Pastor Dean

^{When they (the wise men) saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.} 

^{Matthew 2:10}

^{"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."}

^{Revelation 22:16}

^{Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,}

              ^{As I have been out walking around in the evening before I turn in for the night, I have been enjoying the stars.  With no moon shining right now they are especially bright.  I have been watching Orion coming up with the bright star Betelgeuse and have been watching Taurus with the star Aldebaran and the seven sisters of which I can only see six.  There is something for me, I know others that share this feeling, that makes me feel closer to God being out and looking up at the night sky.} 

^{Lights and lighting have been a part of the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany season for a long time.  People have put up lights around their homes and businesses to light up the night that comes so early at this time of year.  Stars seem to be an especially favorite part of displays.  My brother has a big star on his house that has light strings going up to it.  You have probably seen these on other homes.} 

^{It is not an accident that we have all these stars around.  A star led the wise men to seek out and find Jesus.  Jesus is the bright morning star that shines God’s perfect light into the world.  There is no darkness in our world that God’s light can’t lighten as it shines into it.  Saint Francis of Assisi said, “All the darkness in the world can not extinguish the light of a single candle.”  Light and what it accomplishes physically in our world is a good image for what God does in our lives spiritually too.} 

^{During the Advent and Christmas season, I would invite you to let God put some stars in your sky to shine light into your darkness.  Be with us as we light the candles of the Advent wreath and let them dispel some of the gloomy days that can come your way.  Let other candles be lit in your life by participating in the Advent Festival or the Calvary Family Christmas Festival, come to the Christmas Eve services at 4 or 10 and let the bright morning star shine in your life.}

^{I am going to continue to be watching the stars on my evening walks.  I will look for the special stars that shine brighter than the others.  I will especially keep my eyes open to watch the bright morning star Jesus as he shines into our world.  Join me and we will bring more of the light of God into the world.}

^{In Christ’s Love}

^{Pastor Dean Oelfke}