Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. (Psalm 143:8)

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 6:00 am you can find me with a cup of coffee and one cookie (it used to be two!), ready to spend some time alone with God. How this started, I no longer remember, but it has been going on for 30 years. The location has changed through the years; a favorite chair in the living room, a quiet spot on the patio in the summertime, sitting near the water or staring at the woods.

In 2020, I have had a need to be outdoors more and began taking daily walks in the early morning hours. Those walks have turned into prayer time. Sometimes, I just begin with overwhelming thankfulness for the beautiful morning, other times, I have real concerns for the problems of the day, with my family, my friends, my world around me.

Walking and talking with God is so calming. Sometimes, I just listen for His input and He reassures me that He is still in charge. Yes, sometimes, ideas and thoughts pop into my head on a new way to deal with the very concerns I shared with Him. I often say, “Was that you God?”

We are now in the Advent Season of the church year and daily walks depend on the temperatures, the direction and pace the wind is coming from, and safety of walking surfaces. I find myself, back in my favorite chair, with devotionals and my bible, connecting with God. We are preparing for Christmas in all the usual ways. Mornings are a great time to reflect on the season at hand and appreciate what it means to believe that a baby born in Bethlehem came to save us from the troubles of the world. He said, “Come to me with all your concerns” “I will be with you.” What a great time of the year it is!

Prayer: Lord, I anticipate the celebration of Your birth and I anticipate Your return. May I forever be in an “advent” frame of mind, excited about spending time with You. Amen.

Jan Zastrow
Small Group Leader

Thy word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalms 119:105)

Bike riding has always been something I’ve enjoyed doing. One of my favorite places to ride is on the Elroy Sparta bike trail in Wisconsin. It is one of the first trails to be made on an old railroad bed. The crushed limestone trail runs through small rural towns in Wisconsin. It is a beautiful scenic place to ride.

The trail is known for its three tunnels. There is a sign outside each tunnel telling you to walk your bike through the tunnel. Since you can see the light at the other end of the tunnel it seems like riding through wouldn’t be all that difficult. Most people can’t resist trying to ride through the tunnels.

At first it is easy but then you get to the middle of the tunnel where it is very dark. If you take your eyes off of the light at the end of the tunnel you run a very real risk of riding off the trail and crashing into the side of the tunnel. I speak from experience. The only way to ride through safely is to keep your eyes fixed on the pin point of light at the end of the tunnel and not on anything else.

I’ve often thought about how this applies to my faith walk. When I’m in the dark moments I can easily crash and burn when I focus on what I’m going through and not on God’s light. If I keep my focus on Jesus I can navigate through the difficult times.

Melody Maass
Pastoral Assistant

Trust in Him at all times, Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.  (Psalm 62:8)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. (Ephesians 4:32)

Throughout this pandemic, I have given all my concerns to God especially when my immediate family was affected by the coronavirus. Knowing that God is in charge makes me so much calmer and peaceful. During this Advent season, I will make an effort to focus on God’s truth, Jesus, others and eternity. I pray that my words and thoughts this Advent season will be pleasing to you dear Lord.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we ask you to grant us peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our churches, and peace in our hearts. Thank you for this Advent season and for loving us enough to send the greatest gift, JESUS. Help us to focus on You now and always. In Jesus’ name Amen

Kay Stone
New Life Ministry, Spiritual Care Leader

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and The Word WAS God. Through Him ALL things were made; without Him nothing was made… In Him was Life and that life was the Light of men…. Though the world was made through Him, the world did not know Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet, to all who RECEIVED Him, who BELIEVED in His name, He gave the right to become children of God… The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us! (John 1: 1,3-4, 10-12, 14)

Even in the midst of a pandemic, this year I have been blessed beyond belief! Due to extended mandatory quarantine I was able to join (via Zoom) an in depth, inductive bible study on the book of John that my sister leads in California! Reading, studying, and discussing God’s amazing Word line by line has had a life changing impact on my mind and heart, the depth of my faith, and my relationship with God!

Every chapter of John’s gospel is filled with God’s powerful message of salvation through Jesus. When we pause to deeply meditate on the above words from John they become truly miraculous! The Advent season is a special time to prepare our hearts and homes for the coming of our Lord. The incredible gift of Jesus is overwhelming and beyond our finite understanding! Jesus is the Light of the World, the Savior of the World, the Almighty, Eternal, Majestic Son of God; the Christ-Creator of the Universe, the Author and Source of All Life; Immanuel-God in Human flesh dwelling with us; The King of Kings-Sovereign over all nations and all of creation. And He left his Throne and left the Majesty and Glory of Heaven to be so humbled and confined by space and time; in a womb and a human body; and ultimately to a Scourging Post, a Roman Cross, and then a Tomb to save each of us from our sins! He willingly paid for every single one of our sins with His Perfect, Sinless, Precious blood!!

Christmas is so much more than a baby in a manger! Jesus is the most beautiful, valuable gift ever given. He is the only perfect gift ever given. This advent season, may we all “unwrap” this precious gift; and take it into the very depths of our heart, soul and spirit to worship and treasure both now and for all eternity!

Heavenly Father, this advent, this Christmas, and forever, please help us to humble ourselves, and completely surrender our hearts to you. Through your Holy Spirit help us to receive and value the gift of our Savior as never before, and become a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17); so we can be “the salt and light” (Matt.5:13,14) you call us to be, to glorify your Holy Name! Amen.

Sandy Sadowski

The Advent Season will have special meaning to me this year. I feel it should be a time of reflection on this past (not normal) year and hope looking forward into the New Year of Christ.

The last Advent started pretty normal and then the coronavirus came in March. It was overwhelming to think we would need to stay home, wear masks, not go to church, or visit friends and family. I kept reminding myself that this would pass and God was in control. I sure wasn’t prepared for the many months it has been going on.

It is very hard to watch friends and family pass away and not be able to attend their funerals or visit others hospitalized. We can call them, but not see them in person or get a hug from them. Also, I am missing the weddings, graduations and family gatherings canceled because of the virus. We have to continue to pray for those families that have lost loved ones. God’s blessings to all of them.

Enough about what we cannot do. This Advent Season, I will think about what I can do. God has blessed me with good health, my family and many friends. My family and friends keep in touch with me and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep me safe — shopping, yard work, cleaning.
Then there is my church family. Oh, how I miss all the church doings: Sunday worships, Young at Heart Luncheons, Bible Study, Cross Lutheran Church Meals, all the church gatherings. But Ascension is constantly figuring ways to keep us connected. I can call people and send cards and messages.

God is in control and he will get us over this pandemic in His time.

As we move into Advent and reflect and pray, let us praise God for taking us this far and prepare our hearts for that wonderful birth of Jesus when He came into the world to save us. We don’t deserve it, but He came to live among us and suffer more than any of us can imagine. Remember, God loves you and me.

Hugs to all of you.

Arlene Davis
Pastoral Assistant, Young at Heart Leader

I can think of multiple facets of my life that I’ve experienced God working or moving me.

I could tell you about my single days, not understanding what I was doing wrong or simply why a relationship failed, until I met my wife. I could tell you about my son being born seven weeks early and having 45-day NICU stay and God granting my wife and I strength and patience, and his medical team the knowledge to treat him appropriately.

Instead I will tell you about my journey to faith. I did not grow up in an overly religious household. My parents are divorced and neither attended church services regularly. I saw my dad just every other weekend. My dad spent a lot of time in the yard doing yard work or cleaning the house and grocery shopping. There wasn’t a lot of “quality” bonding time.

When I was in high school, my dad decided to start attending church. In order to simply spend more time with him, I asked him to wake me up so I could go with him one day. He looked at me, surprised. At first, I didn’t pay much attention or even really follow along.

When our pastor retired, we called a new pastor who was a bit younger, closer to my parents’ age. His sermons were relatable, he used movies and music and everyday things like that to tie his sermon together. Suddenly, he had my attention. Things started clicking and I started paying more and more attention. Eventually I went through confirmation classes.

You see, I didn’t know it at the time, but God used my desire to have a better relationship with my dad to develop a stronger relationship with Him. It took years for me to see this, as a matter of fact it took almost five years for me to realize this. It was when I was studying in college at a local Starbucks, when I met two local Christian bookstore owners, that helped me see these things.

God works when we don’t even realize it. Even writing this has given me the opportunity to reflect and appreciate His work when it easily gets lost or forgotten. Thanks be to God!

Jeffrey Froh
Council Member

Wait for the Lord; Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalms 27:14)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. (Luke 2:25)

Waiting is hard for me. My impatience often distracts me to issues over which I have no control. When I was young I could not wait for my birthday or Christmas to arrive. The anticipation and excitement for the party or celebration made it hard to concentrate on anything else.

Now I wait for the results of medical tests and procedures. I hope and pray the results will lead to treatment that deal successfully with the symptoms. Now it is not excitement, but worry and fear are the emotions I face. I tend to dwell on the bad possible outcomes and worry what those could mean for the future.

I find great comfort in prayer and scripture at times like these. I need to trust that the God who created me wants only the best for my life and the lives of those I love. I need to remember how God has answered my prayers in the past, not always the way I had hoped but in the end better than I thought possible.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to wait on your time for the struggles in my life. Let me focus on all the blessings you have given me during my life. Give me the knowledge that you will meet my needs in your time. I know you want the best for me and all your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jim Hahn, Pastoral Assistant

 

In our family, Advent is usually a time of extremes. A typical Advent season in our family is trying to shove as many things as possible into the three or four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Last December brought the following: 24 hours of music rehearsals, 12 performances, 150 students, teachers and parents to The Nutcracker, 450 hyped-up students, grading countless papers and assignments, mourning the loss of our last Grandparent, a four-year-old who finally “gets” Christmas (at least the Santa part), three get-togethers, Christmas dinner for the family, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ok, maybe not the last one, but you get the idea!

This December, our calendar is empty…and that’s ok (or at least we are trying to accept this as ok)! Are you like us? Are you feeling sorrow for the lack of things to do,  people to see, places to go, and concerts this season? Could there be a blessing of finding joy in the missing out? Is God granting us the “more time” we always ask for?

We are trying to focus our hearts and minds on where we can find peace and joy this Advent season. We have been forced to take a breath, to find peace and look forward to His coming.

How will you accept this lack of busyness to truly prepare for the birth of our Savior? Join us in the journey of Advent, and accept the beautiful gift of time and quiet God has given us.

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:44)

“I am looking for a savior I can see and know and touch, one who dwells within the midst of us. May a broken God be known within the earth beneath our feet, let our souls behold humility.” (From “Looking for a Savoir” by United Pursuit)

Scott & Sheri Greger, Choir, CRASH volunteers

 

We all find ourselves in a different world these past few months. Some days it’s hard to remember our “normal” life. But even in our normal lives, we’ve also experienced the joys and sorrows of our everyday life. We, as Christians, all wait for the promise of God, for eternal life and being welcomed into God’s kingdom. God’s promise to all believers is that we will endure the trials of this world. And with faith in God, we will see His promise through these days.

My own personal journey through this life has brought me through many trials and tribulations. I take comfort in favorite Bible passages.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5:)

I [Jesus] have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

So how do we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus into our world during Advent, especially during this pandemic?

Pray. This may seem obvious, or even trite, but it’s vital. Also, pray specifically. Examine yourself to see where your anxieties are coming from. What exactly are you most afraid of? Pray specifically about that. Not just asking God to end the trial, but to accomplish his good and perfect will in and through it, both in your life and in your nation and around the world.

Read his Word. Get into all of God’s Word for yourself. See how he has been faithful all throughout history. God is good, he is kind, he is faithful, he will never forsake us, he is completing his good plan.

Listen to worship music. Turn off the news. Shut off social media. Turn on some worship music (maybe listen to some of the old hymns). A new favorite hymn that brings me hope is “He Never Failed Me Yet.” Here’s a link to that hymn for you to enjoy.

Talk to a Christian friend. Pick up the phone and call or video chat a trusted Christian friend.

Look back. Take time to review your life and recall how God has been faithful to you in the past. He was faithful then; he will be faithful again. If you’ve kept a prayer or regular journal, flip through it and see how God has answered your prayers.

Linda Elder

Knit Wit, Choir

 

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….” (Isaiah 9:2, 6)

Maybe Advent is the right time, if there ever was such a thing, for a pandemic. A time of darkness and challenge, a time of anticipation and hope, a time of waiting and longing for the Light of the World to come and save us.

After months of caution and quarantining, this year I find myself craving the familiar annual events that are usually too much for me — neighborhood parties, Christmas parades, awkward family gatherings and, surprise, surprise, even the frenetic shopping.

Instead of those people-based activities and knowing gathering together is too much of a risk for the people I love, I’m hoping to exhaust myself in the outdoors, despite the cold and the dark. Walks in Minooka Park, a habit we started this fall; fires in the yard; raking and physically taxing yard work. Maybe even skiing, if we get snow before Christmas and I feel like a challenge. Lord knows, I’ve tried and failed at skiing before.

But I’m mostly looking forward to the times in my house, in hearth and home: quiet meals with just my family, puzzles at the dining room table, and warm fires in the fireplace. And fires outdoors with my neighbors and close friends. But not too close, please, keep six feet and bring your own beverages.

So as the days get shorter, let’s remember to hold on to who and what we can this Advent. Hug that snarly teen. Pet the stinky old dog. Embrace the cold and dark weather. Find a challenge — maybe tackle a long-forgotten closet for cleaning. Wait out the quarantine, knowing you’re keeping others safe.

And watch closely like you’d watch a candle burning in the dark. Watch for the flickering and flares, the moments that remind us of God’s love — the sunrises and sunsets, the glistening rain or glittering snow, the warmth of a friend’s word, whether in person, by Zoom or phone, savor the moments of connection with people however they come.

Watch the warm flames wherever you find them and know brighter days are ahead — the coming of the Messiah, the coming of more sunlight, the coming of a vaccine and maybe, if we’re careful in what we do, an abatement in the pandemic. We wait for all these things, patiently or impatiently doesn’t matter now. We wait, too often alone — in the dark, in the quarantines, in our houses, in the hospitals, at our computer — for the birth of the promised one, Emmanuel, God with us.

Hold on to the hope Advent and the coming of Christ offers us during this dark time. Stay safe. Stay centered in your home and hearth. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Reach out if you need help. Friends are only a phone call away and Christ is coming. Stay safe to see a New Year and better times.

Amy Gilgenbach
Director of Administration