December Newsletter 2025
Part of the Centennial celebration of the United States was hosting the World’s Fair in Philadelphia. In addition to the Corliss Centennial steam engine powering most of the fair, a person would also bear witness to the hand and torch of the Statue of Liberty, the introduction of root beer, and displays featuring new inventions like the typewriter and the sewing machine. Another invention made a late-entry to the fair, being placed between educational pamphlets and a display of pipe organs. The inventor, desperate for someone to look at his rough-looking assemblage of electronics and cylinders, sought out the fair’s judges. On his way, he ran into Emperor Don Pedro II of Brazil, who had briefly visited him at the college where he taught. After a brief conversation, Don Pedro (with judges in tow) sought out the inventor’s display.
Emperor Don Pedro was handed an iron box receiver attached to a block of wood while the inventor excused himself to head to another room. While he was there, he started to recite Shakespear’s Hamlet into his own device. You can imagine Don Pedro’s surprise when the electronic wires transmitted the inventor’s voice into his own receiver. The inventor? Alexander Graham Bell. The invention? A very rough draft of the telephone. Because of his late entry and the location of his display, Bell’s device was almost lost to the pages of historical obscurity. The telephone fundamentally changed the world, immeasurably expediting the rate and frequency of communication. Telegraphs became a thing of the past – all you needed was a device and a length of wire and you could talk to people through electrical currents. You can only imagine what Bell would think of cell phones.
The location of Bell’s display is humorous to me. Having walked through halls and buildings full of display booths at fairs, craft shows, thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales, it’s entirely too easy to pass by something extraordinary given the immediate proximity of other things begging for your attention. Bell’s display was unsuspecting, yet it changed the world. It reminds me of Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians 4.
We proclaim the truth of God plainly to the world. The Gospel isn’t convoluted, complicated, or overly-elaborate to describe. Paul commends Christians for their communicating the Gospel in a way that doesn’t take away from its beautiful simplicity. We do well to recognize the efforts of our spiritual adversary to blind any and every one from the truth of God. And yet, like Bell’s display, Paul describes the treasure we have in Christ as being hidden in jars of clay. Unsuspecting vessels serving as containers for something greater. And like Don Pedro II, those who discover that treasure is met with surprise and elation. The treasure in our “jars of clay” is truly one that fundamentally changes the world.
Pastor Dan Hurner
Preaching Rotation and Texts….
Dec. 3
7:00pm –Tord. Psalm 2:1-12; Pr. Mark
December 7
9:00 am Tord. - Luke 1:46-56 (Mary’s Song) Pr.Mark
10:30 am Kvam - Luke 1:46-56 ( Mary’s Song) Pastor Mark
10:30 am Zion-Sarp-Luke 1:39-45 ( Elizabeth) Pastor Dan
December 10
6:15pm Parish Christmas Party at Zion-Sarpsborg
December 14 Sunday School Programs at Tordenskjold and Z/S
9:00am Kvam - Luke 1:39-45 (Elizabeth) Pastor Dan
10:30am Zion/Sarp – Luke 1: 46-56 ( Mary’s Song) Pastor Mark
10:30am Tord.- Luke 1:39-45 ( Elizabeth)
Pastor Dan
December 17
7:00 pm Kvam - Jacob Zacha
December 21
9am Tordenskjold- Luke 1:67-79 (Zechariah) Pastor Mark
10:30am Zion/Sarp. – Luke 1:67-79 (Zechariah) Pastor Dan
10:30am Kvam- Luke 1:67-79 ( Zechariah) Pastor Mark
December 24
4:30pm Christmas Eve Service at Zion/Sarp.
10:pm Christmas Eve Service at Tordenskjold
December 25
10:00am Christmas Day Service at Kvam
December 28
9:00am Tordenskjold- Pastor Mark
10:30am Zion/Sarp - Cliff Fegert
10:30am Kvam- Pastor Mark
Holy Communion
Dec 7- Zion-Sarpsborg
Dec 7 -Tordenskjold
Dec 21 Kvam
Council Meetings
Kvam - December 8th @ 7pm (6pm - Deacons)
Zion - December 10th @ 8pm
Tordenskjold - December 16th @ 7pm (6pm - Deacons)
Parish Advent/Christmas Schedule
December 3rd - Advent Service at Tordenskjold, 7pm
December 10th - Parish Christmas Party at Zion-Sarpsborg, 6:15pm
December 17th - Advent Service at Kvam, 7pm
December 24 - Christmas Eve Services; Zion-Sarpsborg @ 4:30pm, Tordenskjold @ 10pm
December 25 - Christmas Day Service at Kvam, 10am
Operation Christmas Child
Thanks to everyone who shared in the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox ministry! Across the Parish, we packed 39 boxes this year. Pray that God would use this ministry to win souls for Christ as the Gospel is shared along with the boxes.
Sunday School Christmas Programs will be a part of the Sunday morning worship services at Tordenskjold and Zion on December 14th. Both services will start at 10:30am
Parish Christmas Party
Our annual Christmas party will be on Wednesday, December 10th. The meal will be served at 6:30pm - come early for fellowship with one another. This year, Zion will head up the program, Tordenskjold will decorate, and Kvam will be providing the meal. Please bring a plate of goodies for the dessert table.
Christmas Fest at Dalton
Be sure to take advantage of the different events taking place at the Threshing Grounds this month! Here's a brief overview of what's planned.
December 6th - Nordic Noel (6pm-8pm). There will be train and sleigh rides, hot chocolate, apple cider, and popcorn, and Scandinavian foods at the Memorial Building.
December 13th - Christmas Fest (9am-8pm). There will be a craft fair hosted at the Community Center and at Zion from 9am-3pm. We will have a Christmas Carol singalong at the Community Center at 4pm, followed by a soup supper served by Anchor from 5-7pm. The Fire Department will have hot dogs from 6-8pm. Also, train and sleigh rides will be available.
December 20th - Winter Solstice (6pm-8pm). There will be train and sleigh rides available. Other activities will be determined.
Christmas Caroling
The Tordenskjold Sunday School is excited to hit the road for some Christmas Caroling to our shut-ins! Everyone is welcome to join us as we spread Christmas Cheer. This is truly a rewarding experience for all. Lunch will be provided at Tordenskjold at 11:45am before we leave (12:30pm). Our plan is to wrap up caroling around 2:30pm. If you have questions, contact Hannah Hurner and Deveny Vukonich.
Anchor News
Confirmation will continue to meet at 6pm at the church hosting the Advent service that week. We will be updating parents as the month progresses.
Anchor will have a soup cook-off on Friday, December 12th (5-8pm) at Zion in preparation for our soup supper fundraiser at the Dalton Christmas Fest.
Anchor will have our annual Christmas Party at Pastor Dan's place on December 20th from 6-8pm. Students are encouraged to invite a friend! Everyone who comes is encouraged to bring a $5 White Elephant gift to swap (the more random, the better).
Pastor's Christmas Greeting page:
Merry Christmas from the Hurner’s
In gratitude and praise, we give thanks for the gift of God we have in Jesus Christ. In light of God's unwavering love and faithfulness, we are blessed to be able to celebrate Christmas with all of you. May God abundantly bless each of you this Christmas season and in the coming year. In Christ, Dan, Hannah, Eloise, Adelynn, Maisie, and Theia.
Merry Christmas from the Johnson’s
On behalf of our entire family, Merry Christmas! We are thankful for each one of you and trust that God would refresh us with the Good News of the birth of the Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Thank you for the time of refreshing these last month and we look forward to what God has in store for us this Christmas season and in the coming year. Thank you for praying for us during the home going of my dad and for your love and care for our family! God Bless Each of You!
Pastor Mark and Sara and Family
Advent Calendar
Be sure to check out this year's digital Advent Calendar from Pastor Dan! Each day includes a brief devotion and a link to a Christmas song as we come closer to Christmas.