Grace Notes, January 20, 2011

One of my very favorite stories is called "The Wooden Bowl". It's about
an old woman whose health has declined to the point that her daughter and
son-in-law have insisted that she move in with them. They do work all
day, but at night they are home and so feel more secure about Grandma's
wellbeing when she is under their roof. Grandma is getting old though, so
sometimes she drops a dish or a couple peas off her fork or spills a glass
of milk. They get annoyed with these little messes and pretty soon tell
her not to help with the dishes anymore. Worse, they put a small table in
the kitchen and set her place there, set it with a wooden bowl, from which
she eats her meals alone.

Not long after, the 8 year old granddaughter was drying dishes as her
mother washed. She exclaimed, "be careful with that wooden bowl, Mommy!"
Her Mom was puzzled at the urgency in the little girl's tone so asked why,
what was the matter. Her daughter explained, as if to say, "duh!", "We
have to take care of that wooden bowl so we can use it when you get old."

Next thing you know, Grandma was lead back to the dining room the next
mealtime, and nobody fussed again about any spills.

This reminds me so much of my Mom. As the oldest of six children, I
cannot tell you how many times I heard, "No, don't do that! How would YOU
like it if someone did that to you?" She made us think about walking in
someone else's shoes; we were brought up thinking about that. Walk a mile
in someone else's moccasins before passing judgment was yet another way of
saying the same thing. It was a family motif.

To me that admonition is the Golden Rule in different words. Love one
another as I have loved you, Jesus said. Love one another as I have loved
you. Think about it for a second. Jesus loved us to death. His own. He
actually allowed men to put nails in his hands and feet and side, hanging
him from a cross. Who does that? Who allows that to happen? Only our
Lord and Saviour, as far as I know. Soldiers die protecting our great
country. Parents die or would die for their children. They come as close
as one can imagine to being like Jesus. Out of great love, they put
themselves in harm's way to defend us. To put it in secular terms, they
put their money where their mouth is. How blessed we are. More, how
loved we are. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for our very lives and thank
you for life everlasting. Help us to cherish your love for us and to tuck
that love in our hearts as we go into your world loving others. Amen.

Judy Bergeson, Diaconal Minister
Salem Lutheran

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SALEM:
Our Community Servant Speaker this Sunday is Jamie Lauer from Heartland
blood. We'll learn more about the need for blood. Salem's next blood
drive is Sat., Feb. 12 from 8 AM till noon. People need to bring a photo
ID. The bloodmobile will be parked in front of Salem.

The Annual Meeting is this Sunday, January 23! We lunch together at noon;
the meeting begins at 12:45. It'll be over in time for the Game.

There is Grief Support Group meeting at 3 PM this Sunday; we will NOT meet
Jan. 30th. In Feb. we go to the once a month meeting schedule, the fourth
Sunday of each month. All are welcome.

The New Member dinner is at 5 PM Sunday, Jan. 30th. Please call the
church office if you are interested!

Grace Notes, January 11, 2011

Welcome to the season of Epiphany! As I write today the date is
1-11-11…kind of neat – all ones - the first, the beginning, the alpha -
launching us into what is yet to come. We have just celebrated Jesus'
birth: Mary's firstborn, God's first and only son, the Messiah - the
"first fruits" of those to be raised from the dead…honored by mysterious
visitors who present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbols of
Jesus' life and purpose.

Epiphany means manifestation, or a revealing. Sometimes we say we had an
"epiphany" when something dawns on us or sinks in for the first time.
Jesus is revealed as the Savior, the Messiah, one who brings light into
darkness and hope for despair, who "comes on the wings of the dawn". So
Epiphany is also called a season of light, which happens to correspond in
America to the darker days of winter and the first months of the calendar
year. The season of Epiphany begins with the visit of the Magi, moves
quickly to Jesus' baptism, and lasts until Transfiguration Sunday (this
year March 6th) when the very light of heaven breaks forth to shine on
Jesus and he is "transfigured", or shown in glory, to the disciples with
him on the mountain.

Philippi Nicolai, a German Lutheran pastor born August 10, 1556, penned
the words and music to a great Epiphany hymn about 500 years ago, O
Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (ELW 308). Along with his most famous
Advent hymn, Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying, Nicolai is credited with
composing the King and Queen of Chorales, world-famous hymns precious to
Christianity. I find it a wonderful prayer and statement of faith, and I
hope you do too, no matter what "firsts" you are encountering, what fears
you have for this new year, or what darkness threatens you. Take a couple
of minutes to live in this hymn and make it your prayer.

Blessed Epiphany,

Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, IL

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
O Morning Star, how fair and bright! You shine with God's own truth and
light,
Aglow with grace and mercy!
Of Jacob's race, King David's son, Our Lord and master, You have won
Our hearts to serve You only!
Lowly, holy! Great and glorious, All victorious, Rich in blessing!
Rule and might o'er all possessing!

Come, heav'nly bridegroom, light divine, And deep within our hearts now
shine;
There light a flame undying!
In Your one body let us be As living branches of a tree, Your life our
lives supplying.
Now, though daily Earth's deep sadness May perplex us And
distress us,
Yet with heav'nly joy You bless us.

Lord, when You look on us in love, At once there falls from God above
A ray of purest pleasure.
Your Word and Spirit, flesh and blood Refresh our souls with heav'nly food.
You are our dearest treasure!
Let Your mercy Warm and cheer us! O draw near us! For You
teach us
God's own love through You has reached us.

Almighty Father, in Your Son You loved us when not yet begun
Was this old earth's foundation!
Your Son has ransomed us in love To live in Him here and above: This is
Your great salvation.
Alleluia! Christ the living, To us giving Life forever,
Keeps us Yours and fails us never!

O let the harps break forth in sound! Our joy be all with music crowned,
Our voices gladly blending!
For Christ goes with us all the way--Today, tomorrow, ev'ry day! His love
is never ending!
Sing out! Ring out! Jubilation! Exaltation! Tell the story!
Great is He, the King of glory!

What joy to know, when life is past, The Lord we love is first and last,
The end and the beginning!
He will one day, oh, glorious grace, Transport us to that happy place
Beyond all tears and sinning!
Amen! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Crown of gladness! We are
yearning
For the day of Your returning!

Salem Reminders:

Celebrate the Baptism of our Lord at all Salem worship services this
weekend: 5:00 Saturday, 8:00 & 10:30 Sunday. Mike and Sharon Wadle of
First Lutheran Church in DeKalb who teach regularly at our companion synod
in Arusha, Tanzania, will preach for worship services and teach a class at
the 9:15 a.m. Hospitality Hour – education "Tanzania style".

Singers are still welcome for Salem's Children's Musical, "That's so
Daniel". Rehearsals are held Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. in the Choir
room.

Salem GEMS (older adults) meet for lunch and a program at Noon on Monday,
Jan. 17th. Bring a dish to pass and enjoy the fellowship. Gifts of
non-perishable foods or paper goods for Salem Food Pantry are collected
each month.

Grace Notes, January 4, 2011

"Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are
there.
9If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of
the sea,
10even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me
become night,"
12even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my
mother's womb." (Psalm 139:7-13)

A stray cat took up residence in my garage on Christmas Eve.
At least I think it was Christmas Eve… I always close my garage door, but
was off my usual routine that night and it stood open all night long. And
I first caught a glimpse of this black and white and furry animal on
Christmas Day.

You may remember that it snowed and snowed on the 24th so it's no surprise
that a cold creature would take up residence in the shelter my garage
provides.

At first I tried to leave the garage door open hoping it would find its
way out again.
It has not.

Next I put a little food and water (and a litter box) out there --- trying
to determine if it was still there. It was, for sure enough the food was
eaten, the water gone, and the litter box used.

After that I purchased a live animal trap and baited it with tuna. I
thought maybe I could capture it and take it to TAILS … or at least to a
vet to be checked out. This is a smart cat though… It somehow managed to
get the tuna out without tripping the trap.

Since then I've decided just to keep feeding it and watering it and
changing its litter box in hopes that I might regain its trust enough for
it to come out from hiding. For you see, I can't find it. I think it
must be hiding in the rafters beyond my sight and my reach. I know it's
still out there for the food keeps getting eaten and the litter box keeps
being used. And a few days ago, I caught a glimpse of it again… on a
balmier January day when the garage door was left open for a few minutes…
it had found its way outside. As soon as I started to close the door,
though, it scurried right back inside. Like I said, this is a smart cat.

Now I don't know this cat of course. I'm pretty certain it was left
behind by my neighbors when they moved out a few weeks ago – at least it
bears a striking resemblance to the one that used to sit in their window.
I don't have anything against cats and have been known to feel some
affection for those belonging to others… but I've never actually had one
of my own. I'm finding though that as I check its food bowl in the
morning and break the ice on its water bowl and clean out its litter box
that more and more I'm worrying about it. And yet, still it hides from
me. Choosing to stay in a cold, dark garage over the possibility of a
warm, dry house where it would be cared for and loved.

And so, I wonder about us. How often you and I behave like that cat who
has taken up residence in my garage. I wonder if we hide from the
Provider of our every need, grateful enough to at least have enough to be
fed, but not willing to fully trust. And yet, in our unwillingness to
come out in the open, in our inability to fully trust, we deprive
ourselves of so much more.

For you see, so far as it is in my power, I will not let this cat die.
And in the meantime, there's not much more I can do. In the same way God
provides for our every need… and while God knows where we are hiding, God
won't drag us out against our will. Even so, God is just waiting for us
to come out in the open and to trust him with our lives…

And when you think about it, why do we hide anyway? For as the psalmist
says above, wherever we go, God is already there. God knows us fully and
God loves us completely.

So come out in the open. Come out where you can fully experience all the
gifts God has waiting for you!

Peace to you and many blessings.
Pastor Janet

Coming up this week at Salem:

"Dine with the Kings" Sunday, January 9th at 9:15 in Fellowship Hall Come
along and celebrate Epiphany with Salem's Puppets, Davey and Goliath
Video, and children of all ages. If you're able, bring some breakfast
food to share. Beverages and table ware will be provided. Also, your
gifts of new children's clothing will be received and dedicated at worship
at all three services this week-end.