This past weekend a group of adult sponsors and I took the 7th and 8th grade confirmation class on a confirmation retreat to Camp Luther located near Schuyler, Nebraska.  The events of the first evening included a campfire complete with singing and smores and a “night hike”.  As a Boy Scout leader, I made certain I had my trusty MagLite flashlight equipped with fresh batteries and I grabbed my $1.99 LED flashlight for my wife.  With flashlights at the ready, we headed off into the deep darkness of the woods that engulf Camp Luther.  Our camp guide, Povo, stopped a short distance into the forest and made us all turn off our flashlights and close our eyes as he explained how the human eye can adjust to see in near complete darkness.

            One of the most amazing things about the human eye is its incredible range. We can see in very bright sunlight, and we can also see in nearly total darkness.  The range that our eyes have comes from three different parts of the eye:  The pupil contracts and expands depending on the amount of light, and can physically block the amount of light entering the eye in bright situations.  Our eyes sense light with two different types of cells found in the retina: rods and cones. Cone cells can perceive color in bright light. Rod cells perceive black and white images and work best in low light. Rhodopsin is the key to night vision -- it is the chemical that the rods use to absorb photons and perceive light.[1]

            When Povo finished his explanation of the human eye he told us to open our eyes.  To our amazement we were able to see significantly better as we made our way through the darkness.  I must confess that I have never been one for fumbling around in darkness especially when the silence is broken by noises from which I don’t know their origin.  Okay, I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of darkness!

            As we sat around the campfire that night, I contemplated the implications of light and darkness within our Christian life.  The fact is that since Adam and Eve’s fall into sin our world has been plunged into spiritual darkness.  “And this is the judgment:  the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19-20). 

            It would seem to me that we have dwelt so long in the darkness of sin that our eyes have become so accustomed that we see darkness as our new reality.  Have you ever noticed how easy it is to dabble with sin behind closed doors and out of view from others?  The ready availability of internet pornography has plunged our fallen world even deeper into spiritual darkness as access to sinful content is a key stroke away.  Yet it is not solely internet access it is the sins we commit daily in our sinful thoughts, words and deeds. 

Out of the depths of sin’s darkness we hear the voice of Jesus saying:  “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  As we made our way down that dark path through the woods, I was relieved that one of the adult sponsors ahead of me was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt.  Although our trek was slow, following that patch of white gave me confidence that I hadn’t stumbled off the path and comfort that I wasn’t being left behind.  

            As the days shortened and the nights grow longer and colder in the coming months be comforted that Jesus Christ truly is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD which no darkness can overcome.  So as you make your way through this valley of the shadow of death be comforted that the light of Christ goes with you every step of the way.  After all, it was the light of a star that illumined the path that led the wise men to the manger holding the baby Jesus.  It was the light from the pillar of fire that illumined the darkness for God’s chosen people as they made their way through the wilderness. In the words of Tom Bodett, spokesman for Hotel 6, here at Immanuel “we will leave the light on for you.”


[1] This paragraph was taken in part from the website encyclopedia “Wikipedia”.

A while back my wife and I purchased a full-length mirror for our daughter to hang in her bedroom.  Apparently she has reached the age when one’s appearance begins to matter and a quick check in the mirror to make sure her hair is in place and her clothes are not clashing has become important to her.  Unfortunately, in her haste to begin using the mirror before I was able to permanently hang it on the wall it fell over and shattered into a million pieces.

If you will recall your days of confirmation instruction you will remember that God’s Law has three functions or purposes in our lives. The Law’s first use is to serve as a curb.  To help my confirmands understand this concept I ask them why the City of Lincoln Street Department built a curb in front of my house.  After all, what is paved is clearly the street and what is green is obviously my lawn so why waste the money on constructing a concrete barrier between the two when they are so easily distinguishable? In regard to God’s Law it was intended to set limits on human behavior in order to maintain order in the world.  Consider for a moment what our world would look like if I had the liberty to kill anyone who upset or offended me.  Even our secular government understands the importance of maintaining order so it enacts laws of its own to further restrict sinful behavior with the sole purpose of fostering peace.  Therefore the curb is placed in front of my house to keep cars out of my yard in the same way that God established the 10 commandments in order to control violent outbursts of sin and keep order within His creation.

The second use of the Law relates to my opening story about my daughter’s need for a mirror.  God established the 10 Commandments in order to show us our sin.  As a teenager, there is nothing more traumatizing than the thought of going to school with a zit or worse yet an unpopped zit on your face.  One of the morning rituals we maintain throughout our lives is to look into the mirror in the morning; that is why mirrors are so conveniently placed above the bathroom sink.  Of course as we grow older we are not specifically looking for zits anymore, but we are making sure we are looking as good was we can before we will allow anyone else to see our face. 

When it comes to God’s Law, His second intention is to show us our sin (S.O.S).  The apostle Paul writes that through the law we become conscious of sin.  It is not until we confess that we are sinners in need of forgiveness that we will begin to understand our desperate need for a Savior. 

The third and final use of the Law is to teach Christians what we should and should not do to lead a God-pleasing life.  In other words, the Law serves as a guide to point the way to a life worthy of the calling we have received as Christian.  If you want to know how often you should go to church just look at the 3rd Commandment which deals with honoring the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.  Luther goes so far as to say that true worship is found in going to church and listening to the sermon.  Regardless of what area of Christian life you seek guidance on how to live, the 10 Commandments are the first place to look to discover the path to a God-pleasing life.

If you have been reading to this point and have come to the conclusion that if you adhere to the 10 Commandments fervently enough you can somehow earn your own salvation you have missed my point entirely.  Here are the facts according to God’s Word.  First, if you keep the whole Law yet stumble at just one point you are guilty of breaking it all (James 2:10).  Secondly, we have all sins and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Third, the penalty for our sin is not probation, parole or a life sentence it is death…eternal death (Romans 6:23).  Fourth, we cannot save ourselves from our sinful condition it is only be God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ that we receive forgiveness, life and eternal salvation (Romans 6:23). 

I close with a story about a man that was invited to watch as a silversmith smelt pure silver from ore filled rocks.  Step one of the
process was to place the silver laden ore into the furnace at a very high temperature in order to melt the silver and in the process separating it from the worthless dross that floats to the surface to be raked off.  As the man watched the silversmith painstakingly work with the silver in front of the fiery furnace he leaned over and asked, “How do you know when it is done?”  The silversmith replied, “When I can see my reflection.”  Dear friend as you look into the mirror of God’s Law may you see the reflection of Jesus perfect righteousness that covers all of your sins.  For through the water and Word of your baptism you have become just that…a reflection of Christ and a child of God.              
 
United in Christ,
Pastor Bloom

Have you ever experienced a paradigm shift in the way that you see things?  Growing up in a predominantly white community in central Nebraska, I lived a pretty sheltered life as a child.  Whenever my family would venture into the big city I was overwhelmed by the diversity of the people living in Omaha.  It didn’t matter if they were of Hispanic, African or Oriental descent, within their own race, apart from being male and female they all looked the same to me.  However my paradigm shift occurred while attending a pastors’ conference in Macy, Nebraska located on the Omaha Indian Reservation.  As we were eating lunch at the local school a young Native American man came up to our table and said, “I can never tell you white guys apart.”  I suppose it was because I was the youngest of our group that as I chuckled with the others I was a bit offended by his comment.  After all, one of the pastors was a gray haired and close to retirement, another was 60 pounds heavier than me and another as a good foot taller than me and this guy cannot tell us apart!  It was at that moment the young man gave me a gift of looking beyond hasty stereotyping, categorizing and profiling to actually see each person as uniquely different individuals in spite of the color of their skin. 

             In some respects that is exactly how our heavenly Father approaches each and every one of us.  Far from simply lumping you into some non-descript category He sees each of us as individuals. The Psalmist best describes this as he wrote:  “O Lord, you have searched me and know me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.  You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether; You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high: I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:1-6)

            This morning I sent a text message to one of my former parishioners, a very dear friend of mine, who was diagnosed with cancer for the second time.  As we visited he shared with me that due to his illness he has never felt more alone even when he is surrounded by friends and family.  He told me that people have a difficult time carrying on a conversation with him because of their fear that they will say something to upset him so they say little or nothing at all.  I shared with him that Jesus knows what he is going through and He will never leave him nor forsake him.  In fact, Jesus knows him so well He knows the number of hairs upon his head and even all the days ordained for him even before one of them came into being. 

            If you feel as if you are alone and no one else could ever understand the depth of your situation…Jesus does because He knows you.  He knows all of the good, the bad and the ugly of your life and He loves you to death!  He loves you so much that if you were the only person on the face of the earth he still would have gone to the cross to save you.  “For God so loved (insert your name) that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    

            It is humbling indeed to think that the creator of the heavens and earth would know you so intimately that in the water of Holy Baptism He called you by name to be His child.  It is humbling to think that the Savior of the world would love you so much that He would deliberately and willingly go to the cross to suffer and die in order to buy you back from sin, death and the devil himself.  It is humbling to be sure that amid the mass of humanity which inhabits the earth that Jesus would have taken the time to know you individually.

            It is my hope that as you read this article that your paradigm will shift and your eyes will not only be opened to the uniqueness of those around you, but that you will begin to see how awesome the Lord is that He really and truly knows YOU and loves YOU more than words can say. 

In May, my oldest son, Jordan graduated from high school and within a couple of days he had found an apartment and moved out.  As a parent, there is the joy of knowing you have raised your son to be independent and you are excited about him setting his own course in life.  However there is also the sadness of all those lost moments when I could have spent more time with him but didn’t.  Someone once said that nobody will lie upon his or her deathbed and look back upon their life, and say to themselves with regret, “Darn! I wish I had spent more hours at the office!  I wish I had worked harder so my commissions would have been bigger.  And if I had only put a little more cash into treasury bills!”  Sadly it is only when a child moves out or when we come face to face with our own morality that we are able to sift through what is really important in this life.

My guess is that most of us at some point in life will look back upon our lives and ask ourselves, “What kind of mother, father or friend have I been?  Did I squander my time or did I do something that is going to have lasting meaning?  Did I leave a mark on those around me that will fade with time, or did I leave a mark that will have eternal value?  When God nudged me to step out in faith and take a risk, did I play it safe or trust Him?  Where exactly is my real treasure to be found?

Guinness World Records bestowed the record of "Person with the most records" on Ashrita Furman of Queens, NY in April 2009. He has set more than 300 Guinness records since 1979 and currently holds 113 Guinness records.  He has juggled on a Pogo Stick for a distance of 4 miles and 30 feet; underwater juggled for 1 hour 19 minutes 58 seconds; simultaneously balanced 888 eggs on end; piggyback ran the fastest mile in 12 minutes 47 seconds and kangaroo ball raced the fastest mile in 13 minutes flat.  He is immortalized in that book—but for what?

In contrast, Jesus gives to His disciples the most important task in the most daring, exciting, and meaningful endeavor of all time—His rescue of fallen, sinful mankind.  He gives us an opportunity to impact our family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances with a message that can rewrite their life eternally.  In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on the hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

One of the problems as I see it is we don’t always see our individual contribution as mattering very much in the grand scheme.  I once came across a story of a man who was walking along the street and he came upon a construction site.  There were three men, all performing the exact same task, but when he asked them what they were doing, their answers varied.  “Breaking rocks,” said the first laborer.  “Earning my living,” said the second man.  But the third man said, “I’m helping to build a cathedral.”

On my gravestone, where my daughter is buried, my birth date is etched in black, African marble with a small dash separating my birth date from my death date.  It dawned on me that for 46 years I have been living the dash.  It seems like the older we get the faster the days go and I must confess that many of the days granted to me have been spent in pursue of that which does not satisfy.  Yet I am reminded of the One whose life was cut short.  The One, who seized every opportunity to proclaim the message of salvation to all who would listen.  The One, who saw His work as making the difference between life and death for all mankind.  The One, who had no regrets as the nails were driven into His hands and feet and His cross was lifted up and His life ended.

For some of you reading this newsletter article it has been some time since you last spent a Sunday morning in the pew at Immanuel and I am inviting you back to receive the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation which Jesus died to give you.  For others who question your purpose in life I challenge you to look beyond the mundane to the eternal.  Yet for us all I encourage you to seize the day and let your light shine in word and deed for Christ.

United in Christ, Pastor Jeff Bloom    

We are all familiar with those “if…then” statements.  IF you study hard for your final exam THEN you will get a good grade.  IF you are a hard-working employee THEN you will get a raise or promotion.  IF you do the dishes THEN I’ll take out the garbage.  IF you exercise THEN you will lose weight.  IF you take your medication THEN you will feel better.  IF you continue reading my blog THEN you will get my point.

As you read through the Bible, you will quickly discover that the covenant God set up with the nation of Israel on Mt. Sinai (“Old Covenant”) includes quite a few “if . . . then” features of its own.  “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, [then] I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3).

“If . . . then” promises are appealing to us because we coax ourselves into thinking, “I can do that.”  Unfortunately, we carry that “can do” attitude over in into our spiritual life.  However, we quickly discover the Old Covenant (the 10 commandments) could not accomplish our salvation.  It is certainly not because God’s Law was somehow insufficient or defective.  It was because Israel was defective and so is each and every one of us.

Ironically, whenever we don’t live up to our side of the bargain sinful man is always quick to lay the blame on someone else.  For example:  “I did study hard for my final, but the teacher didn’t cover the information on the test.”  “I do work hard, but my boss likes John better so he got the promotion.”  “I do exercise, but my metabolism keeps me from losing weight.”  “I take my medication, but my doctor has me on the wrong prescription.”  “I would finish your blog pastor, but…”

Have you ever wondered why God gave the Law to Moses atop Mt. Sinai if He knew from the beginning that the Israelites were incapable of keeping it?  In fact, as God was inscribing the 10 Commandments on those two stone tablets, do you remember what newly liberated from Egyptian captivity Israelites were doing?  If you said breaking the 1st Commandment you would be right.  Seeing that Moses had been gone a long time the people of Israel gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will be before us.”  So Aaron gathered their gold items and fashioned them into a golden calf and he built an altar in front of the calf where the God’s people came and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. 

As we shake our heads in disbelief and ask how they could do such a thing after they had witnessed the hand of God through the 10 plagues, the pillars of fire and cloud and the parting of the Red Sea.  Before we attempt to take the speck out of their eye perhaps it would be to our advantage to address the plank in our own.  After all, we know the Law of God and yet how easily we break it in our thoughts, words and deeds on a daily basis.  So what’s the difference?

Here’s the deal:  “IF you keep the Law perfectly THEN you will live.”  In spite of our continual failures we still attempt to roll up our sleeves and “do our part.”  We use words like “try”.  In spite of the fact that God’s Word is crystal clear: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10).  Therefore, you can “try” to keep God’s Law until the cows come home and you will never be able to keep it perfectly.

Which begs the questions:  “If God knew from the get-go that sinful man was incapable of keeping the Law why did He give it in the first place?”  Paul tells us what was on God’s mind in giving the conditional “If…then” promises and threats of the Old Covenant:  “The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).  In other words, it was precisely because of our inability to keep God’s Law perfectly that Jesus Christ was born to fulfill the Law perfectly on our behalf.  And because of our continual breaking of God’s Law Jesus Christ gave His own life upon the cross to earn our forgiveness.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Did you hear that?  “By grace…through faith…NOT BY WORKS!  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known…This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:21-22).  Therefore, IF you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that God raised Him from the death, THEN you will be saved.       

United in Christ,  Pastor Bloom

One of the most perplexing questions that has challenged the Christian faith is the question:  “If God is all-knowing why did he create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?”   After all, He knew beforehand that it was going to be the means by which man would fall into sin.  So we would contend that if there were no tree of the knowledge of good and evil than there would have been no temptation and no fall into sin.  However, do not be lured into thinking that this tree was somehow evil in and of itself.  For on the sixth day when God had finished His creative work and saw everything He had made and behold, it was declared “very good,” including the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Therefore the tree cannot be held accountable for what man did. 

At the root of sin is pride, which is the idolatry of self instead of true worship of the Creator.  It was pride that led to Lucifer’s fall (Proverbs 16:18).  It was pride that lured Adam and Eve to desire to be “like God” when in reality they had been created in His image.”  No, what they really wanted was to take God’s place? 

Created in God’s image and possessing original righteousness, Adam and Eve were completely free to “fear, love and trust in God above all things”.  However, they chose not to love God by ignoring His command and taking for themselves the forbidden fruit.  If there is blame to place for causing the fall it certainly doesn’t belong to God or to a tree, but squarely upon Adam and Eve.

So, why place that particular tree in the “middle of the garden” that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat lest they die?  First, recall all that God had given to Adam.  God had completely satisfied all of Adam’s physical needs, his need for food and shelter.  He had satisfied his emotional needs when He created a helper suited for him.  God even gave Adam “dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living creator that moves on the earth.”  If that were not enough God gave Adam “every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit.”  Therefore, because of the wide range of foods to pick from, the command to abstain from that “one” tree was neither irritating nor burdensome for Adam and Eve. 

By placing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden God was giving Adam the opportunity of his own free will to obey God.  Therefore that tree served as a temple that Adam could come to worship and give thanks to God who had so kindly given him all things.  In much the same way our churches today serve the same purpose.  Within our sanctuary there is an altar for the administration of the Lord’s Supper where we kneel in humility before our Creator.  There is good reason why our sanctuary is a place of reverence and humility instead of a concert atmosphere with bands and commotion which only distract from our true focus which is Christ Jesus and Him crucified.  

Martin Luther put it this way:  “This tree of the knowledge of good and evil was Adam’s church, his altar, his pulpit.  Here he was to yield to God the obedience he owed, to give recognition to the word and will of God, to give thanks to God, and to call upon God for aid against temptation” (LW 1:95).  “That tree in the middle of the garden was Adam’s place to worship God.  Here he was reminded of God’s goodness to him; here he could thank God for his mercy; here he could respond by giving God glad obedience.”[1]

Today the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not more.  However, our heavenly Father has provided another tree to take its place.  This tree was constructed as a result of man’s sinful pride.  Yet this tree also bears fruit, fruit which gives life.  Unlike its predecessor, this tree’s fruit is there for the taken.  The tree I am referring to is the cross of Calvary and the fruit of that tree is the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  For “our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you.  This do in remembrance of Me.’”  For all the times you selfishly refuse to fear, love and trust in God above things and sinfully try to take His place—Jesus gives you to eat of the fruits of His cross.  For all the times you refuse to gather around His altar to give thanks for His mercy—Jesus gives you to eat of the fruits of His cross.  For all the times your pride has caused you to sin against God and your neighbor—Jesus gives you to eat of the fruits of His cross.  Therefore, come for the table is ready and Jesus’ forgiveness waits.

United in Christ, Pastor Jeffrey Bloom

[1] People’s Commentary Bible, Genesis, p. 39

Q:  Pastor, what can you tell me about the Epiphany of our Lord?

A: Epiphany is from a Greek word, meaning to "reveal" or "make manifest." The root of the word “epiphany” was often used to describe the dawn, and the appearance of gods bringing help to men.  The Epiphany was also called the Theophany, the Feast of the Manifestation, the Feast of Lights, and the Feast of the Appearing of Christ.  Next to the observance of Easter and Pentecost, the Epiphany of our Lord is the oldest of the festivals of the church year dating back to the second century in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and Egypt.  

The season of Epiphany follows the season of Christmas on the church calendar and is our time to focus on the revelation of "who" Jesus is: both true God and true man.  Today the Epiphany emphasis is on the manifestation of the Incarnate Lord to the world.  This emphasis begins with the Feast of the Epiphany celebrated on January 6th, which commemorates the visit of the Gentile Wise Men to the Babe of Bethlehem.  This festival is one of great rejoicing and gladness, since the light of the world, Jesus Christ, is revealed to the nations, “a light to lighten the Gentiles”.  This revelation is significant to you and me because we are the Gentiles” being lightened if we are not of Jewish descent.  The importance of the Epiphany is still anchored in the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.  Because of this, the entire Epiphany season has become a time for emphasis on the missionary task of the Christian church. 

The manifestation theme continues on the First Sunday after the Epiphany, which celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord, when the voice from heaven revealed Jesus as “My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17).  The Baptism of Our Lord was the first of His deeds to “fulfill all righteousness” and sanctify the waters of our Baptism.  On this Sunday the church’s baptismal fount may be filled with water for the faithful to dip their finger in and cross themselves as a reminder of their own Baptisms. 

The Sundays after the Epiphany continue to illustrate the manifestation of God in Christ Jesus.  The traditional Gospel for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, for example, is the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle and “revealed His glory” by changing water into wine (John 2:11).  The Epiphany season culminates in the Festival of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, when Jesus takes Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain and revealed His divine glory.

For the Church today, the Epiphany of Our Lord is still celebrated with much joy and excitement.  For in the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, God has taken on human flesh in order to act in our place under the Law and fulfill it for us.  Therefore, as a human being Jesus is able to suffer and die for our guilt because we failed to keep the Law.  Yet the marvel of Epiphany is the revelation that Jesus is true God that his life, suffering, and death might be a sufficient ransom for all people and that through His divinity Jesus might be able to overcome death and the devil for us all.

Mark your calendar and plan on joining us to celebrate the Epiphany of Our Lord on Thursday, January 6 at 7 p.m.

Together in Christ,  Pastor Jeffrey Bloom

Evergreens have long been a symbol of rebirth. Bringing greenery into one's home, often at the time of the winter solstice, (the longest night of the year) symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures.  Although historical evidence for the origin of the Christmas tree is sketchy at best, the evidence that we have indicates it is a descendent of the Paradise tree and the Christmas light of the late Middle Ages. 

From the eleventh century, religious plays called "mystery plays" became quite popular throughout Europe. These plays were performed outdoors and in churches. One of the most prevalent of these plays was the "Paradise play." The play depicted the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, their sin, and their banishment from Paradise. The play would end with the promise of the coming Savior and His Incarnation (cf. Gen. 3:15). The Paradise play was simple by today's standards. The only prop on stage was the "Paradise tree," a fir tree adorned with apples. From this tree, at the appropriate time in the play, Eve would take the fruit, eat it, and give it to Adam.

Because of abuses that crept into the mystery plays (i.e., immoral behavior), the Church forbade these plays during the fifteenth century. The people had grown so accustomed to the Paradise tree, however, that they began putting their own Paradise tree up in their homes on Dec. 24 which was the feast day of Adam and Eve (at least in the Eastern Church). The Paradise tree, as it had in the Paradise plays, symbolized both a tree of sin and a tree of life. For this reason, the people would decorate them with apples (representing the fruit of sin) and homemade wafers (like communion wafers which represented the fruit of life). 

Another custom was to be found in the homes of Christians on Dec. 24 since the late Middle Ages. A large candle called the "Christmas light," symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world, was lit on Christmas Eve. In western Germany, many smaller candles were set upon a wooden pyramid and lit. Besides the candles, other objects such as glass balls, tinsel, and the "star of Bethlehem" were placed on its top. 

Though we cannot be certain, it seems highly likely that the first Christmas trees that appeared in Germany in the early sixteenth century were descendants of both of these customs: the Paradise tree and the Christmas pyramids and lights. The Paradise tree became our Christmas tree. Decorations that had been placed on the pyramids were transferred to the Christmas tree. 

Although many Christians do not realize it, the Christmas tree symbolizes the Paradise tree of old. The tree reminds us of the tree in Eden by which Adam and Eve were overcome and which thrust them into sin. But more importantly, the tree reminds us of the tree by which our sin was overcome, namely the tree upon which Christ Jesus was crucified. Is it a stretch to refer to the cross as a tree? Hardly, for this is the language of the New Testament itself! For example, Paul writes in Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree" (quoting Deut. 21:23). And Peter writes, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." Therefore, the Christmas tree is a wonderful symbol and reminder of our salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ! 

Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. The story is told of one crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, when Luther was walking home through the woods. As it was a beautiful starry night, he paused for a moment to gaze at the sky in reverent meditation. He was in a grove of tall pines . . . From where he stood it looked as though thousands of stars had settled on their branches. He proceeded to cut a tiny tree and took it home where he decorated it with small candles in metal holders to recreate his experience for his children. That glittering tree became a tradition for his family in the many Christmases to come just as it has for many other families around the world.

 

Have a Merry CHRISTmas,  

Pastor Bloom & Family

In his painting entitled, “The Angelus”, Jean Francois Millet suggests ample reason for thanking and praising God.  As the husband and wife farmers pause to get thanks to God for their bountiful harvest, in the distance the church steeple serves as a constant reminder to give thanks and praise to God for the birth of Jesus and all the blessings God showers upon us.  In fact, the name Angelus is derived from the words: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ ("... the Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary ...") announcing the impending birth of the Promised Messiah.

God has a rich history of providing for His people.  In the Garden of Eden, filled with every good gift, God arranged for the proper provision of Adam and Eve.  He continued to care for them even after their fall into sin.  Many years later, Noah’s “daily bread” included plentiful timber from which to build the world’s first life-raft.  Later as the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, their hunger was satisfied by bread from heaven and water from the rock.  In each case, God’s supply was always enough.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, we are reminded that we are to give thanks for all the blessings our loving heavenly Father has showered upon us.  Yet have you noticed that sometimes we pray carelessly or even forget to thank God as we gather for our daily bread.  Instead we ramble routinely through mostly familiar words, not stopping to think about the inclusiveness of words like “Give us this day our daily bread.”  At times our “bread” comes in huge loaves; other times we get only the crumbles.  But, thanks be to God, it is always more than enough!

Dr. Luther faithfully reminds us that “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”

Yet have you ever really stopped to consider all those things that make up your daily bread?  “Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.” 

When we suffer loss, we are tempted to think that we have less for which to be thankful.  That’s is precisely why we must always bring to mind God’s greatest gift, the gift remembered by the humble farmers, depicted in Millet’s painting, as they pray over their harvest of potatoes.  The gift the Holy Spirit personally delivered wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger; a gift the host of angels proclaimed to lowly shepherds as it arrived in the little town of Bethlehem.  Even better, the gift the Spirit personalized for you by providing the faith you need to receive this special gift as you Savior!  Who am I talking about?  Jesus of course. 

On Thanksgiving Day, as you gather with your friends and family to give thanks for all the benefits our heavenly Fathers has bestowed upon you, pause for a moment and give thanks for our greatest gift of all…Jesus.

 

                        Have a happy Thanksgiving! 
                        Pastor Jeffrey Bloom