The Week of Christmas

Dearly Beloved,


Christmas Eve is just around the corner, and I know that so many of you feel bogged down with gifts left to buy, parties to attend, and family functions. My prayer for you is that our church might be a place of refuge for you this holiday, where you can lay down your burdens and find an hour of peace. 


For many of us, Christmas is a time mixed with both joy and grief. We grieve for the people that are no longer around our Christmas tree, and the way the holiday has changed for us over the years. If you’re feeling that way this year, I encourage you to attend our worship for The Longest Night, led by Rev. Dr. Jenny Veninga and Pastor Meghan, in which all the feelings of the season will be held in grace. It will be held at church and online on Wednesday, December 21st, at 7 PM.


Just a few days later is Christmas Eve. We’ll celebrate the coming of Christ with candlelight services at both 4 PM and 8 PM. The earlier service will be aimed more towards families with children, with more singing and a simple “Posada” of sorts in place of the sermon. The later service will be our traditional evening candlelight service and will be live-streamed online as well.


Both Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on Sundays this year, so we will continue holding a family-friendly 4 PM service for those two Sundays. Come on Christmas Day for a brief worship service of lessons, poetry, and carols, followed by cookies and cocoa. On New Year’s Day, Carol Barrett and Meghan Hatcher will lead us in an 4pm Epiphany worship service including rituals for the new year and journaling.  

I pray that amid all the lists and obligations, you find in our worship together that Christ is still being born in our midst, eternally.

Much heart,
Rev. Anna