SUNDAY DECEMBER 16th from 11AM: Pastor Teresa preaches on REJOICE and RESTORATION! The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Guadete Sunday or Rose Sunday or “Rejoice Sunday.” Part of our preparation and anticipation of Advent is to REJOICE – yet we live in a world where it is often difficult to rejoice. However in that midst of that very same world, our Immanuel God is at the work of RESTORATION.

GREAT NEWS from the MS Youth!!!

We purchased the animals for the MS Bible Study kids tonight. After delivering 70+ dozen cookies they ended up with $870. They purchased a heifer, a llama, a pig, 3 rabbits, a flock of chicks (10-50 chicks), and some honeybees.

Heifer International will determine which families need these animals the most and disperse them accordingly. Many of their animals go to needy families in Africa and South America.

Thank you for all your support. The kids would appreciate it if you could add something to the bulletin sometime thanking everyone for their donations. We are now talking about our next project being some community service within Japan. Any ideas you may have we’d love to hear!

Thanks.

Julie & Kristi & the MS Youth

Socks and presents for Nozomi no Ie can be brought to church and placed under the Christmas Tree any Sunday, but please no later than December 16th. Please make sure that you securely tape the child`s name on the present.

December 16th at 3:30

We depart for Christmas Caroling. Please arrive at the Sacks driveway before so we can arrange carpools. After caroling at

Nozomi no Ie and Chouyou Gakuen we will gather at the Sacks home (on the Lutheran College Campus) for a simple soup and bread supper. If you need directions please contact the pastors at wtucrev@gmail.com

December 16th Worship, Pastor Teresa preaching.

December 23rd Worship, Pastor Susan preaching.

December 24th (Monday) Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6:30pm. The service will feature a “creche” of candles. Come and celebrate the Light born into this world.

December 30th Worship, Pastor Teresa preaching.

December 16 texts - Zephaniah New Revised Standard

3:14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

3:15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.

3:16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.

3:17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

3:18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

3:19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

3:20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Zephaniah The Message

3:14-15 So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel’s king, in charge at the center. There’s nothing to fear from evil ever again!

3:16-17 Jerusalem will be told: “Don’t be afraid. Dear Zion, don’t despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.

3:18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you. You’ve carried those burdens long enough. At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those who’ve made your life miserable. I’ll heal the maimed; I’ll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated. On Judgment Day I’ll bring you back home – a great family gathering! You’ll be famous and honored all over the world. You’ll see it with your own eyes— all those painful partings turned into reunions!”