I get to make my annual joke: it's our last meetings this year! This joke has always tickled me ever since I was in elementary school when it was first sprung on me. And speaking of surprises, what do you think about waking up to snow? It really was beautiful to drive home from a school concert featuring the Nutcracker Suite to snow and homes lit up with Christmas lights.
There are so many great opportunities to experience Christmas traditions including a live nativity (where the Christmas story is acted out with people and animals found in the Biblical stories). CLC in Fishers is beginning a tradition of a live nativity: join 6:00-9:00 pm December 10, 13450 116th St., Fishers. Don't miss the Cristkindl Village December 16 and 17 a traditional German market and live nativity on Georgia Street in Indianapolis. And to the South the Greenwood Baptist Church will have a live drive through Nativity December 22 and 23.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100
This week we studied the dramatic story of the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 (you can read this as CliffsNotes to the first four books of the Old Testament). Brought before the Sanhedrin, accused of attacking the temple, the law, Moses, and ultimately God, Stephen reviewed the history of the Hebrew nation beginning with Abraham and the covenant God had made with him. He reminded the Jewish religious leaders of the story of Joseph and the 400 years of Jewish enslavement in Egypt. He then discussed Moses and how God used him to lead his people out of captivity. He pointed out that their Jewish forefathers had so often rejected the prophets God sent to them and insisted on doing things their own way. He also pointed out that in the book of Isaiah they were told that all of God's creation is His temple, not just buildings made by human hands. Finally, he scolded the Sanhedrin members for resisting the Holy Spirit and for crucifying Jesus. Furious, they dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him. As Stephen "fell asleep" he saw heaven open and saw the Son of Man (Jesus, the Messiah) standing at the right hand of God. His final words were a prayer that God would not hold the sins of the Jewish leaders against them, a prayer that reminded us of Jesus praying that God would forgive the men who crucified Him. Stephen is remembered as the first reported "martyr" of the Church. May we always be imitators of Christ who is our Strength and our Redeemer!
December 13: Join us as we read the Christmas stories from the Bible and sing the traditional Christmas songs.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100
We met and baked Christmas cookies. We had to wing it when the vanilla bottle got broken and discovered that Hazelnut Creamer makes a delicious substitute! We learned to make icing glaze from store bought icing.
December 13: HOLIDAY PARTY!!!!
Join us as we celebrate the end of the year! Bring party food to share and a White Elephant gift for our gift exchange.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00
We welcomed some new friends to conversation and caught up with each other. It was fun to compare language notes.
December 14: Be ready to talk about the Easy English News.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00
We missed a lot of you. Did the cold and snow drive you away? I hope that you are not under the weather!
December 15: Be sure to join us as we meet for the last time this year!
sprung on me: revealed, surprised
acted out: performed as opposed to a temper tantrum
Biblical: of the Bible
CliffsNotes: famous study guides that summarize great works of literature
covenant: a solemn agreement between God and His people
enslavement: being made a slave
forefathers: ancestors
scolded: repremanded
White Elephant: something that you don't want; don't go out and buy something new...look around your house, wrap it beautifully. You will get to choose a gift or "steal" a gift. This is a fun holiday party game.
store bought icing: premade decoration for cakes available at the grocery
drive you away: keep you from attending
under the weather: ill
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