A Very Valpo Christmas

Below is a compilation of nominal chronology during this 2007 Christmas season. I could not have asked for a more full or more delightful Christmas celebration. So far it has been 2 weeks of sheer bliss - and it keeps getting better! I hope you enjoy this small montage:

Youth Director, Erin and I celebrating the return of the College Students at our pizza party. We were able to have a beer because alas, no students showed up. So we simply toasted them (and Tammy!)


A remedial photo entry - my dear 8th Grade Confirmation class on my birthday (at the end of November). They make me look forward to every moment of my Wednesday evening! No only do they teach me, but they are just so lively and full of questions and interesting ideas!



Our big 12" snowstorm on top of the previous 5"! For the first time in Jerry's 28 years at XLC, church was cancelled. There is certainly cause for concern when your plowing company becomes terribly stuck in the parking lot and had to call for help. I believe it was an act of divine intervention; God ensuring the hearers of the Word would not suffer my sermon! This is the view from my flat!

A few friends from XLC:

Karen Tiebert Dottie and Irv Olson

Dorothy Maddox Betty Luckett


The Christmas Pageant:

What you do not see here is when Joseph handed Mary the baby Jesus by the head. Very touching!


My favorite video clip!
"I Just Wanna Be A Sheep - bah bahbah bah!"



Little Luke rockin' out to "Away in the Manger"



The Pre-K and Kindergarten classes singing "Mary Had A Baby," in the marvelous style of "shout" music!

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Christmas Partying at the Castleman home! My supervisor Jerry is on the right (back) and his wife Claudia is opposite at the left end. Her mother is on the left in the front row. All of these people have been gathering annually for nearly two decades throughout all of the changes in family and church! And they make a mean Swedish meatball with green bean casserole...!


Advent and Christmas wall hangings!


The church sanctuary looking lovely and dimmed on Christmas Eve. Jerry hit the ball out of the park with a beautiful and reflective sermon about the gifts we have and those unexpected gifts God adds to us beyond those things we can imagine! I left those services not only being excited about the gifts here and those to come, but also fully prepared and excited for the coming of Jesus. Many thanks to Jerry!

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas - that Father Christmas was very good to you and that you were surrounded by the love and peace of your family and friends!

Christmas Eve Welcome

Good Evening!

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

Why are we gathered here this evening?

You look so cheery in your reds and greens, standing close with your friends and family! We gather here in hope tonight. We gather in hope that tomorrow will bring laughter and delight, a tasty supper, and the comforts of home.

But we are also gathered tonight in a new kind of hope; a hope that shines from the stables of the Middle Eastern countryside, in Bethlehem.

Jesus Christ is coming to you. Your dear Heavenly Father loves you so much this night that He calls your attention to a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. This is the child that, as Martin Luther once said, is laid in the manger of the prophets of the Old Testament. The one coming of whom we sing and praise tonight is the promised baby born so that you do you not fear God’s presence in the world, but welcome Him with soft arms and gentle words.

God has come to place Himself in your hands, so that you will know love, and trust in Him above all things.

He comes so the dark places of your heart and the worries of this world will pass away and be no more.

The darkness has seen a great light!
Jesus Christ, Son of God, is born today for you!

The Twelve Days of Internship

This goes out to all of you who know what it is to be an intern on Christmas. Word.

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On the first day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Luther and a love for t.v.

On the second day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Two dirty cassocks

On the third day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Three hours of sleep

On the fourth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Four evaluations

On the fifth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
A long, boring sermon!

On the sixth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Six Bible studies

On the seventh day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Seven Advent greenings

On the eighth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Eight bad translations

On the ninth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Nine cranky elders

On the tenth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Ten pounds of fruitcake

On the eleventh day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Eleven hours a-visiting

On the twelfth day of Christmas my pastor gave to me:
Twelve committee meetings

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*note: this creative work of Christmas cheer in no way necessarily reflects the views of the author in regard to her pastor, who is kind and helpful in the ways a supervisor ought to be.

He'll Say Are You Married, We'll Say "No Man!"

I received my very first proposal of marriage yesterday. I was duly informed that 10-year old John Henry would like for me to wait for him.

For Good Cheer

Dearest Friends,

My brothers and I would like to send you holiday greetings in style.
Click on this link:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1308150356

and a note from my Dear Dad:

http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1308739539

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Natalie, Derek, and Jonathan Gessert

p.s. An addendum from my Mom and her co-worker Sandi:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1319510440

Kiddoes Confirmation Questions

These kids are smart cookies. There is just no two ways around it. Here are the questions turned in yesterday (be prepared... some of them are veritable novelettes):

1. Why doesn't God show His answers to our questions in "flesh" or in more simple forms? Why doesn't HE answer our questions sometimes? (I want to know too...)

2. Hi, I have a long question. I was thinking of going to a different religion when I'm done being confermed. I have a Nana and a Papa that are deeply pious. And I asked my Mom if they would hate me if I even told them about it and she said yes. And they would say I would go to hell. So, if I don't believe in hell and they say I'm goin there, it doesn't really matter because I don't believe in hell, so why do they bother saying it if I don't believe in it and that's all that matters? Consult me when you're done with the answer or if you need help understanding it. (Lets not mince words, shall we?...)

3. What does this sign mean? I've seen it everywhere after I read this book. (I'm not sure which book she is talking about, but the sign is circle with a symmetrical cross in the center)

4. If you pray silently, like in your head, will God still hear you?

5. If God doesn't want us to hate anyone, then should we hate the Devil and why?

6. I was wondering if you read a book that went slightly against the Bible would it be bad to read that? I don't believe it, but is it right to read it? It is the "Golden Compass" and the "Subtle Knife." They are good books though - they are interesting.

7. I think that God, portrayed by Pastor is really hardcore on everyone. Like we'll go to hell if we're not exactly not perfect Christians. And I'm worried about that. (Yowza. I'm not so sure he is hearing what the pastor means... I never hear him being really down on people and I am pretty cued into hearing that type of thing... I'm wondering what he's worried about...)

Pretty tough and pretty personal questions. Any suggestions from blogland?

Tis' The Season: Buy Indulgence, Get One Free!

(Cut and Pasted from BBC.com)

Pope approves Lourdes indulgences

Pope Benedict XVI places great importance on indulgences

Pope Benedict XVI has authorised special indulgences to mark the 150th anniversary of the Virgin Mary's reputed appearance at Lourdes.

Catholics visiting the site within a year of 8 December will be able to receive an indulgence, which the Church teaches can reduce time in purgatory.

Lourdes has drawn pilgrims since Mary was said to have appeared in 1858 to shepherdess Bernadette Soubirous.

The waters of the French shrine are said to have miraculous healing powers.

INDULGENCES AND PURGATORY A plenary indulgence offers full pardon of the temporal punishment (suffering in this life or the next) due to sins already forgiven in confession Purgatory is a kind of spiritual waiting room - for people who do not go directly to paradise or hell after death - to purify souls of residual sin before they enter heaven

The Pope is expected to visit the shrine next year.

The pontiff also said believers who prayed at places of worship dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes from 2-11 February next year - or who were unable to make the journey - would also be able to receive indulgences.

The decree was signed by US Cardinal J Francis Stafford, who is head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court dealing with indulgences and matters of conscience.

Indulgences became infamous in the 16th century for being sold rather than earned, helping, historians say, trigger the Protestant reformation.

While some might consider indulgences an outdated concept, great spiritual importance have been assigned to them by Benedict XVI and his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

Hoosier Daddy?

I found a site that may endanger your commitment to procrastinating no longer...

MyHeritage.com will analyze your face in reference to celebrities as well as family members. According to the site I look 26% more like my mother than my father - news to me! Many people used to ask about my adoption status when I was younger and seen with my black-haired, brown-eyed mother. I only wish my fifth grade orthodontist, Dr. Salzburg were still around - then he would know I am definitely not adopted, thank you very much!

As for celebrity listings, I can heartily recommend ANY site believing I look 75% like Jessica Biel... (however, I cannot vouch for the likeness to actress Woranuch Wongsawan...)