our Advent theme is looking for God’s action in the world. In our Bible study we learned a practice called “Dwelling in the Wor-L-d” – looking over our encounters with people during the past week and wondering how God was present and what God was wanting to do with us or through us. If Jesus really was the Word who came to DWELL with us, as we say on Christmas, then we must learn how to “read” our lives as well as Scripture.

Looking back over our wonderful fall dinner last week, I feel I missed an opportunity that God gave me to share recognition with my spouse. As I was being interviewed by reporter Dave Thomas of “KELM radio,” Dave asked me how long worship preparation takes me, and I shared that I generally spend two hours on sermon research and two hours on writing. However, I see now that God was giving me an opportunity to show gratitude to my spouse. Most people don’t realize that Pegasus reads my sermon each and every week and gives me helpful critique. God has given me a partner in discipleship, and our picture of ministry would not be complete without recognizing the behind-the-scenes contributions of “the pastor’s spouse.”

Who might God be asking you to give thanks for this week?

Wishing you a peaceful holiday.

love, Pastor Chelsea

p.s. We collected nearly 200 pounds of food for Catholic Community Services! Wow! Thanks to all who gave and Gloria for taking the food in.

Check out our new Giving Tree at church on Sunday, collecting winter clothes for the Rescue Mission and Lantern House. This Sunday is also the last day for Sub for Santa! Please contact Dave Thomas to contribute.

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 11/26 and 11/29: Read chapter 3 of Leading Faithful Innovation (Online group: Page 22)

Advent starts next week at Elim

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We are starting Advent one Sunday early, on Christ the King Sunday. Thanks to all who decorated the church for Christmas – it looks beautiful!

In November we did “tens” in the Bible….first the parable of the ten bridesmaids; then the ten followers of Jesus who stayed with him at the cross; and the ten lepers who Jesus heals. We have been talking about why different people make different decisions in the same circumstances: the five bridesmaids who left versus the five who went to meet the bridegroom; the ten followers who stayed, versus the ten apostles who deserted Jesus on the cross; and the one leper who comes back after being healed to thank Jesus, versus the nine who continue on their way. 

I think it’s important to recognize that in each of these stories, while one group shows up late to discipleship, everyone eventually does make it. Some of us here have always had faith; some came to faith later in life; and quite honestly some of us are still coming to faith! As we have been considering in our Bible study how to reach out beyond our doors, we are puzzling over the large number of people who have fallen away from religion in the United States. How might we leave the door open for them to make their way to faith in their own time? Or maybe I should say, in God’s time.

love, Pastor Chelsea

Elim Extra for Sunday, November 19, 2023

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Pastor’s Reflection

With our wonderful fall dinner this week, and Thanksgiving Sunday coming up in worship this Sunday, not to mention Advent coming up next week (we’re starting one week early, on Christ the King Sunday, so we have enough Sundays to light all four Advent candles before Christmas Eve, which falls on a Sunday this year)…. well, it definitely feels like the holidays are upon us. For some, this time of year is anticipated with excitement, but for others this time of year is anticipated with dread because of loss and grief. In Thanksgiving worship we will find that God is big enough to hold both experiences.
As you plan how you will embrace or get through this season, I would like to offer two online events – flyers are posted on our church Facebook page. Grief and the Holidays: How the Light Comes is being offered by the University of Utah TONIGHT (November 14) at 7 PM; and A Night to Illuminate Grief: Love in Grief Held Together (LIGHT) is being offered by First Plymouth Congregational Church in Colorado (UCC) on December 21 at 7 PM. Understanding our grief can help us get through the holidays and know we are not alone.
Please plan to stay after church this Sunday to decorate the sanctuary! We will also be collecting non-perishable foods at the altar to contribute to a local food pantry’s Thanksgiving collection. Plan to grab extra of something on your grocery run this week…. for this is how we show our thanks.
love, Pastor Chelsea