ou are to name him Jesus,for he will save his people from their sins.

-Matthew 1:21

December 8, 2009Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

CHRISTMASGREETINGS

Christ Became a Humble Child

He was a baby and a child, so that you may be a perfect human. Hewas wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you may be freed from

the snares of death ... He was on earth that you may be in the stars.He had no other place in the inn, so that you may have manymansions in the heavens. (Ambrose)

~ ear members and friends of Immanuel Lutheran Church: Warm greetings to you,~Ueach one, in the name of the Prince of Peace.

I hope you will be pleased to notice on the next page's Christmas schedule, that weare doing something new this year: a Christmas pageant. It is early enough inDecember - Sunday, December 13 - that we hope that many of you will still be in townto join us for worship that good day. Or if you live out of town, but are in the moodto see New York City again during the Christmas Season, then try especially to attendthis Christmas pageant at Immanuel. Our dear member Ann Siemer, for example, isplanning to do so. She moved to the Plattduetsch Home on Long Island last month,but means to return to Immanuel for this special liturgy. It would be great if youcould attend too.

Meanwhile, folks are getting ready for our traditional Christmas joys here atImmanuel. Wood is ready for the fireplace and Carol is baking cookies for theChristmas caroling gathering back at the parsonage this Friday. The Choir isrehearsing Advent and Christmas music, Congregation President Thomas Wicks ismaking his Gluehwein and Al Quirong and his band are getting ready for the St.Nicholas Party on Saturday, December 19. The forest workers are hauling our churchChristmas tree from Canada or Vermont, and we hope many of you will plan to helpwith the Hanging of the Greens, also on December 19.

And for the preacher, there are quiet times of withdrawal from all these busythings and the high honor of lingering with the Bible stories and the wonders of theHoly Incarnation of our God we celebrate at Christmas time.

c H R I s T M A sPhoto: Art Resource: Honthorst, Adoration of the Child Copyright © 2009 by Abingdon Press Utho in U.S.A. 978-0-687-657322

Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you can, please join us this Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning to celebrate"Immanuel" - God with us! Bring your friends and relatives too. Parish SecretaryKaren Rombey, Sexton Christopher Schulze, Parish Bookkeeper Charles Derderian,Music Director Dr. Gwendolyn Toth, and I wish you a splendid remainder to Advent,a Merry Christmas, and God's sure blessings in the New Year and always.

In Christ,

U~OVjVPastor Gregory P. Fryer

THE CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE.:. Christmas Caroling at Lenox Hill Hospital, Friday, December II. Let's meet in the

lobby of the Hospital, 100 East 77th Street, at 7 p.m. Refreshments afterwards at theparsonage, 108 East 82 Street, 7C, 212-861-2939.

•:. Christmas Pageant, II a.m. December 13,2009, the Third Sunday of Advent. Thiswill be an Advent liturgy except for the sermon slot, when the children of thechurch, the costumes, the Holy Family, the Choirs, and Congregation singingChristmas carols take over .

•:. Hanging of the Greens, 2-5 p.m. Saturday, December 19. Weare awfully glad forhelp with dusting the pews and everything in sight, hanging the wreath andgarlands, and putting up the Christmas tree .

•:. St. Nicholas Party, 5 - 9 p.m. Saturday, December 19,2009, after the Hanging ofthe Greens. This party includes a swing band, Gluehwein, Christmas carol sing-a­long, and supper with hams and pot-luck side dishes and desserts .

•:. Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, December 24, 2009. Pre-service music,beginning at 6 p.m. Perhaps out-of-town friends and relatives can join you forChristmas Eve this year. They could still make it home at a fairly reasonable hour.We are anticipating Immanuel's traditional glories of music and choir .

•:. Christmas Morning: II a.m., Friday, December 25th. The Christmas morningliturgy of Holy Communion. The traditional Gospel Lesson is John I, with itsmagnificent doctrine of the holy incarnation of our God .

•:. The First Sunday of Christmas: II a.m., December 27, 2009.:. Name of Jesus: II a.m., Friday, January 1st, 2010. What a good way to start the New

Year: bringing to mind the blessed Name given to us in Baptism -- Jesus Christ,our Lord and Savior. That good Name is given us both for our comfort and ourencouragement in holiness of life .

•:. The Second Sunday of Christmas: II a.m., January 3, 2010.•:. Epiphany Sunday: II a.m., January 10,2010. We love the festival of Epiphany here

at Immanuel, with the story of the Wise Men journeying to Infant Jesus.

God bless each of you, at Christmas and always!