Church Family,

I hope that you all are healthy and had a wonderful (and safe) Thanksgiving with your family. As you can imagine given the state of the virus’ activity, we are not in any better position to resume indoor gatherings.  As people of faith, let’s stay vigilant in masking, physical distancing, and staying home (when we can) to help our community and the most vulnerable.  The cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all going up and we need to do what we can for the health and well-being of our church and community!  Please be kind to our retail workers and remember your local businesses.  These are tough times!  The news on vaccines is very encouraging so let’s buckle down and do what we can to keep people safe.  Know that I’m praying for you as we all get through this!

Advent Worship – A Weary World Rejoices!

It has been wonderful to see people at the building for our Advent Worship at the Windows service!   We’ve also had great participation from our folks on YouTube Live as well.  We will continue to try to find ways to improve our YT Live feed so that it comes across more smoothly. One step at a time!  Thank you for your patience in that regard.  
The first Sunday of Advent was Hope and we talked about how weary of waiting we all are, that we all long for God to “break open the heavens and come down!”  This Advent season brings a new meaning to “waiting with hope” as we all hope for a better 2021!   This Sunday’s service is about Peace.  All of us are so weary of the anger, frustration, and hostility that we see in the world and maybe within ourselves…can we still hold up the vision of peace that God gives us?  
If you would like to see the service from last week, see the attached PDF.  Attached also is the Advent Calendar.  

Advent Art & Music

Given all the changes that we’ve had to make, it’s been wonderful to have your patience and understanding as we try to make it all work. That being said, not only have we made it work, we’ve had people step up to beautify the building and offer wonderful special music to the service!  Pam Auble (Worship Chair) has done an absolutely stellar job organizing, arranging, and participating in all-things-worship.  Beth & Ellie Schabel have provided wonderful special music and led us in song.  Jan Green has stepped up to give us gathering and departure music, special music, and accompaniment to the hymns.  Dottie Summerlin (with Pam’s assistance) has designed the beautiful banners we have displayed and will continue to display during the season.  Brian Summerlin built our centerpiece staging to display greenery and have our sanctuary cross outside with us.  Linda Idoine and Jon Secaur have added their touch to the staging area as well.  I don’t know what we’d do without ALL the folks who are making this happen.  What a gift! 

Advent Kits

Hopefully all of you have been blessed with one of the wonderful Advent kits being passed out at the lot or dropped off at your home.  Many, many thanks to Rick Painley for compiling all of those and for all the other behind-the-scenes stuff he’s up to! 🙂  If you have not received an advent kit, please let us know!  Be blessed as you light the candles, take communion, and look at the pictures the children have made! 

Prayer

As some of you know, I’ve been doing a weekly devotion video featuring the prayers of Arianne Braithwaite Lehn from her book “Ash & Starlight”.  This prayer below has been particularly helpful to me during this time and others were moved by it as well.  I wanted to share it with you:

When I’m a paradox of feelings…

Sweet Spirit, How grateful I am for your companionship in all I feel and hold. 

Sometimes I feel unglued, going in so many directions and yearning for centeredness amid the clamor. 

Sometimes I feel bored stiff, weighed down by the heavy sameness of my days and my choices. Sometimes I feel strong and grateful, amazed at the sweetness in this season of life. 

Sometimes I feel self-pitying, sad that another week passed without a phone call from family or invitation from a friend. 

Sometimes I feel consumed with worry— people who need help, people making sad choices, people I feel responsible for, people I don’t understand (or don’t understand me). 

You beautifully seam my paradoxes, grounding both my flurry and emptiness, my worry and joy, in your heart. 

Help me give each of these feelings their place— to honor them, accept them, and with a breath of release, blow away the ones no longer needed. 

I praise you, Loving Spirit, for the fresh energy and freedom you offer. 

Thank you for living within me, breathing your peace and power into the bottom of my being. 

It is not by my own abilities but by you that I live out my calling.  

I ask for your support to be with me, for you are my Source of true strength. 

You have been and will be with me — in the variety of unique circumstances and challenges I face. 

I open my arms and eyes with the acceptance you’re teaching me… Amen. 

Open Door

Please remember that my zoom room or distanced walk is open to you if you should have the need.  God’s peace and presence be with you and may you delve deeply into this introspective and expectant season of Advent.  

Peace,
Chad
Sarah