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| Pastor Paul's Message |
Dear Friends in Christ,
Some things are worth waiting for. Christmas is one of those things. Christmas in Gods truest sense never disappoints. There have been years when I have been disappointed by the presents, or by some empty seats around the dinner table that I wish were filled, or by the extreme commercialism that so often dominates the season. However, Christmas as we know it as Christians is about a promise given to us from this promise-fulfilling Lord of ours. This life-giving Lord never disappoints. What God has in store for us is worth waiting for.
Jesus reappearance is worth waiting for. Weve waited a long time, and will continue to wait with anticipation. Having to experience God hidden, as Martin Luther put it, is hard. We can easily be tempted to look other places for a god of sorts to fill our emptiness. God, Luther says, hides Gods power in weakness, Gods joy often arrives through suffering, and Gods peace is perceived during times of outlandish chaos and conflict. Sounds much like our world today, I think. That is the way it is for now. It is the Holy Spirit that enables us, through faith, to see Gods power, joy, and peace in our broken world. This is challenging, sometimes more than we can manage well.
We look forward to the time when Jesus reappears again, gathers us to himself, reveals himself to the world, and establishes his reign of power, peace and grace. This will transform Gods whole world. This promise is worth waiting for.
Advent and Christmas Blessings,
Pastor Paul Oman
106 years of service to the Congregation and Community
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Phone: 715-354-3790
501 E. Chetac Ave/ P.O. Box 8
Birchwood, WI 54817
Parsonage: 715-354-3224
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