Mark your calendars for this year’s Lutheran Youth Association (LYA) Convention, July 23-26, at Zion National Park, Utah.  The theme is “Out of Zion.” The convention will bring together Lutheran youth from all over the U.S., for worship, study, and recreation.

Talk to Pastor Hendrix for more information.

LYA 2020
Dates: July 23-26
Dixie State University, St. George, Utah
Registration opens February 1
Early Registration: $295 through May 1.  
Late registration $345 May 2 and on.

Highlights:
Exploring Zion National Park
Swimming in the Desert -OR- Evening entertainment at Tuacahn Amphitheater
Sectionals on a variety of Biblical topics

Wednesdays in Advent | 7:00pm – Advent Vespers. An evening service, focusing on prayer and catechesis, preceded by a meal at 6:00pm.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Vespers | 7:00pm – Dec. 24. An evening service of preparation for Christmas, with singing and prayer. This service is more reflective than Christmas morning and has historically been seen as the “warm-up” to the next morning’s service.
After the service, join us for hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows.

Christ’s Mass Divine Service | 9:00am Christmas Morning, Dec. 25. Don’t forget the Mass in Christmas. This is the main service for Christians, complete with the celebration of the incarnate Christ in Holy Communion. This is where Christ is born for us today.

First Sunday in Christmas | 9:00am, Dec. 29. There are 12 days of Christmas, and they begin on the 25th. There’s so much more to Christmas, and so we keep our eyes on the events which happened after Christ’s birth this Sunday.

Second Sunday in Christmas & Festival of the Epiphany| 9:00am, Jan. 5. Epiphany, the celebration of the wise men visiting the young boy Jesus, is always January 6, and with Sunday being so close this year, we will observe the Festival of the Epiphany for this morning’s service.

12th Day of Christmas Party | 5-8pm, Jan. 5. Join us for a party with wassail, drinks, treats, and singing as we celebrate the final night of Christmas. Held at the Parsonage. Contact Pastor for address.

Even among Christians the season of Advent seems to get skipped over.  Sometimes in our eagerness to defend against a so-called “culture war on Christmas” we do ourselves more harm than good, because we lose sight of the peace that Advent gives.

At Faith we began something last year, called “DIY Advent” to bring this peace of Advent back into our homes. It was a wonderful experience, and so we’re doing it again this year!

The Advent Wreath (typically 3 purple/violet candles and 1 pink/rose candle) was a tradition that originated in the home. Only in recent centuries did it find its way into churches.  And when the church took it in, like many other things, it came out of the home.  

With our kit, we hope to reverse that.  Here’s what our kit includes:

Advent Candles

Each of our kits includes 4 small candles as well as a simple wreath on which to put them. 

Custom Advent Devotional Book on the Song of Songs

A devotional book produced by our Pastor, Rev. Jeff Hendrix, as well as Rev. Michael Lilienthal from Albert Lea, MN, based on the Song of Songs. This year’s devotional is meant for couples, based on the “love song” of Scripture: Song of Songs.

The devotional book can be viewed online here

Advent Music Suggestions

Despite department stores playing the Christmas favorites immediately after Halloween, the Christmas season doesn’t start until the night of December 24 and lasts for 12 days.  The music of Advent is different than Christmas.  Some beautiful music has been all but forgotten.

And this shouldn’t be surprising, but so many of our Advent hymns are based on the Song of Songs. There’s a reason why it is called the Song of Songs!

You can find the listening suggestions here.

DIY Advent: Song of Songs

The Church pictures the coming of Christ to be like a groom coming to bring His bride to His home. We hear this in our Advent hymns – “The bridegroom soon will call us…”

It is this picture that the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) uses in beautiful imagery, with practical knowledge for all who are married, previously married, or who wish to be married.

This Advent, join us and be encouraged in your relationships to each other, as we learn of Christ’s marriage to His bride, the Church.

Wednesdays in Advent:
6:00pm | Advent Supper
7:00pm | Advent Vespers

Faith Lutheran Church, 143 Washington St., Oregon, WI