Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally Grounded,
Congregationally-Focused
First English Ev. Lutheran Church
516 N Main St.
Victoria TX 77901
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #84
Victoria, Texas 77901
FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED
______________
Advent Preparation
There are a lot of preparations to make in this season: shopping, Christmas cards, baking, cleaning,
decorating, lights, parties, programs, and the list goes on and on.
This season that we are in is called Advent and Advent literally means "arrival, appearance of a
notable person, thing, or event." Advent is about preparing to celebrate Christmas, yes, because Christmas
marks the birth of Jesus, Son of God and Savior of the world. But Advent is also about preparing for Christ to
come again. Because Jesus promised and the whole of the Bible concurs that He will be back at an unknown
time and the question is: "Are you ready?"
When I was a kid, I loved to play "hide and seek" with my brothers, cousins, or my friends. And the
seeker would always count to a certain number, sometimes so high that hiders would almost think they have
forever to hide. And then all of the sudden the seeker would cry out: "Ready or not, here I come!"
Whether or not we are ready, Jesus is coming. And as we look at the world around us, our families, our
friends, our classmates or coworkers, our neighbors, our communities, and even the nations, are we ready
for Jesus to come back? While I may personally be ready to meet Jesus face to face, there are people I know
and love and many more that I don't yet know who need to be ready, too. And Jesus has given the
responsibility of sharing his Good News with the nations to those of us who follow him.
So as we prepare to celebrate the first Advent of our Lord Jesus let us be ever mindful of his second.
For surely the Lord is coming back. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to prepare for that arrival too. And
that means taking seriously our call to reach the lost with the message of the Gospel. Jesus has left us with a
mission and purpose in this in between time that is far more involved than simply biding time. Because ready
or not, Christ is coming again!
Pastor Bryce Formwalt is the Director of Mission Growth for the LCMC Texas District.
Sun
4
Mon
5
Tue
6
Wed
7
2nd Sunday of Advent 2:00p Staff Mtg.
8:00a Worship
9:15a Sunday Sch.
10:30a Worship
11:30a Mtg. &
Luncheon
Angel Tree Gifts
Due
12:00p Al-Anon(CR) 6:15p Handbells
7:00p Choir
11
3rd Sunday of Advent
8:00a Worship
9:15a S.S.
Christmas Play
10:30a Worship
2:30p – 4:30p
Younglife (AC)
13
18
12
14
9:00a Good Cheer 12:00p Al-Anon(CR) 11:00a Lydia Cir. (FH)
Christmas Visits
3:00p CCS Mtg.
6:15p Handbells
(FH)
(CR)
7:00p Choir
2:00p Staff Mtg.
6:30p Rachel Circle
19
20
21
4th Sunday of Advent 2:00p Staff Mtg.
8:00a Worship
Newsletter
9:15a Sunday Sch.
Deadline
The Angel Play by
Shellie O’Neal
10:30a Worship Baptism
12:00p Al-Anon(CR) 6:15p Handbells
7:00p Choir
25
Merry Christmas
10:00a Worship
26
27
Office Closed in
Observance of
Christmas
12:00p Al-Anon(CR)
28
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
6:00p BOCL Christmas
Party (FH)
Pastor Jim off
Office closed
12:00p Al-Anon(CR)
8
9
10
9:30a Esther Circle
(Greeson Home)
1:00p CCS Christmas
Play (Sanc)
6:00p Fifty & Fun (FH)
Pastor Jim off
Office closed
12:00p Al-Anon(CR)
VACD Rental (AC)
16
17
Pastor Jim off
Office closed
12:00p Al-Anon(CR)
Setting up
Poinsettias in
Sanctuary
23
24
Pastor Jim off
Office closed
12:00p Al-Anon(CR)
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Worship
Services
4:30 pm
7:00 pm
30
31
Pastor Jim off
Office closed
12:00p Al-Anon(CR)
New Years Eve
6:30p New Years
Eve Party (FH)
15
8:00a CASA Christmas
Party (AC)
6:30p Council Christmas
Party
22
29
(AC) = Activity Center
(BOCL) = Board of Congregational Life
(BOD) = Board of Deacons
(BOED) = Board of Education
(BOE) = Board of Elders
(BOEV) = Board of Evangelism
(BOS) = Board of Stewardship
(BOSC) = Board of Social Concerns
(BOT) = Board of Trustees
(BOW) = Board of Worship
3
Downtown
(BOY) = Board of Youth
(Comm) = The Commons Room
(CR) = Conference Room/Church Office
(CRb) = Conference Room B/ Church Off.
(FH) = Felger Hall
(HC) Home Communion
(Hax) = Hax Parlor
(MP) = Men’s Parlor
(WR) = Workroom/Church Office