“Images of Nativity Story in Paintings” Online Recording Betsy Solomon, Shepherdʼs Center of Webster-Kirkwood

Fra Filippo Lippi Annuncation c. 1443

Go to Shepherdʼs Center website at https://shepherdscenter-wk.org/blog/. Scroll down to “Online Class Recordings” to “Images of Nativity Story in Paintings.” This will take you to a YouTube link to the recording of this class.

Enjoyed this online class? If you desire to make a donation in support of the Shepherdʼs Center, go back to https://shepherdscenter-wk.org/blog/ for information on how to do this or mail to the Shepherdʼs Center Webster-Kirkwood, 1320 W. Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63122.

Communion ServicesIf you have not been attending in-person worship and would like to receive Holy Communion, we invite you to join us for a brief, socially distanced Communion service on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 4pm. “Christmas Angel” for Mission Gate for 2020Mission Gate is requesting Christmas gifts for their “Christmas Angel” outreach for children with incarcerated parents.

One option is to purchase gift(s) online and mail items directly to Mission Gate, or deliver gifts yourself to Mission Gate, 804 Berquist Dr., Ballwin, Mo., 63011. Another option is purchasing gift cards for Walmart, Target, etc. These can be sent to Mission Gate Ministry at PO Box 6644, Chesterfield, MO 63006.

Gifts can be for newborn to 16 year-old boy or girl. Need ideas? Call Janel Burch at (314) 705-4747.

Days and hours for drop off at Mission Gate:Monday-Friday 9am-3pm. Items can be placed on the front porchIf you have questions about drop off, call Reyna Colson (636) 391-8560 at the office.

Deadline for receiving gifts is this Friday, December 11th

End of Year Worship Schedule-Weekday Advent Services: Pre-recorded, can be found on the worship page on the website and via email-Christmas Eve: Pre-recorded. In Concordia Center and Sanctuary- 3pm, 5pm, 7pm. Concordia Center only- 10pm. -Christmas Day: 10am-No New Years Eve Service

Prayers of the ChurchWeek of December 7

Prayer of Thanksgiving: As we light the candle of Love on the Advent wreath, let us remember the love that God has for us…”For this is how God loved the world; He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Baptism: Jackson Brandon Weisenborn (12/12)

Youth celebrating their Baptismal Birthdays this week: Levi Mohnke, Owen Prange, Ava Aschinger, Marco Pieske, Paige Burgdorf

Adults celebrating their Birthdays this week: Logan Stoppel, Nathan Rauh, Jill Pampel, Greg Lottes, Jim King, Cindy Nichols, Janet Gerding, Virginia Zimmermann, Bob Schmidt, Leah McGuire, Tim Dalton, Daniel Henrichs, Beth Kiessling, Amy Meyers, Mary Ann Kohut, Michelle Graf, Macey Jett, Bob Gill, Taylor Kirchwehm, Justin Freeman, Melissa Kurtz, Verneil Lloyd, Joe Hennekes, Angie Janes

Members and friends of Concordia with medical concerns…

Tim Ema Janet Gerdingʼs mother Dave and Marie Gravattʼs son, Tim Irene Hartmann Norma Hollmann Anita Kreienkampʼs sister, Marjorie Rosenkotter Hilde McAllister Julie McCormick Marjorie Moore Pegi and Norm Nardoni Cindy Nicholsʼ son, Eric Lori Reinert Sharon Rose

Alice Trebus Lori Voges Barbara Warnekeʼs sister, Shari Christi Wells Ann Yemm We also pray: For all our first responders, doctors, nurses and all of those who work in nursing homes and hospitals who are working on the frontline of the pandemic…

For all of those who are affected by the Coronavirus and those caring for them throughout the world...

Sympathy: For Amy Krueger and family upon the death of her sister, Carolyn Matthews (12/3)

For Irene Hartmann and family upon the death of her husband, John (12/4)

For Greg Filley and family upon the death of his wife, Max (12/3)

For family and friends upon the death of Gloria Rolfing Koestering (11/29)

For Jennifer Hoskins and family upon the death of her grandmother, Lucy Fowler

For Ruth Kirchhoff and family upon the death of her sister, Johanna Cormier (11/21)

For all those who serve in the military in the combat zone, and their families… Lindsay Barnes, Cynthia Camp, Erik Carlson, Pete Carlson, Andrew Detmers, Elizabeth Hays, Owen Ray, Julie Ritz, Michael Smith

For all who serve in the military not in the combat zone, first responders, and their families… Brendan Kunderas, Tom Saeger, Tom Watson

Weekly DevotionWhere is God in our Uncertainty? Romans 8:38-39

“38 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from Godʼs love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from Godʼs love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Uncertainty is real. We face it every day. When will the pandemic end? When will vaccines be available? Who will get the vaccines first? Will people return to church after the pandemic? Is my job secure? Will my family be okay? Will I remain healthy? How will I ever walk through my grief? How will our nation do with a new president? We live in the midst of so much uncertainty every single day.

Some have said that the only certainties in life are death and paying taxes. Really? While death and taxes are certain, to live our entire lives based on that foundation would be bleak and joyless. Instead, on this third week in Advent we rejoice (the pink candle on the Advent wreath reminds us), because although our lives are fraught with so much uncertainty, the certainty of

Godʼs love for us in Jesus remains unmoved. Godʼs love was born into the world in Jesus, and he will return when the time is right. When your entire life is built on the foundation of Godʼs love for you in Christ, you have the only certain way to navigate through these uncertain times.

Thereʼs not much about which we can be certain. But we can be certain of this: “Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-Pastor Bongard