At this time we invite the children to come forward for the children's message the pastor announced one Sunday morning. As the children came forward he took out paper and pen and drew a large circle. When finished he asked, How do you like my person? With puzzled looks on face, the children studied the picture. No one said a thing. What's missing? Pastor asked. With that the light came on - boys and girls began to respond. You need two eyes - You need a mouth - Don't forget the ears. After the missing parts were added, the pastor asked them, 'OK, what's the meaning of the message?' Once again, no one said a thing. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ~ 1 Corinthians 12.27

The human body is an amazing, incredible machine; a vast array of parts. Together they form one body, designed to work as one. The parts don't choose their jobs. God does that, assigning and equipping the members and their function, working together as one. When all parts are working, it's great! But when some are not working, like when we get sick, injured, or careless... things don't go so well. Like many people, I have hearing loss, especially severe loss in my left ear. It's very frustrating for me and (sorry to say) for others too. But God is good. He wisely created us with two ears. And not just that, given we are His body, created with different parts to work together, problems like hearing loss become opportunity for others to make up the difference.

As with our bodies, so also the church, there are many different parts. That's what Paul writes in Ephesians 4, And He gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, pastors and teachers - all to equip the church for ministry. God gave prophets in the Old Testament, Apostles in the New Testament - to receive and write down the Scriptures, so that the Body of Christ might carry out His mission. But the mission given is not always the mission followed. Back in the days of St. Paul, the church in Corinth was a mess. There was bickering and fighting, ungodly and unloving conduct, false teaching, and impious worship. As a result, the mission and the church itself were in peril. One by one, St. Paul addressed their issues in his letter. Paul appealed to them to repent and return to being the people God gave them to be in Christ.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. Whether its teaching, serving, cleaning, planning, leading or caring, the question is, Where do you fit in the picture, as part of His body here at Zion?

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it We've only begun to scratch the surface... but it's time to wrap this up. Speaking of wrapping things up, are you ready for Advent? Notice I didn't ask, 'ready for Christmas'? Advent itself is a beautiful means to prepare to celebrate (as only His Body the church can do) our Lord's birth. But what about those who are unable to come to our Lord's Divine service at church? How will God deliver His gifts of word and sacrament and fellowship to them? Well... think about the Magi. Like the Magi, we are blessed with the high privilege and honor of bringing our gifts to God; an obvious application. But don't forget, God also gives gifts to us, not to be kept in our possession, but to be given away. Not you, nor me, nor any of our neighbors need miss out on Christmas this year.

O COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD! Blessed Advent and Christmas!

~ Pastor Kelly G. Mitteis