Rejoice in the birth of Christ

The Word was made flesh! He became truly man; man all over in body, soul, and spirit; in everything but sin. All the nations of the Earth God had made of one blood, and of that one blood was the Word made partaker, becoming bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh; his body of the very substance of a virgin. Thus Bethlehem becomes the link between heaven and Earth. God and man meet there, and looked each other in the face. In the young child man sees God, and God sees man.

There is joy in heaven, there is joy on Earth, Glory to God in the highest on earth peace and good will toward man. The lesson taught us at Bethlehem is the lesson of grace; the grace of God, the grace of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Bethlehem must not stand alone, we must associate it with Jerusalem; we must bring the cradle and the cross together, the Prince of peace is there, the God of salvation is there.The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

These little tender hands shall yet be torn; these feet that have not yet trod the rough earth, shall be nailed to the tree. That side shall yet be pierced by a Roman spear; that back shall be scourged; that cheek shall be buffeted and spit upon; that brow shall be crowned with thorns; and all for you !

Is not this love? Is it not the great love of God ? And in this love is there no life? And in this life is there not salvation? Would you learn the way of God?

Go to Bethlehem. See yon infant : It is God; The Word made flesh. He is the way. No man comet to the Father but by Him. Go and deal with Him. So shall Bethlehem be to you the gate of heaven.

Where shall we find such self-denial as at the cradle and the cross, who chose not Jerusalem, but Bethlehem, for His birthplace; not a palace nor a temple, but a stable for his first earthly home?

Not to be affected with Christs love in dying for us is to have hearts harder than rocks.

Emanuel Lutheran Church

Emanuel Lutheran Church will hold a pancake breakfast fundraiser to benefit Todd Schnaible, who had his leg amputated above the knee at 9;45 a.m. on Sunday.

All proceeds will be used to make his home more accessible.

The church will also host a “Three Days of Prayer” event from Monday to Wednesday, featuring a meal followed by scripture readings and prayer.

At 8 a.m. on Monday, the readings will focus on thanksgiving and praise after breakfast.

Lunch at noon on Tuesday will be followed by readings about vision and celebration.

Wednesday’s 6 p.m. dinner will be The following is a list of next week’s lunch menus for area schools and LOEL Center. Choice of 1 percent milk or nonfat chocolate milk is served with each school meal. LOEL Center lunches are available to anyone age 60 and older; for reservations call 209-369-3920.

Lodi Unified K-8 breakfast Tuesday: Sweet potato coffee cake, sausage and cheese biscuit sandwich, whole grain rich assorted cereal, fresh fall fruit, fruit juice, and milk.

Wednesday: Banana chocolate chip muffin with cheese stick, yogurt parfait with graham, whole grain rich assorted cereal, fresh fall fruit, dried fruit, and milk.

Thursday: Cranberry orange muffin with cheese stick, cinnamon glazed toast, whole grain rich assorted cereal, fresh fall fruit, fruit juice, and milk.

Friday: Cheesy ham and cheese egg muffin with English muffin, yogurt cup with graham, whole grain rich assorted cereal, fresh fall fruit, and milk.

Lodi Unified K-8 lunch Tuesday: Chicken noodle soup with garlic French bread slice, mexi-pocket, protein meal with wow sandwich, cheese stick, graham, spring lettuce mix, turnip sticks, cauliflower, red bell pepper, fresh fruit variety. followed by readings about petition.

Emanuel Lutheran Church is located at 1540 W. Lodi Ave., Lodi.

For more information, call 209-3342130 or visit

United Congregational Christian Church

The United Congregational Christian Church will begin holding confirmation classes for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders as well as adults at 9 a.m. on Sundays beginning in February. The classes will focus on the church’s theology, Bible history and visits to other churches.

Anyone interested in a Hammond 124-XL Organ should contact Diane Nantt at 209-368-1955. Wednesday: Bombay curry chicken with brown rice, hamburger, mozzarella breadsticks with marinara, spring lettuce mix, bean mix, carrots, cucumber, diced fruit, fresh fruit.

Thursday: Texas straw hat with tortilla chips, deli ham wrap with cracker, toasted cheese sandwich, spring lettuce mix, roasted butternut squash, jicama sticks, peas, fresh fruit variety.

Friday: Turkey mashed potato bowl with roll, Baja fish sticks with roll, bean and cheese burrito, spring lettuce mix, coleslaw, radish, corn, baked cinnamon

United Congregational Christian Church is located at 701 S. Hutchins St., Lodi. For more information, call 209-368-1955 or visit

First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church is offering an intensive class with Steve Newman, “Understanding the New Testament,” at 9:45 a.m. Sundays and at 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

The class is free of charge. It will survey the New Testament with an emphasis on principles of how to understand and interpret different types of its literature.

First Baptist Church is at 267 N. Mills Ave., Lodi. For more information, apples, fresh fruit.

Lodi Unified Middle School lunch Tuesday: Chicken noodle soup with garlic French bread slice, mexi-pocket, protein meal with wow sandwich, cheese stick, graham pizza variety, entrée salad variety, spring lettuce mix, turnip sticks, red bell pepper, fresh fruit.

Wednesday: Bombay curry chicken over brown rice, hamburger, mozzarella breadsticks with marinara, pizza variety, entrée salad variety, spring lettuce mix,

Thursday: Texas straw hat with tortilla chips, deli ham wrap with cracker, toasted cheese sandwich, pizza variety, entrée salad variety, spring lettuce mix, peas, jicama sticks, fresh fruit.

Friday: Turkey mashed potato bowl with roll, Baja fish sticks with roll, bean and cheese burrito, pizza variety, entrée salad variety, spring lettuce mix, corn, coleslaw, fresh fruit.

LOEL Center call 209-334-1332 or visit

The Home Church

The Home Church will host David Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays beginning this week. Membership kits are available online for $109, and participants can audit the class for free.

The Home Church is located at 11451 N. West Lane, Lodi. For more information, call 209-339-7333 or visit Tuesday: Chicken and dumplings, coleslaw, steamed broccoli, fruit salad, Jell-O salad, milk.

Wednesday: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, country gravy, steamed Brussel sprouts, apricot halves, whole wheat roll, milk.

Thursday: Ham and scalloped potatoes, steamed carrots, pineapple, whole wheat roll, milk.

Friday: Minestrone soup, wedge salad, blue cheese dressing, hard boiled egg, Mandarin oranges, garlic bread, milk.