That sentence from Psalm 100 has been echoing in my head for many days
now, as Salem celebrated Thanksgiving with blessings and pie, as we enter
Advent with gorgeously decorated trees and candles to be lit on the Advent
wreath, as we watch the children begin to get more excited. And then I
just plain stopped and listened. The Salem Sounds around here are just
wonderful! We have Food Pantry workers welcoming families as they come in
search of food to serve. We have Altar Guild members laughing as they
decorate the altar beautifully to prepare for worship. We have women in
the office typing, collating, answering phones, planning, and laughing.
We have men washing windows and putting up storms, quietly preparing for
winter. We have Sunday School teachers faithfully showing up weekly to
teach our children stories about Jesus with words, paint, colors, books,
puzzles. We have choir members from age 3 till older who come to sing in
such dear harmony. They add to the beauty of the worship of our Lord. We
have mowers who come a day or two before the weekend, so Salem's huge lawn
looks manicured, ready for all who come to its doors. We have bells that
ring in glorious song every hour. They say "Welcome!" They say "We
worship Jesus here!" They say "You can too, just come on in!" We have
three generations of puppets who show us a different way to worship, a way
that enchants the children. The Confirmation children do lovely, loving
service projects, both for our shut-ins and for others who need to be
remembered with warm scarves and pretty handmade Christmas cards. We have
members of the Witness Team making hot chocolate and cookies to pass out
at Santa's new house on the Courthouse lawn. We have a history of such
fine pastors, who teach us by their very presence. They are kind and
smart and steeped in the Word of our Lord. They care deeply about us,
their parishioners. They do so many constructive acts that we marvel.
The second verse of Psalm 100 is, "Serve the Lord with gladness; come
before His presence with singing." All these Salem Sounds do exactly
that. We say to that "Hallelujah!" We say "Thanks be to God!" God's
people say "Amen!"
Judy Bergeson
Diaconal Minister
UPCOMING EVENTS AT SALEM
Each year we put up a Christmas tree with names on it from Avancer
(formerly Genesis House), home for 90 mentally challenged adults. The
cognitive age and a couple of wished-for items are on this tag. We
purchase them, wrap them, and return them to Salem by the weekend of Dec.
10/11. Everyone may help in this effort to make Christmas nicer, better
for those less fortunate.
The High School students will have a Christmas baked goods sale on Sunday,
December 18th. This is a fine time to get your baking done! The
selection is always varied and delicious.
Salem's choir will give us an always beautiful Christmas concert at 5 PM
Saturday, December 10 and again Sunday, December 11th at 10:30. All are
welcome.
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