Pastoral Letters
Lakeview United Church
Seeking Spiritual Renewal and Growth in a Caring, Affirming Community...
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025
SOME NEWS FROM YOUR PEWS (or, how I see it)
Greetings to all of you as the month of December unfolds. What I want to share with you is something which I’ve had in my thoughts for a few days in what is the real significance of the child born in Bethlehem. Here’s my somewhat spin on it. There was this skit that was put together by Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, and I believe that it was called, “The Two Thousand- and Thirteen-Year-Old Man.” I think that Reiner was interviewing Brooks who was the old gentleman and Reiner asks him the question if he always believed in Jesus. Brooks says, “No. We had a guy in our town named Phil and for quite a long time, we worshiped Phil.” And Reiner replies, “You worshiped a guy named Phil? Why?” And Brooks says, “Because he was big…and he was mean…and he could break you in two with his bare hands.” So, Reiner asks another question: “Did you have prayers?” Brooks says, “Oh yeah! Do you want to hear one? O Phil, please don’t be mean and hurt us, or break us in two with your bare hands.” And of course, this is where there’s complete silence. So, Reiner asks, “So, when did you start worshiping God?” Brooks says, “Well, one day a big thunderstorm came up, and a lightning bolt hit Phil…we gathered around Phil and saw that he was dead…then we said to one another, ‘There’s something bigger than Phil.’”
And I know that this may be tongue in cheek but this is where I look at the birth in Bethlehem and say, There’s something bigger than just the story…there’s so much else around it…and it’s for us to put our belief in the God who can change our world by becoming a child and showing us the way.
Following are the events and the dates planned for the Advent season so hopefully you can attend one or many to make your Christmas season come alive:
· Sunday of Hope, November 30 – 1st Sunday of Advent (Communion) – 10:00 am.
· Saturday, December 6 – 7:00 pm. A Sacred Christmas & Seasonal Concert (Horizon Ridge)
(For more information, see the add in this edition of Lakeview News & Views)
· Sunday of Peace, December 7 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
(Special Musical Guests – Horizon Ridge) 10:00 am.
· Sunday of Joy, December 14 – 3rd Sunday of Advent (Children’s Sunday) – 10:00 am.
· Tuesday, December 16 – 7:00 pm. Blue Christmas or Longest Night
· Wednesday, December 17 – 12:00 noon, Sanctuary Sounds
· Sunday of Love, December 21 – 4th Sunday of Advent – 10:00 am.
· Wednesday, December 24 Children’s Christmas Eve service, 5:00 pm.
Candlelight Christmas Eve service, 7:00 pm.
· Sunday, December 28th – Christmas caroling and storytelling – 10:00 am.
And on a final note, I thank all of you spending time during the year and reading my thoughts of the month. Hopefully they open your hearts to the meaning of being a beloved child of God for yes, each and everyone of you are. May 2026 be a year of wonder and of fulfillment in your lives. So I leave you now with a Prayer time:
So today, we give thanks for the possible Currier and Ives landscape which may have covered our world. It is through moments such as these where you call upon us to slow ourselves down and to enjoy the lives which you’ve given us. As we all come closer to the edges of Bethlehem may our walk become slower and more intentional as we know what we are finally going to see, will change the world…it’s you, O God, who will be showing us the way…Amen.
Blessings of love and peace to all of you….The Rev. Jope Langejans