Good Afternoon!
I hope you are all well and enjoying the beauty that is Christmas. Today (December 26) the church puts Advent behind and begins the season of Christmas (which will last until January 6). This season is called the Epiphany of the Lord, and it is the time we recognize the importance of the coming of the Magi to the Christ and along with it the sharing of the good news of the birth with gentiles all over the world. Epiphany will last all the way through March 2, which is Transfiguration Sunday leading to the beginning of Lent. I look forward to it all as we experience together our own journey with the Messiah.
During this time, I will be offering a very special 4-week class that will enable us to learn about spiritual gifts. We will end by actually taking a spiritual gifts self guided questionnaire to help you identify your own unique God-given gifts. I was thinking we might could do it as a bag lunch class after church. Think about it and we can decide together. I am really looking forward to this! Believe it or not, recognizing and growing your spiritual gifts can be life changing!
I think it is important not only to look forward, but to look back as well. This Christmas season has been a little different for Jim and me as we maneuvered 3 different hospital stays. Your love and support went a long way in getting us through! Knowing your prayers were with Jim to experience healing and me to experience a calm state of mind meant so very much to us. And each of our Christmas events came together beautifully as we shared Christmas together. The Advent study that Linda Hessel so gracefully led, the Nativity movie in our sanctuary with cookies (!), the Community Chorus Concert, the service of Lessons and Carols and the Come and Go communion in the beauty of a candlelit sanctuary were holy and sacred experiences. Thank you for planning, for taking part in and for attending.
The life of the church goes on. This next year is full of so much hope! We have folks in new leadership roles. The Unified Council is delighted to welcome Beth DeStasio as our new chairwoman. Kim Thornton will be our Finance Chair and Stacey Thornton will be sharing our announcements each Sunday. Diane Nicholson will continue as our awesome and thoughtful lay leader. I also want to speak for myself and all the staff in our deep gratitude for your generous Christmas gift to each of us. It was deeply appreciated. What a privilege is it to be in this place. The beauty of the church is that there is a place for each one of us!
I will see you all on Sunday! We will gather for Sunday School at 10:00 and worship at 11:00!
Love you!
Rev. Martha