ST

John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote a very popular song back in 1971. It’s called “Happy Christmas (War is over)”. It starts with a question: “So this is Christmas and what have you done?”

Chances are you have thought ahead about what to do on Christmas, where to go, with whom to spend, what to buy, what to cook, what to wear, which gift to give...What do you think: do people pay more attention and tributes to Santa Claus or to Jesus, the Christ? How about in your own family? Where is our focus and “worship”?

Every year it’s the same with me. When I walk in a mall at Christmas time, and all the shoppers are exposed to “holidays” music 24/7, I pay attention to the content of the songs that are going into the people’s ears, heads and sometimes hearts even if thousands of those frantic and busy shoppers couldn’t care less. There are always the two main categories for Christmas songs: secular and the real Christmas message about Jesus the Christ, where the word “Christmas” comes from. I confess that I enjoy some of the secular ones: they can carry a beautiful tune and a warm feeling of a cozy winter with “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” or beside a fireplace (if you got one) with a fine glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate in the company of family and friends. But when I hear one of those beautiful Christmas songs (the real Christmas) in the malls and shops, I sometimes say a silent thank-you prayer. After all, they are heard in the entire mall and we all know how powerful the Gospel message can be when accompanied by uplifting music.

When Jesus was born, angelic messengers broke the still calm of a Judean night to sing joyously and proclaim: “This very day in David’s city a Saviour is born for you – God’s promised One, your Lord.” Glad tidings of great joy! Common shepherds were the first heralds of the promised Saviour’s arrival then, and today the joy in Jesus’ birth fills every corner of this season. The message still gets out there, after two thousand years! Oh yes, it’s all about that Jesus, the “reason for the season”!

We have to admit that sometimes our seasonal “busyness” and the commercial aspect of the celebrations in this part of the world seem to overtake the angels’ song and the shepherds’ joyous news. But such a majestic message of God’s salvation cannot be silenced. Some people may want to shush you when you talk and sing about the incarnate God, just as there were those who would later attempt to silence Jesus and his message of God’s remarkable, revolutionary mercy, even to the point of crucifixion.

We won’t bother with that because there will always be opposition to Christ. Come, my friend, let go of your inhibitions, join the angles in singing and the shepherds in exulting with unashamed joy: Jesus the Saviour is born!

“Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy.” “See, your salvation comes”. Isaiah 52.8; 62.11

As the spiritual father of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, but also your brother in Christ, I do hope to see you in all our Advent and Christmas celebrations! May God bless your family this Christmas and give you the true joy of having the true focus this year!

ADVENT: Der Herr kommt in Sanftmut und Demut, um uns zu retten

Der Herr Jesus zieht demütig in Jerusalem ein und reitet auf einem Esel (Matthaeus 21,5), wie er selbst die Sünden der Welt in seinem Körper trägt. Jetzt kommt er durch das Ministerium des Evangeliums, um uns von Sünde, Tod, Teufel und Hölle zu retten. Deshalb singen wir, "Gelobt sei der da kommt im Namen des Herrn!" (Mt 21:9). Denn wir sind aufgerufen, "den Berg des HERRN zu gehen, zum Hause des Gottes Jakobs," seine heilige Kirche ", dass er uns lehre seine Wege und wir auf seinen Pfaden wandeln" (Jes 2,3) . Durch sein Wort wandeln wir "in das Licht des Herrn zu ". (Jes 2:5) Das bedeutet in Liebe zu leben, "denn Liebe tut dem Nächsten nichts Böses (Röm 13:10). Wir "legen die Werke der Finsternis ab und legen die Waffen des Lichts an weil unser Heil jetzt näher ist, da wir gläubig wurden“. (Röm 13:11, 12). Daher ist das ganze christliche Leben eine Zeit, aufzuwachen und zu sehen, "denn du weißt nicht, an welchem Tag euer Herr kommt" (Mt 24:42).

Advent – a time for preparation for the coming of Christ, both his coming in the incarnation at Christmas and for his second coming at the end of the world as King and Judge.

First, the most obvious is the colour. Purple, marking Advent as a more penitential season.

Second, the Advent wreath with four candles. Each Sunday a candle is lit, followed by one more each Sunday until all of them are lit at the end of the four weeks in Advent. This symbolizes “the age before the coming of Christ, when the light of prophecy concerning the Messiah became brighter and brighter till He Himself came and said, 'I am the light of the world.'”

The banners and look of the altar all reflect this time of preparation in our church before we break out with “tidings of great joy” on Christmas morn!

Excepts from 'The Altar Guild Manual, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo.

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Lutheran elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. One teacher made a note and posted on the apple tray: Take only ONE. God is watching.

At the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a similar note: Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

Es gibt viele Leute, die Jesus Christus aus dem Weihnachten einfach ausradieren wollen. Schließlich gibt es Weihnachten nur dafür, um der Wirtschaft ein gutes Jahresende zu bieten. Es gibt “Holiday Bäume”, und “Season’s Greetings”. Manche Geschäftsleiter, verbieten dem Verkaufspersonal, “Merry Christmas” zu wünschen. Ich fange damit rechtzeitig an. Ich wünsche schon spät November jedem Geschäftspersonal den ich begegne, Frohe Weihnachten. Wenn es nur um Geschenke und Geld ginge, wie erklärt man dann die Menschenfreundlichkeit und Barmherzigkeit die sich zu dieser Jahreszeit bei vielen Leuten steigert? Während manche sich den Kopf über das beste, oder sogar teuereste Geschenk zerbrechen, haben manche kein zu Hause, oder nichts zu essen. Wichtig ist, das wir bewußt sind, was Weihnachten eigentlich bedeutet. Die Wirtschaft und Geschäftsleute sollten sich das gut überlegen, ob das auf die Dauer ginge, ein Weihnachten ohne Jesus Christus. Ohne Geschichte geht nichts weiter. Wenn man Weihnachten zum kaufen reduziert, macht es bald kein Spaß mehr. Wenn man aber jemanden ein Geschenk machen will, weil die Weihnachtszeit eine Gelgenheit ist, einfach vom Herzen zu geben, besonders an die die wenig haben, dann haben auch die Geschäftsleute auf die Dauer etwas davon.

Ein Thema über das unser Pastor Zeuch letztlich gepredigt hat, war wie wichtig es ist, unsere Talente, unsere Gottesgaben, einfach zu benutzen. Weiterzugeben. Für irgendjemanden nützlich zu machen. Ein besseres Geschenk kann es eigentlich nicht geben. Zeit, Wissen, Kenntnis, alles wird gebraucht, um die Welt zu verbessern, um anderen Leuten den Weg durch das Leben ein bisschen zu erleichtern. Es ist wirklich selbstsüchtig, diese Gaben für uns selbst zu behalten. Wir alle brauchen ab und zu Hilfe, die Gaben Anderer. Weihnachten stellt diese Pflicht scharf ein. Weihnachten macht die Herzen sanfter. Und dann, ja, dann müßten wir es ausüben, dieses Gefühl über das ganze Jahr mitzutragen; diese Pflicht über das ganze Jahr auszuüben.

Also, genießt die Weihnachtszeit. Den Stollen, die wunderschöne Weihnachtsmusik, den Christbaum, die Geschenke, die Zeit mit Familie und Freunde, das viele Gebäck und das gute Essen. Aber auch das gute Gefühl, die die Weihnachtszeit bringt. Dieses Gefühl kommt nicht vom Einkaufen, sondern ist auch Gottesgaben, und wir sind verpflichtet, es auszubreiten, Anderen es zu leihen (man kann es nämlich nicht weg geben). In Jesus Christus, wünsche ich euch alle ein wunderschönes Weihnachtsfest, ein gesundes und glückliches neues Jahr, und Gottes Segen.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10, 22-23

The Advent and Christmas seasons are soon upon us. Where has this year gone? The last of the garden tomatoes were taken down to the Mustard Seed. We had a very good year for tomatoes because we were blessed with a warm fall. Overall, the garden produced extremely well. Thanks to all who helped with the garden.

One of our youth attended the youth conference at Foothills Lutheran Church this past weekend. I hope you had a great time participating in the event.

The really big news for us is we are getting a new Sunday school material for our children. This group of children have been through the program and we had started to repeat lessons. Starting with Advent we will have new material. The program was picked out by Judy and Pastor. Thank you both for doing the research for the new material.

I hope many of you will prayerfully consider getting a Lutheran Study Bible if you don’t have one. There is a sale on so it’s a great time to buy. That way you will be all set as we start to read the bible from start to finish over the next two years.

We will be practicing a couple of hymns with the children to share during the Christmas season. Feel free to practice singing with your kids – they will love it.

Have a joyful Christmas time with your family and friends and come share some time with us during one of the many services offered.

This one is from Austria from Renate Schulz: “a recipe that my grandmother and mother always made & so does my daughter and I each year.”

"Vanillekipferln" (Vanilla Crescents)

200g Unsalted butter
200g Flour
120g Sugar
100g Fine ground hazelnuts
1pkg. Vanilla sugar
1 Egg white

Cut butter into flour and add sugar, hazelnuts, vanilla sugar and egg white.
Mix together and shape into a ball, put into the fridge for 1 - 2 hours.
Divide dough into 4 parts and shape on a flat surface into a long roll @ 1.1/2" thick.
Cut off 1.2 inch slices and roll between hands and shape into a crescent.
Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees 12 - 16 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges.

ICING:
150 -200 gram sifted Icing sugar
2 - 3 packages of Vanilla sugar

Mix icing sugar and vanilla sugar together. Cool cookies on rack, after place them
face down in the icing sugar to coat, turn and remove. Store in air tight container.

Enjoy - "Merry Christmas."

Courtesy of Gordon and Marilyn Lemke, from Ruth Lemke’s “Home Economics” school book.

Mix as Dark cake and bake at 300 degrees for 3 – 3 ½ hours.

Swedish Christmas Pudding and Raspberry Sauce

1 tbsp Gelatin
½ cup Water
5 Egg Yolks
¾ cup Sugar
1 cup Whipping Cream
¼ cup White Rum

Soften gelatin in cold water. Beat egg yolks until light. Add sugar gradually.
Bring dissolved gelatin to a boil over medium heat. Stir into egg and sugar
mixture. Chill until mixture begins to thicken. Fold in cream (whipped) and rum.
Pour into oiled mold. Chill until firm. Serve with:

Raspberry Sauce

Thaw package of raspberries. Bring to boil for 5 minutes. Strain and thicken
with 1 Tbsp. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbsp. water.

Delicious!
Submitted by Irene Hergert – Her Mom’s recipe

Liebe Weihnachtsfreunde!

Advent und Weihnachten bringt auch immer ganz besondere Gerüche und Lekereien zum Essen und Trinken, und sei es auch noch so einfach wie damals eine Apfelsine oder ein Zuckerbrot, woran sich Kinder und die Familie labten. Ich habe zwei Rezepte gefunden die ich hier mitteile, aus Dresden, wo berühmte Stollen herkommen und aus dem Schwarzwald, dies Schöne “Schlaraffenland”. So haben wir hier einen Dresdner Christstollen:

Zutaten für zwei Stück

500 g Rosinen

200 g Orangeat

100 g Zitronat

150 g Mandeln (gehackt)

70 ml Rum

600 g Mehl (Type 550)

und Mehl zum Bearbeiten

1 1/2 Würfel Hefe (60 g)

250 ml Milch

25 g Zucker

2 Eigelb (Größe M)

2 gestr. TL Salz

1/2 TL Lebkuchengewürz

200 g Marzipanrohmasse

300 g Butter

150 g Puderzucker

1 Vanillezucker

Zubereitung:

Am Vortag Rosinen, Orangeat, Zitronat, Mandeln, Rum und 100 ml Wasser verrühren, zugedeckt bei Zimmertemperatur durchziehen lassen.

Am nächsten Tag für den Hefevorteig 300 g Mehl in eine Schüssel geben, in die Mitte eine Mulde drücken. Die Hefe mit 150 ml kalter Milch und Zucker verrühren, zum

Mehl geben und zu einem festen Vorteig kneten. Zugedeckt an einem nicht zu warmen Ort gehen lassen, bis sich sein Volumen verdoppelt hat.

Den Vorteig mit restlichem Mehl, restlicher Milch, Eigelb, Salz und Lebkuchengewürz mit den Knethaken der Küchenmaschine auf langsamer Stufe verkneten.

Marzipan zerbröckeln und nach und nach dazugeben, bis es ganz untergearbeitet ist. 200 g Butter in Stückchen dazugeben und unterarbeiten; der Teig darf dabei nicht warm werden. Die Früchtemischung unter den Hefeteig kneten, Teig zugedeckt 20 Minuten gehen lassen. Den Teig auf einer bemehlten Arbeitsfläche zu einem Rechteck formen, nicht kneten. Zuerst die Längsseite ein schlagen, dann die Breitseiten. Teig weitere 20 Minuten zugedeckt gehen lassen. Den Teig halbieren. Jede Teighälfte zu einem Rechteck von 30x20 cm formen. Mit der Kuchenrolle von der Längsseite des Teigs eine Hälfte leicht flach rollen, mit den Händen eine Kerbe in die Teigmitte drücken. Das flachgerollte Teigstück überklappen, so dass die typische Stollenform entsteht. Die zweite Teighälfte ebenso formen. Stollen 10 Minuten ruhen lassen. Die Stollen auf doppelt gefaltetes Backpapier setzen und im vorgeheizten Backofen bei 200 Grad (Gas 3, Umluft 160 Grad) auf der 2. Einschubleiste von unten erst 45 Minuten, dann bei 175 Grad (Gas 2, Umluft 150 Grad) weitere 15 Minuten backen. Die Stollen noch heiß mit der restlichen, zerlassenen Butter bepinseln. Den Puderzucker mit Vanillezucker mischen und über die Stollen streuen. Die Stollen vor dem Anschneiden am besten 2 Wochen ruhen lassen.

So entsteht die typische Stollenform:

Den Teig von der Mitte aus mit der Kuchenrolle etwas flachrollen. Mit der Handkante eine kleine Kerbe in die Mitte des Teigs drücken. Den flachgerollten Teig überklappen und etwas andrücken.

Und dazu den Schwarzwald-Kaffee:

In 4 feuerfeste Gläser je: 2 cl Kirschwasser (wenn nicht vorhanden, dann einen anderen “Schnaps” oder Rum nehmen) geben und darauf 3/4 l heißen Kaffee verteilen. Je 1 Esslöffel braunen Zucker gut darin auflösen. Über den Rücken eines Esslöffels vorsichtig leicht geschlagene Sahne auf den Kaffee laufen lassen - sie soll auf der Oberfläche schwimmen. Getränk durch die Sahne schlürfen.

Guten Appetit und eine fröhliche, gesegnete Weihnachtszeit, wünscht Ihr,

Dr. Manfred Zeuch

Gefunden in: www.weihnachtsbaeckerei.com und www.kochbar.de.

Every time a bell rings

It’s Christmas time again. Where on earth does the time go? To me, the year always feels like it begins the day after Labour Day. My summers are light, work-wise, and in September things really get going again. There is some relief that the nights are cooling a bit, making it easier to sleep, and, to me at least, it feels great to get back into a routine again after the sluggishness of summer. But the year really begins now, doesn’t it? If we align our clocks to the church calendar, then Advent is the first day of a new year. A time to maybe get it right this time around! No time of year is quite so fraught with powerful feelings, heartache, longing, hope, frustration, despairing; with disappointment and unrealistic expectations; but also with feelings of joy and fullness. What other event can bring so much to the ordinary human being? If we focused solely on the real meaning of Christmas, the hectic madness that surrounds this time of year would simply fall away. We would realize what matters at this time of year: giving. Giving of our talents, our gifts, our money, our time, our energy. Actually, this is important at any time of year, but as Pastor Zeuch reminded us one Sunday recently, we don’t tally all those gifts we give away; we don’t seek praise or pats on the back for them. It’s just something we do.

Nobody embodies the spirit of giving selflessly quite as well as George Bailey. In It’s a Wonderful Life, George gives up all his dreams -- of travelling, of seeing the world, of becoming an engineer and building bridges and skyscrapers -- to stay home and tend the Bailey Building & Loan, an institution which is always in the red, but manages to keep the roofs over the heads of many families through difficult years of depression and unemployment. His nemesis, Mr. Potter, who seeks to undo him, nearly succeeds, but in the end, George is given the gift of really seeing what richness and happiness he’s brought to people in his life, something he’d been sadly unaware of. Only when confronted with life without his giving and generous self, did George understand that he had everything to live for, and rejoice over. And little Zuzu, on his arm by the Christmas tree, hears the bell ringing in the tree, and says, “Look Daddy, teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” In the end, even the guardian angel Clarence gets a gift from George.

We give because it is our duty to do so. And this time of year, along with everything else it brings, is also an excellent time for reflection, for one does cast an eye back over the year gone by, and ask, have I done enough?

Enjoy the warmth of family, friends, the beautiful music, the traditions, and yes, even Christmas shopping. But try to keep things in perspective. Have a wonderful, merry Christmas and a blessed, healthy, happy new Year full of joys, old and new, to celebrate.

Submitted by Claudia Tiefisher

ANNIVERSARIES

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:22, 25-25, 28a

Dec 2 John and Brigitte Wickner 50 yrs

Dec 3 Adolf and Gertrud Klaus 57 yrs

Dec 10 Henry and Olga Fink 57 yrs

Dec 11 Alfred and Edith Jakob 46 yrs

Dec 12 Helmut and Elizabeth Tiede 58 yrs

Dec 23 Markus and Thais Zeuch 12 yrs

2012

Jan 4 Robert and Erika Somerville 26 yrs

Jan 18 Heinrich and Anna Buesing 65 yrs

Feb 15 Franz and Martha Osterling 54 yrs

Thank You!

I would like to thank Marilyn Lemke and Irene Hergert for helping in the office during my vacation time, and to Frieda Wahl for helping with folding the bulletins. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

Andrea Sovary

Office Secretary

Love Thy Neighbour!

Well, okay you say, I can do that. Wait a minute. Do you know your neighbour? Do you know if they are in need of someone to talk to? Do they have an empty kitchen cupboard? Do they have children who don't have warm clothes? Do they just need a smile and a friend? Maybe you have never had a day with these concerns. You are fortunate! I've been there with needs mentioned above. But who came along? My Christian friends who took the time to help, gave me their time with a smile and a prayer. And helped me get through some difficult times.

Where am I going with this? Very simply. We have some good opportunities right here at St. Matthew to help our neighbour! I mean our pew neighbour as well as our next door neighbour.

I would like you to prayerfully consider doing one of the following.

Join our “prayer chain.” What a simple gift of time for someone in need.
Pick up the phone and call someone you haven't seen in our pew lately. Let them know they are missed.
Bring some canned goods to our church for the Women's Centre in Bridgeland.
Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the families who will come to the Women's Centre who do not have the means to buy for Christmas.
Bring mitts, hats and gloves for the women and children who come to the Women's Centre.
During Advent invite a neighbour to come and worship with us during this time of preparation of the coming of our Lord.
Turn to a visitor to our church and greet them with a warm smile.

“but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering

service with a good will as to the Lord.” (Eph. 6:6)

In Christ's Service,

Lorraine Duncan

Evangelism

Fellowship and PR

September was the first coffee hour, after our summer break, and thanks to my Mom, Hildegard Feist, for her baking, not a crumb was leftover. If you are able to provide baked items for our coffee hours it is greatly appreciated, a notice will be put in the bulletin and you can contact Andrea at the office or myself. We did not have a coffee hour in October but enjoyed a dinner together instead and for November we will be getting together for our Congregational Meeting.

Oktoberfest 2011 - Was a great success with lots of yummy dishes brought to be shared, the basement was full and everyone seemed to enjoy the opportunity to spend time with others in our Congregation. Remember to share some of those and other wonderful recipes you may have for our 100^th Anniversary Cookbook.

Thanks to Vi and Warren Ohlhauser for donating and preparing the very tasty sauerkraut, another thanks to Annette Fiolka, Ernie and Renate Schulz, Margrit Owen, Andrea and Eugene Sovary for all their help preparing food, setting up and cleanup, don’t know what I would do without you folks.

Submitted by Ingrid Anderson

CHURCH HUMOR:

Things you don't often hear in Church.

"Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew!"

"I was so enthralled I never even noticed your sermon went 25 minutes overtime."

"Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf."

"I'll volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class."

"I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before."

"Since we're all here, let's start the service early!"

"Pastor, we'd like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas."

BIBLE 101

Did you know that 60% of Americans can’t name even five of the ten commandments? Biblical literacy is a pressing issue in the Church today. In fact, polling data consistently confirms a stunning drop in understanding of basic Bible concepts among Christians. Bible 101 is a new web based product from Concordia Publishing House that helps to increase biblical literacy in adults. This easy, cost efficient, and educationally appropriate online course is ideal for the adult learner. Participants start out by learning essential Bible basics and progress to more in-depth analysis and study of Bible books. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more! Visit the CPH website: http://bible101course.com/index.php

St. Matthew Lutheran Church

66-7^th Street NE

Calgary, AB T2E 4B7

Rev. Markus Zeuch, Pastor

hone: 403-266-1458

Fax: 403-266-1608

E-mail:

Website:www.stmatthewlutherancalgary.com

Services:

German service 9:30 am

English service 11:00 am

English bible study: Fourth Wednesday of the month 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm

German bible study: The first Wednesday of the month 1:00 pm

Pastor Zeuch is leading a Lutheran service at Aspen Lodge on the second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am.

We’re on the web: www.stmatthewlutherancalgary.com