 For the four Sundays in Advent, I am turning to the words of the prophet Isaiah as given to us in the traditional Year A lectionary readings for the season. Call them dreams, visions, glimpses, or true prophetic utterances, these four passages of Isaiah reflect a different understanding of salvation and deliverance; a mountain, a shoot from a tree stump, a holy highway, and, finally, Immanuel, God-with-us.
For this week, as I hear Isaiah’s words ringing down from the mountaintop across 2,600 years or so, I also hear the words of the author of Revelation arcing their way across the waters from Patmos. Whereas Isaiah envisions salvation as many people streaming up the mountain to God, John of Patmos envisions salvation as God coming down out of heaven to dwell with mortals forever. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. God will dwell with them; they will be God’s peoples, and God will be with them; God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’” (from Revelation 21)
Which vision do you find more compelling for your understanding of salvation? The deeper issue of the Advent season is this: the symbolism of the birth of the Christ-child is meant for each of us. On Christmas, we are not only celebrating a “birthday” that happened some 2,000 years ago. We are also celebrating the birth within us; the birth of the Christ-child. We are celebrating a new understanding of God-with-us that we have never had before.
In Christ,
Rev. Eric
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Sunday Worship begins each week at 10am, in-person and online, streaming via Facebook. Click HERE to go to our Facebook page.
For those of you worshiping online, click HERE after Friday to find the upcoming Bulletin.
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To see information about the songs we will be singing this Sunday, click here: http://www.hazelwoodchurch.org/worship-songs-this-week/
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To read last Sunday's Pastoral Prayer and Sermon, click HERE.
To watch past services, you may go to Youtube by clicking HERE.
To see just the scripture and sermons from each week, click HERE.
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Upcoming Sermons for the Advent Season
November 27: "The Mountain" Isaiah 2:1-54
December 4: "The Stump" Isaiah 11:1-10
December 11: "The Highway" Isaiah 35:1-10
December 18: "The Child" Isaiah 7:10-16
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Advent Season Devotional
 I have taken a couple of sneak peeks at our Advent devotional for 2022, I Am Mary. I delight how the author, Carol Howard Merritt, uses the perspective of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to take the reader through this season of preparation. Merritt writes, “As we enter this Advent season together, may we learn to long and love deeply, and may we get a glimpse of what it means to bear God.”
You may request a copy from the office or pick a booklet up at church. A donation of $4 is suggested to cover the cost.
Rev. Eric
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Decorating for Advent
We will begin decorating the church for the Advent season after worship next Sunday, December 4! Anyone willing to help is welcome to stay and lend a hand. |
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Disbursement
$250 to Feed My Sheep
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Hazelwood Angels
Thanks to everyone who participated through buying gifts for the Nursing Home Gift Lift. We were able to provide gifts for 51 nursing home residents who otherwise may not have received anything for Christmas. A true blessing!
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Thank you to all who donated non-perishable food items for Gratitude Sunday on November 20! 281 items were donated, and we are blessed to be able to share them with our neighbors in need this holiday season. Special thanks to Shirley Bookout, Cheryl McCoy, and Dick & Marcia Miller for delivering our donations to Christian Ministries!
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'Winnie's Kids' Calendars
Pick up a copy of the 2023 'Winnie's Kids' Calendar in Sulanke Commons after worship. The calendars are $20 each, and all proceeds go towards buying school uniforms for the kids at Shivembe primary school. These calendars make great gifts!
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A Note from the Muncie Mission
Dear Friend,
This Giving Tuesday, you can help TWICE as many Indiana neighbors who are struggling with the basics of life. Every gift in response to this email will be DOUBLED, up to $5,000, thanks to a generous anonymous donor!
We especially need your help to raise $80,000 for our new health clinic launched this fall. With 21.5% of Delaware County living in poverty, more than 24,000 of our neighbors are barely getting by. The rising cost of housing, gas and food is forcing people to decide, “Do I pay for a medical expense or do I fix my car? Do I feed my kids or take them to the doctor?” There just isn’t enough money to go around.
But good news is on the way. Our new FREE health clinic is now open! Anyone in need can receive essential health care and lab testing. Some medications are even provided for free. Would you support our new health clinic with a Giving Tuesday gift today?
Your gift will help offset the costs of the health clinic construction, supplies and daily operation. As you help us welcome neighbors into our health clinic, you’ll share God’s love this Christmas season — body, mind and soul!
Thank you for helping neighbors in need.
Frank Baldwin, President/CEO, Muncie Mission Ministries
Click HERE to double your donation to Muncie Mission Ministries.
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Congratulations to Esther Wolfe and Andy Vineberg upon their marriage on October 27th. They live and work in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Esther is the daughter of Ann Wolfe and George Wolfe.
Rev. Pamela is scheduled for her long-awaited spine surgery next Tuesday, November 29. Prayers are much appreciated.
Please keep Donna's Dye's granddaughter, Heather Kruger, in prayer as she continues treatments for MS.
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Prayers requested for these Hazelwood participants (alphabetical by last name):
- David Cartwright
- Jeff Clary
- Ruthanne Devroy
- Jeane Garrett
- Mariangella Glaze
- Lois Gross
- Louise Maley
- Marcia Miller
- Pat Patterson
- Jairen Rees
- Bill Ritchie
- Leah Ritchie
- Ron Smith
- Judy Thomas
- Mark Wages
- Molly Wantz
- Annie Yingst
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Bible Study
Weekly Bible Study (both in-person and on Zoom) continues today, November 23, at 10am in Cartwright Hall! Rev. Eric will be facilitating. We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark. This week we will be finishing chapter 1 and moving on to chapter 2. You may participate every week or as you are able; each week’s study will be independent from the others.
If you would like to participate via Zoom, click HERE to let us know.
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Pastor's Class/Sunday School
Our class (both in-person and on Zoom), resumes this Sunday, November 27, after worship in Cartwright Hall.
The class is engaging in a 6-week study by Richard Rohr titled, “Resurrection Now.” All are welcome, and you may attend any or all of the sessions.
If you would like to participate via Zoom, click HERE to receive the link.
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2022 Annual Congregational Meeting
The Annual Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday, November 20. The 2023 slate of officers was passed (click HERE to view the list of those serving in 2023). The budget for 2023 was also presented and passed. Click HERE to view Rev. Eric's Minister's Report, and HERE to view the 2022 Team Reports.
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Calendar
Wed., November 23: Bible Study, 10am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom; Praise Band Rehearsal, 11am, Sanctuary
Thurs. & Fri., November 24 & 25: Church Office Closed
Sun., November 27: Sunday School, After Worship, Cartwright Hall & Zoom
Wed., November 30: Bible Study, 10am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom; Bell Choir Rehearsal, 6:30pm, Choir Room; Choir Rehearsal, 7pm, Sanctuary
Thurs., December 1: Worship Team, 7pm, Zoom
Fri., December 2: Praise Band Rehearsal, 5pm, Sanctuary
Click HERE to see events further out on the calendar.
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The season of Advent marks the beginning of the new church year. The season is seen as a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child on Christmas Day. In the 12th century, Pope Innocent III systematized the use of colors for each season of the church. The traditional liturgical color for Advent is the color purple, the color of royalty.
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2023 Offering Envelopes
If you would like to receive 2023 Offering Envelopes, click HERE to fill out a Offering Envelope Request form.
Requested envelopes will be ready to pick up on December 11. |
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YTD Receipts through October 2022: $230,765.85
YTD Expenses through October 2022: $235,055.76
YTD Outreach Disbursements through October 2022: $49,500.63
New Church Development: $571.15
Easter Offering: $905
Reconciliation Offering: $1,282
Christian Ministries' Food Pantry: $189.56
Sleeping Room Project: $590
Winnie's Kids: $24,570
Week of Compassion: $2,456.16
Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee: $13,170
Sulanke Trust Outreach: $5,766.76
-Christian Ministries of Delaware County: $431.76
-A Better Way: $400
-YWCA: $400
-Second Harvest Food Bank: $400
-Motivate Our Minds: $400
-Children's Clothing Center: $400
-Muncie Mission: $1,635
-Habitat for Humanity: $400
-First Choice: $400
-Muncie Soup Kitchen: $400
-Special Olympics: $200
-Love Gift: $300
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To make a financial gift online via Givelify, click here:
https://giv.li/cv3bky
After you are in the Givelify site, to designate a gift to something other than the general fund, choose "Other" and then type in the message box to let us know to which fund you are donating.
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Please submit items for the newsletter by Monday at noon each week.
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Rev. Eric Brotheridge, Senior Minister
Stefanie Petty, Office Administrator
Rhea Morgan, Bookkeeper
Marianna Gill, Worship Coordinator
Lori Rhoden, Organist
Brooklyn Wolf, Youth Ministry Assistant
Angela Lopez, Director of Weekday Preschool and Extended Learning Center
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