The Lord be with you, Friends!
We just finished up a very busy weekend at First Presbyterian Church. 33 people came to the Christmas party on Saturday night, which I think was a record turnout. Thank you to everyone who worked hard at making some snacks to share with the big group.
Sunday worship was also big! The music was lovely, the fancy Christmas dinner was spectacular. Thank you to Marj and Kenna for getting out the pretty china and making all of us feel special. Special thanks to those who pitched in to help clean up. Several stayed till about 2:00 to help.
We are getting closer to Christmas! This Sunday you have the option, depending on whether you're a day person or a night person. There will be Sunday morning worship at 11:00AM and there will be our Candlelight service at 6:00PM. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least a few of you at both services...
As you might imagine, the morning service might be a little more low-key - we'll sing a few carols and follow our traditional order of worship. Sunday night will be the lessons and carols - lots more singing and telling the story. We are lucky to have June Greenfield accompany both services on the piano!
Please remember to pray for:
Yvette (recovering after surgery)
Vera Cordova (recovering from a stroke)
Friends of Eric Rivera (the Cordovas - no relation to the above. Wife has cancer)
Travelers
Thanksgiving that Julie's brother doesn't have cancer!
The injured and grieving in Washington State
Mickey Burch
Military and their families (who are together or apart)
Churches to be safe spaces
That people in our congregation get healthy (that yucky cold is still going around)
The last prayer I added on my own, as I have had my own anxieties lately. I want more than anything that this Christmas be special, safe and joyful for everyone who chooses to go to church to worship the King of Kings.
This week:
Yoga is today at noon! Bring your mat.
Tomorrow and Friday Exercise, Eat and Pray will meet at 9:00AM.
Sunday @11:00AM and @6:00PM Worship the Newborn King!
As for me, this time of year I like to see when I can catch George C. Scott's interpretation of Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol is showing several times on American Movie Classics, including on Christmas Eve at 8:30PM, right after our candlelight service!
Do you have a favorite holiday tradition?
Attached is this past Sunday's sermon. The history lesson on the "Christmas Truce" of 1914 is pretty well-documented. For more information about it, you can go here: http://time.com/3643889/christmas-truce-1914/ You can also download an e-book from Amazon written by the son of one of the soldiers, based on his diary, called, Meet at Dawn, Unarmed.
Seek the Baby in the manger. Worship Him. If I don't see you this weekend in church, may God bless you and keep you on the day of His birth.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Amy
december_17_2017_3rd_sunday_of_advent_sermon.docx |