Grace Notes

We know from the Bible what division Zechariah was in. We know when his division served in the Temple. We know that when he went home after his division was done, his wife Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist. We know that Mary visited Elizabeth when she was six months along, right after Gabriel appeared to her and by the Holy Spirit she conceived Jesus Christ, God the Son. From this we know that Jesus was born sometime in late December. The early Church did celebrate Christmas on December 25^th before the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius invented the feast of Sol Invictus to try to compete with it.

When was Jesus born?

Astronomy plays an interesting role in this question. We know from the Bible that Mary, Joseph and the little Jesus returned from Egypt when they heard that Herod was dead. We know that Herod died in 4 B. C. We know that they had been in Egypt a little while. Church tradition says two years. A Dr. Mollnar decided to look at what sorts of planetary signs Babylonian Magi would have understood and gone by. He discovered a particular conjunction of planets that meant to them that a king was to be born in Judah. Remember that Daniel was the chief of the magi? His book tells roughly how many years it was from his time until Jesus rode into Jerusalem as king. His book would have been kept by the magi after his death. So, they were looking, as they knew a baby had to grow up before he could have a triumphal entry as king. There was the appropriate conjunction in 6 B.C., which recurred several months later, giving the magi time to debate, pack up and travel to Jerusalem, and when it occurred “the star which they had seen in the East went before them.”

Why was Herod worried? The magi had a reputation as king-makers. A number of years before, a group of magi had traveled to Rome, and told the Roman Senate that a king had been born to them. Rome had thrown off monarchy and was a republic at that time, and the Senate wanted nothing to do with a king. But they were afraid. So was Herod when the magi came to him. This sort of activity by the magi was not unknown, and was taken very seriously. And that is why there came to be weeping in Ramah.

Let’s see, though. 5 BC plus AD 33 is 38. But didn’t Luke say that Jesus was 30 when He started His ministry? Luke wrote “about thirty,” Not specifically 30.This age was important because you did not become a full man able to teach and to participate in government until you turned 30 (you became a man able to marry and be personally responsible before God to obey Him at 12-13 at bar mitzvah, or confirmation). Luke had to point out that Jesus wasn’t too young to go about preaching. Scholars believe that they see *at least* 4 passovers during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and there is nothing in the Bible that He ministered for only three years. Therefore that the crucifixion happed on Friday, April 3^rd, A. D. 33 isn’t a problem. We know it happened then, because that is when there was a total eclipse of the moon (“the moon turned red as blood”) and there was a darkness recorded during the day over the eastern Mediterranean, and there was an earthquake felt as far as Athens. So, perhaps Jesus was 37 when He was crucified in atonement for our sins. That doesn’t disagree with Luke, with history or astronomy. It all fits together. It really happened. If you want to learn more about this part of the story, join the book club during Lent and read Dr. Paul Meier’s excellent novel _Pontius Pilate_ with the rest of us. Don’t worry, he keeps the historical and archaeological goodies in the end notes, while giving us an enjoyable, and extremely historically accurate novel, that puts us right there in the midst of things in the Judean desert, back during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

So, what is this thing called Advent someone might ask you. It isn’t just the shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, though your neighbors or coworkers might possibly think that.

In the first few centuries of Christianity, the early Church started a season of fasting and prayer called St. Martin’s Lent, beginning with what we know as Armistice Day, November 11^th, which was the feast day of St. Martin. It continued until Christmas Eve, for the early Church *did* celebrate Christmas on December 25^th. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius invented the Feast of Sol Invictus to try to compete with Christmas. You might have heard that story the other way around, but historical study shows us that Christmas came first.
St. Martin’s Lent was a six-week season. This “little lent” still shows up in the repentance and end-times oriented lectionary readings in traditional churches, such as Lutherans. After some time, St. Martin’s Lent became replaced with Advent in the western church, and looked forward to Christ’s second coming and back to His first coming.

In England, the Christian New Year’s Eve - the night before the first Sunday of Advent, is called “hanging of the greens” and the parish would gather to decorate the church building with evergreen and holly, sing carols and consume Christmas goodies, kicking off looking forward to, remembering Christ’s birth.

Among the Greek Orthodox, the Lenten aspect of Advent still remains somewhat (especially for those who still celebrate Christmas on the old December 25th, which in our calendar is now January 6th), but in the West, especially during the past thousand years, Advent became more and more about Jesus’ birth, especially after the dying down of the millennialist fervors around A. D. 1300-1350, when lots of people thought that the world was about to end.
I found an excellent web site that is so good about Advent,l that I would be plagiarizing to say much more. I will give you the link, and I highly recommend you read it. It not only gives you the meaning and history of Advent, but also explains the Advent candles, the Jesse Tree and has some neat traditions that you might even want to try out.

Join us Saturday night for our 5th Annual Cookie Walk from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.!

Remember to come early for the best selection as this event has become increasingly popular over the last few years.

While cookie walk may make you think ‘cake walk’ it is not quite the same, but it is certainly easy. Our cookie walk works like this:
When you arrive, you purchase a container for $10, then walk along the tables and select which treats you would like. Our able bodied and energetic youth workers will be glad to put your choice in your container. When you have completed your selections, enjoy a cup of cider or cocoa and relax, you may just have finished your Christmas baking

We ask that this year you weigh the your container on the way out; we are collecting statistical information for future reporting. All monies raised from this event will be used to fund future youth activities and servant events. We thank you for participation and hope to see you there.

Following a period of milling about, eager anticipation, luggage loading, farewells, and a brief Sending ceremony led by Pastor Henry Biar, the Rochester/Austin Gathering Group boarded two busses and departed for Florida this morning. Follow along with their trip at the GYM web site.
There you can find links to pictures and information as it becomes available.

Dear Everyone,

I just got back from the village of Suchanoy. When Russians say “village�? they mean there are no services available and no indoor plumbing. As terrible as the conditions were, the people were extra warm. They are very alert to the things of the world and to their faith. This village is mostly people of Latvian decent. That is kind of how the mission got started. Pastor Sobolev’s wife is Latvian and some from Suchanoy were in Krasnoyarsk for a Latvian festival and so the connection to go and preach there was made. I am the first pastor to stay over night however–two nights in fact. There is a lot to do here as far as the church is concerned. There are at least three more places that congregations could start but Pastor Sobolev is the only pastor. I am certainly encouraging the young men here to think about the ministry. By the way, the young men from our congregation also need to consider the ministry. There is always a need for pastors and teachers.

This will probably be the last update before I get home since I will be in the pulpit next Saturday night and Sunday morning. The experience here has been priceless although there were times I have not wanted to pay the cost. There are several projects which we could be involved in that I will give details for and each congregation I have spoken in has blessed you. At the end of the service when prayer time happens they always pray for you in my absence. The church is certainly universal in all of its aspects. Thank you for your prayers and for the time away. Thank my family mostly because this has been hard for them especially.

I can’t wait to see you next weekend.

In Christ,

Pastor

Hi everyone, We didn’t leave for Suchanoy this morning as planned. It will be tomorrow at 7AM. It is about a three hour ride. if I can I will e-mail from there. Otherwise it will be on Saturday or something.

One of the things I have noticed is that I carry my camera around but do not take as many pictures as I did at the beginning. I think that is because things are looking ‘normal’ instead of different. I am still taking them but not as many. I want to thank the people who have written notes during the trip. I hope I have answered them all although I can’t tell which age new and which are old on the way I retrieve my mail here verses in the office.

The thing that strikes one most here are two very contrasting things: The absolute mess that is all over the ground, in the parks, etc. and the wonderful people that I have met. Some of the nicest people live in the filthiest conditions. You will see more when I give the presentation in September, but trust me, there is nothing this messy anywhere in our town.

this trip[ has also taught me much patience. There are only certain things I can do on my own and when I need to I can venture out but mostly I have to wait for someone or something before I can do what it was that is planned. Anyway, that is probably a good thing too.

I am ready to get back to work with you. It is the little things that are taken for granted that you miss the most when they are not there.

I’ll write again at the end of the week.

In Christ,

Pastor

A selection of photos from the Independence Day celebration at Grace have been posted here.

(fireworks courtesy of the Rochester Post-Bulletin)

Hello everyone,

I got the pictures that Matt posted. They were nice to see. I hope you got some pictures that my translator sent from her home computer.

Tonight I have Bible study to lead in Lagovik. There are really about 4 little villages or neighborhoods that Pastor Sobolev wants to start congregations in. This week I will be going to Suchanoy. I am not sure if I will get to e-mail you from there so if I do not get a chance until I get back that is why. I will try to e-mail on Friday and certainly on Saturday.

Sunday’s here are family days. I went to the circus with a family of the organist. It was really neat. it was mostly Chinese performers but there was a fire eater who also worked with crocodiles and whips. This one lady laid on her back and then would spin different objects with her feet. She even spun a table. I took some pictures but I don’t know how well they turned out. They look ok in my little screen on the camera.

there are some ladies from the church who now want to learn English. They want to be able to communicate with us when we come back. There is also now a race track just near where they live. I told them that NASCAR fans will be flocking to Krasnoyarsk so that is another reason to learn English.

The other day I was on a 12 mile hike. There is some really beautiful country here.

Anyway, I will write more at the end of the week.

It is really a good thing that I chose to send the family home because it would have been a difficult time for the people here to provide transportation for all of us. As it is we are sometimes 5 people in a Lada, which is already too small of a car for 4 people. Logistically it is difficult here. There is no vehicle like a minivan. And also since the work changed it would have been harder to function. God was in that decision too just as He has been in all of them.

See you later and certainly in about 10 days.

Pastor

Six new pictures were added to the gallery.

Good morning or evening everyone.

I hope all the plans for the 4th are in order. I know they are. I hope you have a lot of success this year. I was able to get to the computer today. I am able to navigate in town pretty well and do not have my interpreter with me this morning. I will be going to make some visits on members of the parish this afternoon to pray with them and take them communion.

There is a young man named Dema who has really changed since I have been here. I guess he was a problem child but went to the retreat last week and has started to think more about God. He was at all of the Bible studies I had and we played tennis together. He seems to really like “the American”. On Sunday he got up early and told his mother,” Lets go to church”. That has never happened before, I am told. So maybe something good will come out of just being here even though I don’t feel like I am doing what I thought I would do initially.

There is another young man named Cola or Colya. He was an orphan. His stepfather killed his mother and almost killed his little brother but he is in church every week. It is amazing what the Gospel can do with people. Both of these young men are thinking about working in the church now. We will see.

Anyway, I hope to get to a place where I can send pictures.

Have a great 4th and we will see you in a couple of weeks.

If you take pictures of the 4th celebration, you can send them to Pastor Andreev. I know that someone has his e-mail.

In Christ,

Pastor