Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Lancaster Weekly Announcements
The January Beacon Newsletter is Here
The January Beacon is available to download here. Print copies are also available on the credenza in the narthex.
All are invited to participate in the special Christmas service at Neffsville Nursing & Rehab on Wednesday, December 27 at 2:30PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to share the joy of Christ’s birth with the residents. There will be no Midweek Divine Service at 7PM on Wednesday, December 27.
Guidance on Recent News out of Rome
Many news sources published their take of Pope Francis’ recent statement on the blessing of same-sex relationships. As usual, the news-media wasn’t quite accurate in what the pope actually said, and, as usual, the pope said things that were unhelpful and contradicted former teachings of the church. If you were wondering this week where the truth actually lies or wanted some faithful commentary on it, click on one of these two links. The first is from an evangelical forum, and the second is good Catholic commentary on it.
Pope blessing same sex couples causes confusion (denisonforum.org)
The Pope and the Black Hole | Dan Hitchens | First Things
To read the document itself from the Vatican:
Declaration Fiducia Supplicans On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings (18 December 2023) (vatican.va)
Our prayer is that this pope repents, heads to an early grave, and is succeeded by a pope who is worthy of the office. Come Lord Jesus!
The Nativity of Our Lord at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
This morning we heard the Christmas account according to St. Matthew.
The bulletin can be found here.
The sermon text can be found here.
An audio recording of the sermon is available:
Christmas Eve Service and Christmas Day Service
Congregants are encouraged to come to the 8 PM Christmas Eve candlelight service as well as the 9 AM Christmas Day Divine Service. These two services feature different hymns, liturgies, and preaching and give a full celebration of the Christmas story of Christ’s incarnation and birth. As the holiday itself bears the name “Christ-Mass” we celebrate these holy days rightly by coming to the manger (feeding trough for animals) to receive the One whose incarnate flesh is given to us in bread and wine for the forgiveness of all our sins. Full joy is received as we take up Jesus Word & Sacrament and understand anew the meaning of what God has done for us. Presents and family gatherings can wait, and pale in comparison to the real Christmas Gift.
