December 13, 2011
 
From Pastor Wahhab

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. –Matthew 6:19-21

In our Bible Study class Sunday evening, we were exploring the question of who are the excluded ones in today’s society. We discussed how caring for elders with needs is typically no longer a family responsibility. Instead, these elders are often isolated in communities, whether nursing homes or adult family homes or assisted living facilities, and in many cases they experience loneliness and a sense of lack of worth.

When I was a boy, it was expected that in a family, the husband would earn the money and the wife would care for the people’s needs and care for the home. It was not uncommon that women would also do volunteer work, whether in a hospital or for the Red Cross or some other charity.

Today, the norm is that both partners in a couple will have jobs. The result is that the caring activities of life have largely been turned into paid positions, from elder care to child care to counseling and teaching and food preparation.

Now there are certainly positive aspects to these changes. Many women are able to develop skills, find fulfillment through work, and have economic freedom that was largely lacking in the old model. But I feel that there are real downsides, as well. It seems our culture has significantly devalued the value of caring and is more focused on economics.  As a result, Wall Street financiers are paid fortunes, while child care and senior care workers are among our lowest-paid professions.

We had lots less stuff when I was a child. We had only one telephone, one black-and-white TV, few kitchen appliances and not a lot of clothing. We didn’t get much for Christmas—a toy, a new shirt, perhaps a coloring book and some crayons, and some marbles. But I haven’t found that having lots more stuff makes me happier.

It’s a challenge now to recover the focus on caring while still fulfilling our work responsibilities, but I think it’s what Jesus calls us to. We need to earn enough to live, but to let money be secondary to caring, work be secondary to love, our tasks be secondary to family and community, would not only enrich the lives of those around us, but our own, as well. Kay still needs to remind me, sometimes, “Relationship before task,” but I am a willing learner. We want Christmas to be a magical time for the children in our lives, but the real magic is not in the things they unwrap on Christmas morning, but in the caring, the love, the singing, the stories, the shared adventures and rituals and the attention and listening we bring them. We remember whose birthday we are celebrating, and the message that he brought us.

Glad to be your pastor,
Wahhab
  
Sunday, 12/18: Lighting the Advent Candle of Love. 
·       This Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent.  Our time of waiting is almost over.  Please join us as Shelly, Erin, and Sarah light the candle of Love.
·        The Men’s Chorus will be singing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and you (men only please) are invited to add your voice to this traditional and well-loved hymn.   Rehearsal is at 9:15.  The Chancel Choir will begin their rehearsal at 9:45 for their Christmas Eve Hymn.
·       100% of the Disciples Mission Fund Christmas Offering stays here in our Region and funds the Regional Ministries.  These include the youth activities (camps, retreats, etc.), pastor support, congregational transformational programs, Justice and Reconciliation Ministries, and much more.  The offering will be taken up on 12/18.  If you are not able to be with us this Sunday, you can make your donation by sending a check to LWCC with “Christmas Special Offering” in the memo line.
·       If you placed an order with Kyle for an Innisbrook product, he will have it at the church this Sunday, 12/18.
·       No one is signed up to bring “Goodies” this Sunday.  Please contact the office if you would like to provide something for the “Coffee and Conversation” time following worship.
 
Kirkland Holiday Run – There will be some road closures on the morning of 12/18 because of the Kirkland Holiday Run.  You can check out what roads are affected at the City of Kirkland website, http://www.kirklandwa.gov/news_room.htm.
 
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Services –
·       Christmas Eve Service @ 5pm – Please include worshiping with us in your Christmas Eve plans.  Invite your friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers to join you as we celebrate Christ’s birth.  The sanctuary will glow in candle light, the congregation and choir will lift their voices, and let the stress of the season fall away as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  With the 24th falling on Saturday, we will be having our service at 5pm, so you can participate in worship before heading off to other events. 
·       Christmas Morning Worship @ 10:30 – The turkey is in, the presents are opened, the table is set, so take a break and join us for service on Christmas morning.  This shortened worship will be a welcome pause in a busy day.
 
The Vision Stage of the Journey of Discovery: Sunday Morning or Evening Bible Study - Please plan on attending these studies.  Their purpose is to help us prepare for our all-church Vision Retreat on January 29 (**Please note date change).   The Bible Study dates are Sunday, December 18, January 8 and 15. You are welcome to attend either at 9 am or at 6:30 pm, with a light supper followed by class from 7-8. These studies will explore how the church's mission is expressed in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul.  Each week’s study stands alone and you are encouraged to come to as many as you can.
 
Recap –
·       Last Sunday’s All-Church Pageant was certainly something to behold.  As always the telling of the “Christmas Story” was a wonderful success with both the “actors” and audience participating fully.  Thanks to everyone who took part and attended.
·       The Bake Sale sold out and raised $200 for the Round Stained Glass Fund.
·       The Piecemakers’ Quilt went to a person in Bellevue who was thrilled to receive it.  She is going to give it to her son and daughter-in-law for Christmas.  The raffle raised $412 for our Capital Fund.
 
Facebook?  Are you on Facebook?  Have you checked out and “friended” the Lake Washington Christian Church Facebook page?  We try to have new posts at least once a week.  If you are a Facebook expert and would like to teach me the tricks of Facebook, please contact the office.
 
Tick – Tock - The end of the year is almost here!  To take full advantage of a 2011 IRS charitable deduction have your donations and offerings into the church by 12/25 for the last deposit of the year.
 
Coming Up –
·       Saturday (12/17) Candlelight Vigil – Many eastside congregations will gather from 4:30 – 6pm in downtown Bellevue for the purpose of “lifting all (the 99% + the 1%) in recognition of the inequities of our culture and with compassion for all in need”.  This event is open of all faiths and all people.  Gather outside First Congregational Church (752 – 108th Ave NE, Bellevue).  This event is being organized by Kirkland Congregational, Northlake Unitarian, and other Eastside congregations in conjunction with the Church Council of Greater Seattle.  Bring a candle for yourself plus one to share.
·       Installation Sunday, 1/8 – The newly elected Elders, Deacons, and Board Members will be installed on Sunday, 1/8.  Please join us to thank this group of people who have volunteered their time and talents in service to LWCC.
·       Birthday Celebration – Adaline is turning 90 in January and we will celebrate this special day during Coffee and Conversation time.  The date is yet to be determined and I will pass it along to you as soon as it is firm.
·       Community Supper on 1/17 – We will be providing and serving the Community Supper on 1/17.  This is later in the month than usual.  The sign-up sheet will be passed through the congregation on 1/8 & 15. 
·       Book Club News – The Book Club’s next read will be “Thunderstruck”, by Erik Larson.  There are lots of copies available in the library, both paper and CD.  Their next meeting will be in February (date to follow).
 
Prayers:
·       Please continue your prayers for Bev and Don.  I know they appreciate your thoughts, notes, and prayers.
·       Carol and Bryan are spending as much time as possible with Bryan’s mother, Kay, as she continues Hospice care.
·       Prayers for Rob, Jamie, Dustin, Jessie and the entire family.  Rob’s father’s cancer has become very aggressive.


--
Martha
Lake Washington Christian Church 
Office Administrator
343 15th Ave
Kirkland WA 98033
(425) 822-4637
www.lwchristian.org