Dear Friends in Christ,
Hope that this second week of Advent finds you well. We had a good Session meeting yesterday. I think that our Elders should get a round of applause for their leadership during such an unusual year. The elders agreed for the time being, to continue putting on hold all church activities, except for worship services, per the state health department orders.
Extra Christmastide Worship: I have been given a green light to offer a "Blue Christmas" service for Healing and Wholeness on Wednesday, December 23. Session agreed to set a time for just after people are off work, so we are going to do this at 5:30. It will be briefer than a Christmas Eve Service. I have already gotten a few names of people who are interested in attending. More information will follow. This is on a Wednesday, in order to include those who work on weekends and might work on the holiday itself.
Please hold in prayer:
David Morris, in his grief for his wife, Anna
For those who have come down with illnesses during this season of light
For travelers
Healthcare workers, small business owners, educators
Students and their families
Betty Ragan and daughter-in-law, Heather Hoefer, in their grief for Robert (you can find his Obituary here)
Lucille Andrada - back pain
Ruth Johnson - general health troubles
For those struggling to maintain mental health
The isolated, those with addictions, the depressed
RAIN
The homeless or hungry in our communities
Those trying to find work
Pat Sieglen - released from post-surgical care, continuing to heal up
Hospitals that are running low on equipment, supplies and beds
Teresa Gallegos' family, with multiple health problems amongst them
Susie Martinez, looking for care for her foot, physical pain
Glenda Coles - self-isolating
Friends, what are you doing during this Advent season to meet Christ Jesus?
What do you miss from past Christmases and how are you making up for that this year?
How are you doing things differently this year?
So many of us are doing things differently this Christmas time. Here are a couple of things that I have seen:
Advent & Christmas ideas during a pandemic
Dealing with Grief During the Holidays
Surviving the Holidays with a Child with Anxiety
Church in Chicago with an Advent Walking tour
"Blue" Christmas Resources
Special Music: If you attended church on Sunday, you enjoyed some lovely special music to get us into the mood. Thanks to Emily Priddy for sharing your heartfelt singing, thereby lifting us all up! I am also looking for special music for the Blue Christmas/Christmas Eve services. Thank you in advance!
Christmas Joy: The Christmas Joy offering is underway. If you want to make your offering online, you can visit this page: Christmas Joy 2020 Christmas Joy is an offering our church traditionally takes up between Christmas and New Years.' 100% of the offering is sent to the PC(USA) for support of leadership development programs, scholarships to Presbyterian schools (Menaul in Albuquerque and Stillman College) and to ministry workers who have emergency needs. For more information, you can visit this page to read/watch video stories about the use of this offering.
I hope that this week you catch glimpses of God's grace this week. May the Lord bless you and keep you. And may it Rain!
Love,
Rev. Amy
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