Here lately, I have been running across things that want to share with you in my

daily readings. Today I happened across this article and began to think back to my

days before becoming a pastor. We spent many a morning in the pew, doing our

best to keep our children occupied and teaching them how the service came

together.

When our third child was born it became a little more hectic, but since I was there in

the pew, there were two of us working together so we were still able to pay attention

to the children and the service. However things changed quickly in the summer of

1999 when we moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana so that I could attend the seminary.

Suddenly, Cyndi found herself with two pre-teens and a three year old in the pew by

herself. About a year and a half later, she found herself with two pre-teens, a four

year old and an overactive infant, with no help from anyone else. There were a

number of times that she wondered why she bothered coming to church too because

it was a mad rush to get them all ready by herself and them to spend the whole

service either fussing or worrying what was going to happen next. There were

Sundays that she didn’t remember a thing about what happened that morning and I

would come home to an exhausted and very frustrated wife.

Please read the following article with an open mind, even if you don’t agree with

everything that the author says.

To You Who Bring Small Children to Church http://veritasvenator.com/2013/09/25/to-you-who-bring-small-children-to-church/

“There you are sitting in worship or Bible study. Your child, or toddler, is restless.

Perhaps they’re even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You

try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last

thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you

make the march out of the auditorium. All the while, you’re a little embarrassed.

Maybe you’re a little frustrated too. You might even think to yourself, “There’s no

point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care

for my kid.”

The Parson’s Pen…

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1 Parson’s Pen

2 Parson’s Pen cont.

3 Parson’s Pen cont.

4 December Happenings

5 Advent

I can't give away what I don't have: If I can't love

others, it's because I don't know that God loves me

December 2013

By Pastor Larry Knobloch

Continued on page 2

St . P et er L u th er an C hu rc h - LCM S, 906 Hwy 59 N – P O Box 133 , Bowi e, TX 76 23 0 www.st p et er te x.co m s tp et er te x@at t . ne t 94 0.8 72 .188 6

The Key to

St. Peter

Page 2 The Key to St. Peter

The Parson’s Pen from page 1

I want you — you mothers and/or fathers — to know just how encouraging you are to so many. The little

elderly woman who often feels alone beams with a smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one.

She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear that brings back

precious memories. To see young parents and their small children brighten her day, and she may have just

received bad news this week about her health, but seeing the vitality of young ones removes — if but for a

moment — her fears.

The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in

this day have no respect or sense of good. But, he sees you — a young family — in church, and you don’t miss

any gathering. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. You give him hope

that maybe the church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to

bring their restless children to worship.

The family who’s unable to have children notices you, too. They’d love to be in your shoes, but for whatever

reasons, they are unable to bear children. They’ve thought about adopting, but they’re not sure if that’s what

they want to do or if they will keep on trying to have children of their own. They’d love to talk to you for a

little while about the joys of your children. They need you.

Then there’s everybody else. Some people will honestly become frustrated by noisy children in church. They

have this warped idea that reverence includes absolute silence. It doesn’t. When parents brought their children

to Jesus, the disciples rebuked them (Matt. 19.13-15), but Jesus rebuked His disciples. He said, “Let the little

children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The term translated

“children” in Matthew and Mark is paidon. The root of the word “pedagogue” is from this word. It defined

children of either an infant state, or more particularly, it was with reference to those who were half-grown and

could be either males or females.

When Luke wrote his account of this narrative, he used the word brephos; which means “infants.” Luke wasn’t

contradicting Matthew and Mark’s account, because Luke wrote that they brought the infants “also” (Luke

18.15-17). They would have squirmed, maybe even cried. This was likely why the disciples rebuked the

parents; as well as that they might have thought that the children were too young to understand the blessing

Christ pronounced over them.

Bring your children to church. If you don’t hear crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as

a parent who’s half-asleep, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting

off your children’s lives as you should.”

Now some might say right away that “back in my day” this wasn’t a problem…but be truthful, was the church

really quiet without any children making noise? And if it was, how many single parents were in the pew

without any help with their children? That’s another “back in my day” thoughts. Whether we like it or not,

there are more single parents out there and it doesn’t matter how they might have gotten into that situation, or

whether it is their fault or not. They are here and are following the Holy Spirit’s calling as they seek to hear the

saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Would we rather that they not come to church?

Personally, I praise God when I see little ones in church and I applaud their parents. They are the future of our

congregation and if they do not learn about their Savior and how to appreciate their church home and family as

a child how can we expect them to behave any differently when they grow up?

If you find yourself getting aggravated at young people during the worship service, take a moment and think

back to when you may have had young ones in your family. Think about the lives of the parents that are

struggling to teach their children about God in a godless society. Rather than getting upset, maybe offer a

helping hand. Rather than wishing that they would leave, praise God for their presence. Rather than getting up

and leaving yourself, say a prayer. Ask God for patience and the ability to accept and welcome those children

with joy, just as our Savior did. Continued on

page 3

The Key to St. Peter Page 3

Remember what He told the disciples when they rebuked the parents who brought them to Jesus? “Let the little

children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 19:13)

Let’s not rebuke the children nor hinder them in any way. Yes the nursery or cry room is there when needed, but

the children receive so much more when they are fully accepted in all parts of God’s house.

There is a lot going on this month with Advent and Christmas. Please see the rest of the newsletter and keep an

eye on your bulletins for schedules, times and events.

A blessed Advent and Merry Christmas to all of you!

Pastor K.

The Parson’s Pen from page 2

Save the Date

January 16, 17, 18

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s that time again…..

Lifetouch is scheduled to be here in January of 2014 for three days

only in order to photograph our members for an updated church

directory. The sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.

Each complimentary program features an 8x10 portrait and directory

for each participating family.

GIRL’S NIGHT OUT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ will be taking a break in the month of December.

Mark your calendars though, when we return

on January 4th

to go bowling!

Babysitting will be provided.

Serving in God’s House in December

LWML Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday, December

10 at 6:04 pm

We will meet in the Young Adult Classroom at the church. Those who

attend are asked to bring a finger food and a monetary donation for a

project.

Counters

Brent Husfeld

William Pickett

Altar Guild

Rebecca Horton

Altar Care

Davie Allen

Carrie Aune

Rebecca Pickett Tina Roth

Elder William Pickett

Greeters

Lou McConeghy Melissa Stephens

Lay Readers

12/1 – Arn Anderson

12/8 – Bob Aune

12/15 – William Pickett

12/22 – Bryan Roth 12/29 – Travis Fechtler

Nursery Schedule

12/1 – Maci Ferguson / Monica Mayfield

12/8 – Eva Fechtler / Rebecca Horton

12/15 – Mary Atkinson / Shelby Horton

12/22 – Lauren Gill / Hattie Hammer 12/29 – Katie Jones / Shelby Horton

Acolytes

12/1 – Will Jones / Josh Knobloch

12/8 – Dalton Fechtler / Sid Mayfield

12/15 – Lauren Gill / Hattie Hammer

12/22 – Mary Atkinson / Shelby Horton 12/29 – Dalton Fechtler / Will Jones

December Events

ADVENT December 4 – Advent I

December 11 – Advent II December 18 – Advent III

ALL SERVICES TO BEGIN AT 7 P.M.

Children’s

Christmas Eve Program December 24 @ 7:00 pm

New Years Eve Communion Service December 31 @ 7 pm

The Nativity of

Our Lord

December 25

Service at 10 am

Here we go a caroling…Everyone is invited to join us for Christmas Caroling on Saturday,

December 15 at 3:00 pm.

We will meet at the church to load the van and spread Christmas cheer to those who

cannot get out. If you know of someone who would enjoy our voices, please contact the

church office. Following the caroling, we will have a hot meal in the fellowship hall at

around 6:30.

Join us and bring a friend!

The Key to St. Peter Page 5

Promises, promises--the Bible is full of them, but ultimately all of the promises of

God are found in the Christ Child. In this Advent worship series, seminary professor

Rev. David Peter explores the promises associated with the original Hebrew names

given to the Messiah, the Promised One, in Isaiah 7-12. Each service will delve into

the meaning behind the promises of old and how those promises of old give

meaning to our lives today as people of promise as we await the Christ Child.

• "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name

Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). In the Hebrew name Immanuel (meaning "God With Us"),

Isaiah captures the essence of the promise of Christ's presence with us forever.

• "The government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called ...

Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). In the name Sar Shalom (meaning "Prince of Peace")

Isaiah proclaims the promise of harmony and unity which only Christ can bring.

• "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his

roots shall bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1). By using the name Nezer (meaning "Branch"),

Isaiah reveals to us that Jesus is connected to us and we are connected to him--

always.

• "The Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation"

(Isaiah 12:2). When he used the name Yeshuah (meaning "Salvation"), Isaiah was

highlighting the promise that Jesus would be the one who would be our ultimate

rescuer from sin, death and hell.

• "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6). When the Christ Child

was born on Christmas, he became The Promise Fulfilled in human flesh, Isaiah

assures us, and we celebrate.

Child Of Promise

A Series of Special Services for Advent

By Rev. David Peter