Pastor Michele's Christmas Letter - 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Faith,
Just recently I heard someone say, "This is the best Advent I have ever experienced! I just feel so much closer to God - closer than I have felt in a long time!"
How about you? How are you feeling about Advent and Christmas? What is the symbol of Christmas for you? What does Christmas mean to you? Is it shopping for gifts, putting up the Christmas tree, decorating the house? Is it setting up the crèche, sending out Christmas cards, going to sing Christmas carols at a local nursing home? Is it extra time spent in prayer and worship? In his book, The Mood of Christmas, Howard Thurman writes:
"The symbol of Christmas - what is it? It is the rainbow arched over the roof of the sky when the clouds are heavy with foreboding. It is the cry of life in the newborn babe when, forced from its mother's nest, claims its right to live. It is the brooding Presence of the Eternal Spirit making crooked paths straight, rough places smooth, tired hearts refreshed, dead hopes stir with newness of life. It is the promise of tomorrow at the close of every day, the movement of life in defiance of death, and the assurance that love is sturdier than hate, that right is more confident than wrong, that good is more permanent than evil."
Whatever the symbol of Christmas is for each of us, let us prepare for and celebrate the birth of the Christ Child together as a community of faith.
Sunday, December 19th - Fourth Sunday of
Advent
Sermon title - "All I Want for Christmas is a Savior."
"Cookie Walk" following worship
Friday, December 24th - Christmas Eve
6:30 PM - Family Service & candle lighting.
11:00 PM - Service of Candle Lighting and Holy Communion
Christmas Day - 2nd Annual Christmas Day
Free Community Dinner
12 Noon - 2:00 PM
All are Welcome!
Sunday, December 26th
Service of Lessons and Carols at 10:00 AM
1:00 PM - Gather for Christmas Caroling at local nursing homes
May you be blessed during this wonderful and holy time of year and may you experience and give the gifts of Peace, Hope, Joy and Love!
