During my sabbatical, one of the great delights was taking in the P.K.Yonge production of “A Christmas Carol” back in the first week of November. It was just the first week after Halloween, and stepping into the theater, we were met with the croon of Bing Crosby, working through his Christmas standards. So naturally, my first reaction was to flee! As you know, the Christmas season has been creeping into retail stores since mid-October this year– and this usually turns my stomach with the consumerist-retail horror show of holiday hype that makes me feel sick instead of cheery and bright. But as I settled into my seat in anticipation of this high school production of my favorite holiday tale, I found myself humming along and even smiling at this early sign of the season’s impending arrival. Christmas is indeed here. And this year, it brings a more profound yearning and more tangible anticipation than perhaps any other year before.
Consider the four words that we meditate on in each week of the Advent season. Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. And think of one place in the broader world where you would like to see these words made real among us, and send your prayers there. But also think of one place in your own life where you could use a little Christmas (right this very minute) and work towards those. Send a prayer to those places in your own life, too.
There is a daily devotional, edited and assembled by Taylor Williams but filled with beautiful works written by many of you to help guide your way.
If you know someone who could use a little bit of financial assistance this year, you can apply for a mini-grant for them, and we will gladly send it along. We are once again hosting an Angel Gift Market at Rawlings Elementary School. You can donate a new gift to be sold at a greatly reduced cost to a caring adult who can pass on that gift to a beloved child, with all proceeds from the market then going right back into the community. You can gather together in a friendly community with our Women’s Lunch Group or the Men’s Squirrel pie group (it’s not as gross as it sounds). You can come and be inspired by all of our worship offerings! There is a Children’s Christmas pageant (followed by the YU Chili Lunch) and our 30th Annual Service of Lessons and Carols! We will have a Blue Christmas service and a wide variety of options for you to come and worship with us on Christmas Eve. Come and be inspired!
December is a time to gather and re-gather as a community, remembering that night so long ago when hope and love, joy and peace were born in a time of deep despair. A time that joy and love and peace and hope are born again in you and me and the world we long to be. The season is upon us. Merry Christmas to all, and may God bless us, everyone.