This coming Sunday (January 27, 2018), I’ll be kicking off a new sermon series titled “Confirmation for Adults.” This being the first Sunday, I’m going to start with a sermon about the nature of the Triune God we worship. We’ll also have a piano special (at the 10:30 service) from Todd Gugler. Hope to see you there.

Jenny and I are happy to be back from the Orders and Fellowship Meeting in Kansas City. We’re gearing up for this Sunday (January 20, 2018) when I’ll be preaching about how Jesus turns water into wine in our everyday lives (my text is John 2:1-12). We hope to see you there.

We’re already well into Advent, but here’s the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Hymn Schedule for 2018-2019:

December 2, 2018 — First Sunday of Advent
202 People Look East
3047 God Almighty, We Are Waiting
211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vss 1-4)
196 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus

December 9, 2018 — Second Sunday of Advent
206 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
234 O Come, All Ye Faithful
211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vss 1, 5-6)
203 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

December 16, 2018 — Third Sunday of Advent
238 Angels We Have Heard on High
249 There’s a Song in the Air
2095 Star Child (Vss 1-4)
216 Lo, How a Rose Er Blooming

December 23, 2018 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
229 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
220 Angels From the Realms of Glory
198 My Soul Gives Glory to My God
219 What Child is This

December 24, 2017 — Christmas Eve
240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
246 Joy to the World
217 Away in a Manger
239 Silent Night

December 30, 2018 — First Sunday after Christmas Day
196 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus*
227 The Friendly Beasts
230 O Little Town of Bethlehem
221 In the Bleak Midwinter
3052 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
228 He is Born, the Holy Child
218 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
219 What Child is This*
251 Go Tell it on the Mountain

January 6, 2018 — Epiphany of the Lord
220 Angels From the Realms of Glory*
237 Sing We Now of Christmas, vss 1, 3, 4, 5
254 We Three Kings
245 The First Noel

*Indicates a repeat hymn.

We have a lot going on this coming Sunday (November 18, 2018). We’ll have two pieces of special music: one from the Ring Praise Youth Bell Choir and another from Jackson Welsh. We’ll also be welcoming John, Cecilia, and Joy Clemence into membership. I’m even excited about the sermon. I’ll be preaching on Mark 12:38-44.

In last Sunday’s Stewardship Moment, I referenced expensive golf clubs (I also referred the expense of one of my own hobbies). I was sorry to hear that someone felt that I was looking directly at them. If I was, I don’t remember doing so and didn’t intend to do so. I bring this up to make a more significant point. If there’s something that I think needs to be said to you individually, I’ll say it to you personally. As far as I can remember, I’ve never singled out an individual for criticism from the pulpit, and I believe that doing so would be an abuse of power. That said, it may sometimes be the case that something I say hits home for you. If so, I would encourage you to follow Christian tradition and blame that on attribute that to the Holy Spirit. In my life, the Spirit does that kind of thing on an annoyingly regular basis.

This coming Sunday (August 5, 2018), we’ll be celebrating Camp Sunday. We’ll have messages from our campers and we’re encouraging everyone to dress in camp gear (John and I will be wearing Camp Horizon t-shirts). If you prefer, you can observe our traditional “Fair Sunday” and come in western wear. (Either way, we know that this will be just another Sunday for some of you—and we’re fine with that.)