Bearing with the Weak
Pastor Schopp
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on Me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” – Romans 15:1-4
The holidays are a tough time for many people. During this season the world pushes the idea that the holidays are about family and friends… not about Christ. And for those who are alone, or who have been estranged from loved ones, this is a time of sorrow and loneliness. For some, it is even a time of despair.
No one cares about me. No one would even miss me if I were gone.
There are many around us who are struggling during this time. It may be the neighbor next door, who lost her husband this past summer and so is spending her first Christmas alone. This is not a joyous season for her. The decorations, the music, the festivities only highlight that her husband of decades is no longer with her. She stays shut up in her home, waiting out the holiday as if waiting out a storm.
Or perhaps your son left home after years of conflict and has refused to communicate with you. The conflicts in the home can be chalked up largely to teenaged rebellion, but you refuse to give in and invite him home for Christmas. It wasn’t
your behavior that was the problem, it was his. And he hasn’t apologized
once in all these years. So the holidays remain a source of sadness for you. You refuse to forgive and so he refuses to relent.
We must always keep in mind that we have been the weak one before and we will be again. Our gracious God does not abandon us when we are weak. He strengthens and builds us up. He sent His servants to help us in
our time of need and now He asks the same of you.
Our Lord came to heal the divisions that exist both between God and man, and amongst ourselves. Through the free gift of the forgiveness of our sins, our eyes are opened to what is possible when former trespasses are set aside. We can endure much and we should. We can see the pain in others and comfort them. We are called to “
bear with the failings of the weak.” (v.1) and this means going out of our way to help, forgive and serve those who are struggling. God does not keep a scorecard anymore; there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). And we, too, are to forgive freely, not helping because someone deserves it, but simply because God demands it of those in His family. The hope we share comes from the forgiveness we have received.
Look with mercy upon your neighbor. Open your eyes to the pain and loneliness around you, at work, at school, at church, in your neighborhood. There are many who need to be cared for, who need to know that God loves them deeply. And the way they know that is by hearing it from God’s children.
Christian Foundations Class starts in February
Pastor Schopp will be teaching adult education classes twice a year starting this spring. The name of this class is “Christian Foundations” and it is a ten-week class that he has developed over years teaching new and current members in multiple congregations. Although it is labeled an “adult education class”, high school aged youth are welcome as well. Members who want a refresher are also encouraged to attend. He offers a “money-back guarantee” that you will learn at least one new thing each session (NOTE: The class is free).
To help members reach out to those who do not have a church home, we have designed an invitation for members to distribute. If every member took an invitation and invited just a single friend, co-worker, relative, etc. that does not currently have a church home, we should have a good-sized group. If you offer to attend
with them, at least for the first few sessions, that will alleviate some of their fears. There is no pressure to join, only an opportunity to learn.
The class begins on Tuesday, February 4 and runs through April 6, from 6:00-7:30pm. All of the materials are provided. We do ask for registration in advance to ensure we have enough materials. Just contact the church secretary, Cherise Johnson, at
oursaviorlutheran@nvc.net or call 605-225-7106.
The South Dakota District LCMS Convention will be February 16-18, 2025 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Christ Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls will host the Opening Worship Service on February 15
th at 7:00 pm. Our dual parish can have one voting pastoral delegate and one voting lay delegate, as well as a non-voting advisory delegate. If you are interested in being a delegate, please speak to Pastor, Eric Johnson, or Josh Larson. We will also discuss the convention at our December voters meetings. We need to have our registration forms submitted by December 16
th, 2024. Guests (spouses, LCMS members, Vicars) that plan to attend and would like to dine with delegates will need to be included on the registration forms.
Rev. Dr. Scott Sailer has been serving as President of the South Dakota District LCMS for 10 years. He will be retiring after the February 2025 District Convention. The SD District Board of Directors would like to recognize his service to Christ’s Church and the SD District with some thank you notes and gifts. If you’d like to write a letter or note of thanks, please bring it to the church office by January 1
st. They will all be taken to the convention to be presented to the Sailers.
The SD District Board of Directors is also hoping to honor his years of service by sending Rev. Scott and Sarah Sailer on a trip (to be determined). Thank you for the donations that were given to support this gift.
Our Savior December Birthdays
3 Sheri Severson 22 Frances Newman
6 Rev. Alan Ludwig 24 Addilyn Christianson
10 Kallyn (Jerde) Freidel 27 Aaron Andreasen
11 Riley Aman 27 William DeYoung
14 Gabriel Johnson 27 Karla Johnson
15 Raylee Brick 28 Nairn Hermansen
15 Dean Haar 29 Daryl Swanhorst
16 Gaylene Haar
Anniversaries
2 Thomas & Jenelle Siebert
3 Leroy & Linda Krage
16 Mark & Kierra Navurskis
20 Paul & Jan Bohling
23 Scott & Lori Mayer
28 Don & Rachel Hoops
Our Savior Meetings in December
Board of Elders – Thur Dec 5th at 5:15 pm
Church Council – Thur Dec 5th at 6:30 pm
Voters’ Meeting – Sun Dec 8th at 9:30 am
Nursery Circle – Sun Dec 8th at 12:00 pm
Board of Education – Sat Dec 14th 9:00 am
Our Savior Voters Meeting – The last voters meeting for this year will be Sunday, December 8
th at 9:30 am. Please attend to help conduct the business of the church.
Elders for December: Don Hoops & Douglas Klipfel
Acolyte Schedule:
Dec. 1 – Dalton Lee & Grace Rausch
Dec. 8 – Ella Brick & Tucker Brick
Dec. 15 – Cashlyn Angerhofer & Tristan Tschappat
Dec. 22 – Teigan McKown & Cassie McKown
Dec. 29 – Caleb Siebert & Rhyan Johnson
Sunday School Christmas Program Practice – Starting December 1
st through the 15
th, Sunday School will begin at
9:00 am instead of 9:30 to allow time for practicing the Christmas Program. There will also be a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 14
th from 9:00-11:00 am.
The Christmas Program will be on Sunday, Dec. 15
th at 4:00 pm, with the theme “His Name Shall Be Called”. A potluck will follow the program. All are welcome!
OS LWML Christmas Stocking Ingathering will be Sunday, December 1
st. Christmas stockings with a verse are located in a small box on a table in the narthex. Please take one and bring it to church on Dec. 1
st and place in the basket at the front of the church during the first hymn. The money will be used for missions. Anyone is welcome to participate. Thank you for your donation!
OS LWML Christmas Party will be at The Flame on Thursday, December 5
th at 5:00 pm for those who signed up. Please bring a $10 gift to exchange.
Our Savior Tree Decorating – We will meet to decorate the church for Advent/Christmas on Wednesday, December 4
th at 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Any helping hands will be appreciated!
Our Savior Ushers will have a meeting Sunday, December 8
th after the service to discuss duties.
Christmas Caroling – Anyone who would like to do some Christmas caroling, meet in the fellowship hall after the service on Sunday, December 8
th. After caroling we will come back to the fellowship hall for food and drinks. Then the youth will make gift bows that will be sold as a fundraiser.
Our Savior Senior Potluck will be at noon on Tuesday, December 10
th. We will have a pizza party and all chip in on the cost. You may bring a salad or dessert if you wish.
Circuit Youth Retreat: Saturday, December 7
th from 9am-4pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. Join us for learning, games, and fun! There will be separate sessions for Catechism and High School students. Please contact St. Paul’s to register (605-225-1847). Let them know you are with Our Savior/St. John’s and Eric will pay for your lunch from the youth account.
Midweek Advent Services – There will be three mid-week Advent services at Our Savior (for both congregations), beginning on Wednesday, December 4
th at 6:30 pm.
Christmas Break – There will be no Sunday School on December 22
nd or 29
th. There will be no Wednesday night activities on January 1
st.
Christmas Service Times:
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: St. John’s 5:00 pm
Our Savior 7:00 pm
Christmas Day with Communion: Our Savior at 9:00 am
New Year’s Day with Communion: Our Savior 10:00 am
Saturday Bible Study – 9:00-11:00 am at Our Savior
December 21st – Israel and the Church
Today’s end-times sensationalists teach that God has a special plan for the geopolitical nation of Israel, a plan that is being fulfilled by current events. What does Scripture really teach about Israel? Is the church just a parenthesis in God’s plan for national Israel? Or is God’s plan for the descendants of Israel fulfilled in the church? These questions will be examined from a biblical and Lutheran view.
Poinsettias – This year you will again be able to order a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone, to make our sanctuary beautiful for the Christmas services, and as a reminder of the birth of our Savior. The memory/honor list will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletins. Order forms will be in the Sunday bulletins;
December 15th is the last day we can accept orders. The cost is
$10 per poinsettia. You can take your poinsettias home after the Christmas services.
Library – Have you browsed in the library at Our Savior lately? There are books for all ages, with varying topics. The library is free for you to use; just sign out a book on the clipboard then mark it as returned when you bring it back. St. John’s members are welcome to borrow books as well.
Higher Things Youth Conference: We plan to take the high school aged youth from both congregations to the Higher Things conference at Concordia University Nebraska (CUNE) in Seward, NE next summer. The dates are July 7-12 (including travel). We will need to register our youth and chaparones by January 31 to get the early bird discount of $565/person. If interested, speak to Eric Johnson or Pastor Schopp. Check out
higherthings.org
Inclement weather policy – Whenever a no travel advisory is in effect, all church activities will be canceled. On weekdays, if public school has been called off due to weather, then all church activities will be canceled also. On Sundays, Pastor and the church leadership will make the determination. Check announcements at Hub City Radio or KELOLAND.com Closeline. (KELO doesn’t put church announcements on TV, so you would have to check their website.) Cancellations will also be posted on our Facebook page, and the church’s telephone greeting will be changed to tell you if the service is called off.
Lutheran Witness – The December issue of LW is available in the narthex.
St. John’s - Columbia
December Birthdays
5 Alfred Larson
9 Jim Rose
11 Carla Meints
17 Shirley Weismantel
17 Andrew Wolter
19 Bennet Chaston
24 Christian Christianson
26 Naomi Underberg
27 Kaylene Hermans
28 Ken Frohling
30 Nicole Score
Anniversary
18 Collin & Emily Eichler
Columbia Usher List
Dec. 1 Josh & Desa Larson
Dec. 8 John Bisbee & Lucas Daggett
Dec. 15 Karl & Val Eichler
Dec. 22 Mike & Molly Ringgenberg
Dec. 29 Mic & Jen Daggett
Jan. 5 Ray & Cyndy Larson
Jan. 12 Dean & Lorie Ringgenberg
Jan. 19 Roger & Sharon Zastrow
Christmas Decorating – St. John’s will be decorating the church for Christmas on Sunday, December 1st after the church service. All are welcome to stay for a lunch that will be provided by the LWML following the decorating.
