Synod Prayer Cycle: Utah Conference
During the month of December we give thanks for the ministry of our congregations and rostered leaders in the UTAH Conference. You are encouraged to include the congregations and leaders in your Sunday prayers of the people. The prayer list for December and January is available as a Word document.

to remember in prayer at worship on 12/3
12/3
Ascension Ogden, UT
...Renee Kiel
Ascension St. Matthew’s Price, UT

Elim Ogden, UT

Judy Lounsberry to be Installed at LFS on December 7
Judy Lounsberry, Associate in Ministry, is now serving in Resource Development at Lutheran Family Services, Denver, CO. She will be installed at the LFS board meeting on December 7. We encourage her in her new ministry.

Is Your Web Address and Email Info Correct on the ELCA Site?
To find out if the ELCA has correct information about your congregation's website, go to www.rmselca.org and click on your state on the map, then view your congregation's information. If the website or other information is not correct, links at the bottom of your congregation's information page invite corrections and additions. The information displayed on the Rocky Mountain Synod website are links to the ELCA information.

Theological Conference Registration Deadline is Dec. 20
Information about the 2007 Theological Conference is posted on the web. The online registration feature is now working. However, if you get an error message, consider printing out the online form (with your information typed in) and send it in with your check. Deadline for registration is December 20.

Immigration Issues Study Guide Now Available
A resolution calling for congregations in the Rocky Mountain Synod to study and discuss immigration issues was adopted at assembly. A resource has been compiled and is available for download.

Celebrate Treasures, Old and New
Exploring and Expanding Worship Resources
Events are scheduled this winter beginning again in January to introduce the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship book. Cost for groups of six is $100 Cost for an individual is $20 Cost includes lunch and a copy of the Worship book. A registration form is available to be downloaded. (Photo of Salt Lake City event provided by Pastor Jeffrey Louden.)

Please register at least one week prior to the event you will be attending so that appropriate arrangements may be made for lunch.

January 20, 2007 Wyoming Event
Prince of Peace, Casper, WY
Check-In 8:30-9:30 a.m. - Event 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
February 10, 2007 (two events)
Texas Event: New Hope , El Paso,TX
Check-In 8:30-9:30 a.m. - Event 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Southern Colorado Event: First Lutheran, Colorado Springs, CO
Check-In8-9 a.m. - Event 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
February 17, 2007 New Mexico Event
Cross of Hope, Albuquerque, NM
Check-In 8-9 a.m. - Event 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

RMS Immigration DVD/Study Guide Available In December
Hear stories from two ELCA congregations in Denver: Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey and HKBP Indonesian congregation. A DVD, created by the Rocky Mountain Synod Task Force on Immigration, will be available in December for use in your January Bible Study or discussion forum. A study guide will accompany the DVD. Request a copy to use and return. If the online form is not working for you, send an email to kmueller@rmselca.org or call 303-777-6700.

George Fredric Handel’s Messiah To Be Performed At Bethany
George Fredric Handel’s Messiah will be performed on Friday, December 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, CO (4500 East Hampden Avenue). The Bethany Chancel Choir, guest soloists and orchestra will present Part I – Prophecy and the Hallelujah Chorus. There is no admission charge. Come and celebrate the beginning of the Advent Season.

Support LSS of Utah While You Shop on Friday
On Friday, December 1, in Salt Lake City, shop at 10,000 Villages from 5-8 pm and a portion of your shopping will benefit LSS of Utah ministries-- international adoption, in-home senior services, First Generations adult and child literacy, and disaster response! 10,000 Villages is located at: 2186 South Highland Drive, about 1 block east of 2100 south and 1100 East in Salt Lake City. Refreshments provided. Music by Royal Heritage Ensemble. All donations are matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Candlight Christmas Worship at Ryssby
There will be a Swedish Candlelight service at the historic Ryssby Church, N.63rd St., in SW Longmont, CO, on December 3, 2006, at 6 pm. The sermon in Swedish is preached by Pr Wolfgang Stahlberg, the sermon in English by Pr Ron Swensson. The simple liturgy has parts in English and in Swedish. The service includes many of the traditional Swedish Advent and Christmas hymns, plus a Lucia Pageant. Hymns are sung and led by the extraordinary SWEA Choir. Due to limited seating, it is recommended to get tickets in advance. For information, call Roland Nilson at 303-985-3538 or e-mail rnils34108@aol.com.

Eight Ryssby Christmas Worship services hosted by First Lutheran, Longmont, CO, take place on December 9 and 10 at 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:45 p.m. both nights. Tickets for those services are available by callling First Lutheran Church, Longmont, at 303-776-2704.

Prayers for Peace
Each Monday from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. during Advent, ( December 4, 11 and 18,) Trinity Lutheran Church, 2200 Broadway, Boulder, will be offering prayers for peace. This time of scripture, song and prayers, both silent and corporately, will be conducted by Pr. Mark Twietmeyer. It is suggested that if you are unable to attend, you set the alarm on your clock or watch and offer prayers for peace in your families, community and the world.

Thrivent Builds Giving: About $1 Million Available Before Dec. 31
Multiply your gift to your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. You can turn $2 into $3 thanks to your membership in Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent Financial contributes $1 for every $2 members donate to Habitat for Humanity, up to a maximum supplement of $300 per member annually. Plus, when members volunteer 25 or more hours to Habitat for Humanity, Thrivent Financial contributes another $25 per year to their donation. To learn more about Thrivemt Builds Giving, to donate online or to get a copy of the Thrivent Builds Giving donation form, visit www.thriventbuilds.com.

Another Idea for the LBW's
This idea comes from Leslie Whited Vance in Salt Lake City, Utah who states: While worshipping at my home congregation last month, Immanuel Lutheran Church (Chicago) the recycling of old hymnals was offered. I took some home and have been giving them to seniors, people grieving and people who are home bound as I visit. The old hymns and psalms are a great comfort.

If you have an idea for recycling the old LBW's, please send an email message to: communications@rmselca.org

You Are Invited to the Christmas Posadas
On Sunday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 1070 South Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City, children of all ages will gather and walk through the church halls and neighborhood to mark the journey of Mary and Joseph. It is the celebration of Las Posadas, a celebration rooted in Mexican heritage. Las Posadas is the reenactment of the story of Joseph seeking lodging for his young wife, Mary, weary from travel and heavy with child. Children will be asked to dress as shepherds. (Some costumes are available.) Everyone is asked to wear warm clothing. In this Mexican celebration, there will be song and dance, traditional Mexican appetizers, desserts and drink. There will even be a donkey. Candy and treats from the pinata will spill over the children as the community remembers anew how the stranger at ones door can be God in disquise. For more information about the celebration, contact the church office at 801-582-2321.

On Saturday, December 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey located at 620 East Yandell, in El Paso, Texas, Las Posadas will begin at the Youth Center (corner of Ochoa and Yarnell). This is where the Christmas play and the service will take place. The meal, mariachis, pinata and celebration will be at Cristo Rey's offices located at 1010 East Yandell at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $5.00 per person, so please reserve your ticket soon. For more information call Pat and Rose Mary at 915-544-6545 or
915-422-6545.

On Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m., Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey located at 501 Raleigh Street in Denver, Colorado will be preparing the hearts and minds in both Spanish and English. A brief celebration will include simple hymns, prayers, scripture and short sermons followed by Las Posadas. King of Glory in Arvada, Colorado has also been invited as well as anyone else who would like to participate. All are welcome. For more information call Pastor Jay McDivitt (303-936-4859) or Pastor Armando Rangel (303-934-6948).

Day Apart at Iliff
This spiritual retreat entitled Listening to Your Life is scheduled for Saturday, January 6. Speakers are Brad and Rita Berglund. The cost for the retreat is $45.00 per person and includes lunch and all materials. For more information, contact Dave Lavinder at dlavinder@iliff.edu or call 303- 765-3115 or Cathie Kelsey at ckelsey@iliff.edu or call her on 303-765-3103. To register for the event, contact Dave at the above email address or phone number. Please register by January 2.

"The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory..." (John 1:14).

We live in a visited world. On that holy night twenty centuries ago, God visited the world in the miracle of Bethlehem. Held in Mary's arms that night was the revelation of steadfast, unbounded love for all humanity. The birth of Jesus disclosed God’s saving will and eternal desire for reconciliation and peace.

In this season of Christmas, we encounter again Jesus, sent from God for our salvation. As the Word is proclaimed in both simple buildings and cathedrals of grandeur, we receive the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus for the whole earth. We witness the mystery of rebirth in the waters of Baptism and rejoice as new ones are embraced by the community of faith. As bread is broken and wine poured in the Eucharist, we give thanks for the real presence of Christ in our midst.

We gather with the whole Church for the celebration of our Lord's Nativity. In our gathering, however, we hear the sounds of discord throughout the world. From divisions caused by walls of separation, from the struggles of many for survival from disasters, devastation, hunger, and poverty, from the dread of rampant disease and the spread of HIV and AIDS, from war and the threat of war, even with nuclear weapons, from broken relationships in homes and hostilities within communities and countries, we seek rescue. We yearn for the gracious, healing, and reconciling Word of the Prince of Peace.

We hear the angel say, "Do not be afraid." With that message of courage, we realize as believers that we are never alone. We have been claimed by God and made a part of the household of faith.

So we join with the whole Church on earth, lifting our voices with renewed hope. In so doing, we join the grand anthem:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king....

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Daily Email Devos by Ron Glusenkamp
If you would like to receive daily advent e-mail devos by Ron Glusenkamp (Bethany, Cherry Hills Village, CO) based on the music of Peter Mayer, just send an email to h2o.devos@earthlink.net and write "subscribe" in the subject line. Ron writes, "I love the season of Advent! The anticipation marked and counted down by the Advent wreath. The cool blue candles reminding us that we have four full weeks to do some spiritual housecleaning and renovating. The prayers inviting God to "stir up" our lives and our longings. Advent is all about focusing on the crèche of Christ and not getting overwhelmed by the crush of the culture. It is about slowing down to say and pray, 'Come, Lord Jesus' Maranatha!"

Following Yonder Star
booklet by Herb Brokering, photos by Karen Van Wert
Herb Brokering and Karen Van Wert are making available a booklet of Advent devotions for each day until Christmas. The resource is available for download in .pdf format as either a booklet or as full pages for each day.
a booklet: www.rmselca.org/files/advent06book.pdf
full pages for each day: www.rmselca.org/files/advent06full.pdf