ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • Home
  • WORSHIP
    • Worship FAQs
    • Online Worship
    • Earth Day Worship
    • Baptism
    • Prayer & Praise Requests
    • Weekly Prayer Initiative
  • OUTREACH
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Helping Hands
    • Lutheran Social Services
    • Thrivent Builds
    • Habitat for Humanity
  • MINISTRIES
    • Ministries Overview
    • Serving the Church >
      • Stewardship Campaign 2022
      • Prayer Station
      • Healing Touch
      • Church Health & Awareness
      • The Bear Ministry
      • Church Library
    • Music & Worship >
      • Hand Bells
      • Chancel Choir
    • Kids & Youth >
      • Sunday School
      • Youth Ministry
      • Vacation Bible School
      • Scouting
    • Bible Study Groups >
      • Women's Group
      • Men's Group
      • Bible Study Group
  • Giving
  • ABOUT US
    • Chi Rho Newsletter
    • History of ALC
    • Becoming a Member
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Links >
      • Evangelical Lutheran Church
      • Helping Hands
      • Habitat for Humanity - Mid Ohio
      • Lutheran Social Services
      • Southern Ohio Synod
  • ZOOM MEETINGS
  • Contact Us
Picture

Ascension Blog

Light into Darkness

12/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I love the season of Advent.  I love the Advent wreath.  I love that we get some time to prepare for Christmas.  (I love to wear the color blue in the Advent season.  When Pastor Dave Keller was vicar at Ascension he could joke that in the whole year there were 4 Sundays for blue, and only two for red.)   Last year I remember  that we had two funerals during Advent – for Dick Vaughn and Chuck Cozad.  I remember how powerful the Advent season was for bringing God’s comfort and hope.  I hadn’t thought about it much before, being from the southern hemisphere, but in the north, as the days grow shorter, and the darkness longer, the lit candles on the wreath increase, and then on Christmas Eve the central Christmas candle is also lit, and in our Christmas Eve worship many candles are lit. 

 Oh, how we need the light of Christ, in ourselves, with our families and friends, in our city and nation and world.  Who are you especially concerned about at this time?  What situations in our country and world bring fear to you?  Pray for the light of Christ to fill these people, these situations.  It used to be that Christians in Syria could put up Christmas trees. Not so much now.  But at least in some areas Christians and Muslims are watching out for each other, being neighborly. I love the Gospel reading for Christmas Eve – how the darkness of a Bethlehem night is pierced by the light, by the glory of God,  and message of firstly one angel.  It begins with  – Fear Not, do not be afraid – I bring you good news (Gospel) that will cause great joy for all the people. 

Advent is a time to prepare to hear that angelic message anew and afresh – that a savior is born for you, for all, one who is the Christ, the Lord. I wonder if you have family or friends that do not have a church home.  You can tell them that we have a great celebration of Christmas here at Ascension at our two worship services on Christmas Eve (7pm and 10pm)  And with Christmas Day being on a Sunday we also have one worship service at 11am. 

And you can invite people to our various Advent celebrations – like the midweek Advent lunch and worship times on the 4 Wednesdays of Advent (starting November 30th)   And there is the Nativity Display on Sunday December 11th.  Let Peggy Dlusky know if you have a nativity to display.(I need to repair the broken leg of a llama in a nativity set from Peru.) 

​And on Sunday December 18th there is the children’s Christmas program in the evening.  Feel free to bring along grandchildren, friends with children.  There are plenty of costumes for each child to dress up in and to be a part of the story. I am really looking forward to celebrating Advent and Christmas with you all this year.

In love and peace,
- Pastor Tim

P.S. Don’t forget the 12 days of Christmas for your celebrating.  The light comes into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. 
DECEMBER SCRIPTURE READINGS 
Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 11:2-11
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-20 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Pastor Tim

    Picture
    Vicar Kimberly
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Blooming Ascension
    Celebration
    Christmas
    Easter
    Epiphany
    Facing Storms
    Faith
    Freedom
    From The Vicar
    Germany Videos
    Gift From God
    Giving Thanks
    God Calling
    Healing
    Jesus Glory
    Jesus Is The Light
    Joseph
    Kids Sermon
    Lent
    Lord's Prayer
    Martin Luther
    Pain
    Peace
    Poem By Oscar
    Reforming
    Repentance
    Revolution
    Sacrifice
    Sermon
    Springtime
    Stewardship
    Sunday School
    Tanzania Ministry
    Team Together
    Tension
    The Cross
    The Third Way
    Travel

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

About Our Church
​
​
1479 Morse Road
Columbus, Ohio 43229

We would love to have you join us in church this weekend. 
​
Sundays at 10:00 am
Sunday School at 11:00 am:
​
Confirmation Classes, Sunday School Classes & Adult Forum Classes
Office Hours

​Tuesday - Thursday
9:00 am - 2:00 pm

P: (614) 262-7389
E: ascluth@gmail.com
Give Online
Download Give+ App
Contact Us
Contact Us
Find Us
Website by Buckeye Dynamics
  • Home
  • WORSHIP
    • Worship FAQs
    • Online Worship
    • Earth Day Worship
    • Baptism
    • Prayer & Praise Requests
    • Weekly Prayer Initiative
  • OUTREACH
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Helping Hands
    • Lutheran Social Services
    • Thrivent Builds
    • Habitat for Humanity
  • MINISTRIES
    • Ministries Overview
    • Serving the Church >
      • Stewardship Campaign 2022
      • Prayer Station
      • Healing Touch
      • Church Health & Awareness
      • The Bear Ministry
      • Church Library
    • Music & Worship >
      • Hand Bells
      • Chancel Choir
    • Kids & Youth >
      • Sunday School
      • Youth Ministry
      • Vacation Bible School
      • Scouting
    • Bible Study Groups >
      • Women's Group
      • Men's Group
      • Bible Study Group
  • Giving
  • ABOUT US
    • Chi Rho Newsletter
    • History of ALC
    • Becoming a Member
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Links >
      • Evangelical Lutheran Church
      • Helping Hands
      • Habitat for Humanity - Mid Ohio
      • Lutheran Social Services
      • Southern Ohio Synod
  • ZOOM MEETINGS
  • Contact Us