When Janna and I were serving as missionaries in the newly independent nation of Latvia following the break-up of the Soviet Union, we were quite surprised to discover the difference and the confusion in New Year’s Eve traditions. In the textbooks of the Soviet Union, students had read about the New Year’s Eve traditions celebrated around the world. Regardless of their geographic differences, according to the textbooks, people sang “New Year’s songs,” and they decorated their “New Year’s trees.” They even gave one another “New Year’s presents.” In the Soviet textbooks, the festival of Christmas was not even mentioned except for an a footnote where it stated the British had a rich tradition of music called “carols.” These songs were reportedly sung a few days earlier than December 31st for a lesser known English festival called Christmas.

 Over the course of the past 20 years, many of the “former” Christmas traditions have returned to their proper place on December 24th, but there are still some unique New Year’s Eve traditions for December 31st. In Latvia you must still eat a bowl of gray peas with bacon bits before the stroke of midnight, otherwise, the remaining peas will foreshadow your tears in the new year. In Germany and Austria, families melt tin or lead and pour the molten mass into cool water. They then spend the rest of the evening interpreting the meaning of the new forms. In other parts of the world, churches gather in prayer in the hours before midnight. Perhaps the most common traditions are the ringing of church bells and the explosions of fireworks at midnight, and of course, the obligatory sipping of champagne. It seems, all people want a little preview of what the new year will bring.

 In Slovakia, we experienced a mixture of the sacred and secular. As the church bells began to peel, it seemed as if the bells were singing an old Slovak hymn, called Rok Novy- or New Year. The text of the song was translated by the late Slovak-American hymn writer Jaroslava Vajda into the hymn “Greet Now the Swiftly Changing Year.”

 This Jesus came to end sin’s war; This name of names for us he bore.

Rejoice! Rejoice! With thanks embrace Another year of grace.

His love abundant far exceeds The volume of a whole world’s needs.

Rejoice! Rejoice! With thanks embrace Another year of grace.

 I meditate upon that simple text every New Year’s Eve. In spite of the gray peas, the molten tin, and the bubbles in the champagne, we really don’t know what the new year will bring. But we do have the assurance that “God’s love abundant far exceeds The volume of a whole world’s needs.” For me, that is good news. I can look at the new year ahead and rejoice. Indeed, God has given another year of grace.

 Happy New Year! Pastor Arden Haug

The following infant received the sacrament of Holy Baptism at LOTI in December:

Stefan Mikael Sandberg

Born:  November 27, 2010

Baptized:  December 29, 2013

Parents:  Svetlana and Mikael Sandberg

Please keep Stefan and his family in your prayers.

The Lord’s Prayer:  Featuring Tot

This Sparkhouse Animated film was filmed in our sanctuary.
Be careful Arden, it looks like Tot wants your job!

The Sunday School pageant, under the direction of Diane LaMere, was the highlight of the day.  The children put on a great program that was enjoyed by everyone.  Below are some photos of the pageant and Lauren Rondestvedt who was Santa Lucia.

Isla Mae Tropple

Born:  September 16, 2013

Baptized:  November 17, 2013

Parents:  Anne and Erik Tropple

Amelie Varenna Ducuns

Born:  June 18, 2013

Baptized:  November 27, 2013

Parents:  Meredith and Christophe Ducuns

Tess Leona Wolke

Born:  June 20, 2013

Baptized:  November 30, 2013

Parents:  Mary Jane and Joshua Wolke

Please keep our new little members and their families in your prayers.

LOTI volunteers have served dinner the first Friday of every month for years!  This local outreach is a great way to get together with someone at church to help others in our neighborhood.  We serve about 40 people once a month at Our Saviour’s Housing, 2219 Chicago Ave. S.  If you have questions or want to join a group  to cook and serve, please contact Susan Melbye at 952-239-0379.  We have openings for several of the months in 2014.

It is not too late to turn in your 2014 Estimate of Giving Card.  The Stewardship Team and the Executive Committee are working on the budget for 2014 so it would be helpful for them to have your pledge card soon.  Thank you to those have already turned in the cards.

PRAYER LIST

Please keep the following friends & members of our community of faith in your prayers of thanksgiving or for comfort, peace, and healing:  Fritz Kottke, Dick Stewart; Lucy Miller, Shirley Robinson, Joyce Madson, Kermit Kramer, Denise Johnson, Mary Flynn

This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported LOTI this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to look into our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Contact the church office for more information.