If I were a soloist, I would sing Sweet Little Jesus Boy. If I were a conductor, I would direct the Hallelujah Chorus. Christmas is the season for songs that touch the heart and memories that heal. I pray that Christmas will be for you a season for great joy, peace and the assurance of God's presence in your life.  Christmas for me is a manger and a cross as poetically told by Anne Weems' poem :

If there is no cross in the manger, there is no Christmas. If the Babe doesn't become the Adult, there is no Bethlehem star. If there is no commitment in us, there are no wise men searching. If we offer no cup of cold water, there is no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh. If there is no praising God's name, there are no angels singing. If there is no spirit of alleluia, there are no shepherds watching. If there is no standing up, no speaking out, no risk, there is no Herod, no flight into Egypt. If there is no room in our inn, then "Merry Christmas" mocks the Christ Child, and the Holy Family is just a holiday card, and God will loathe our feasts and festivals. For if there is no reconciliation, we cannot call Christ "Prince of Peace". If there is no goodwill towards others, it can all be packed away in boxes for another year. If there is no forgiveness in us, there is no cause for celebration. If we cannot go even now unto Golgotha, there is no Christmas in us.  If Christmas is not now, If Christ is not born into the everyday present, then what is all the noise about?

Emmanuel God is with us every day. I look forward to hearing your Christmas stories in the New Year.  May you experience God in your Silent Nights and hear the angels sing in your First Noels.  May miracles come from unexpected places. I began this letter saying if I could, I would direct the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. Handel wrote the piece after a tragic time in his life.  At the time he composed this masterpiece Handel had fallen on hard times. His health was poor from suffering a stroke which incapacitated him. He was out of the good graces of the royal family and he was near bankrupt. Handel, deeply affected by a libretto composed by Charles Jennens, wrote Messiah. The oratorio was composed entirely of Scripture portions, mainly from the Old Testament, divided into three parts: 1) prophecies about the coming Messiah (largely drawing on Isaiah); 2) the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ; 3) the End times with Christ's final victory over sin and death, largely based in the book of Revelation. In the summer of 1741 when the Hallelujah Chorus was completed, Handel's assistant is recorded as saying "I found him in tears saying "I did think I saw heaven open, and saw the very face of God". Each Christmas Carol has meaning. The 12 Days of Christmas taught children about the faith when the celebration of Christmas was illegal. Go Tell It On the Mountain is a Negro Spiritual that was passed from plantation to plantation. The song defied reality, the birth of Christ meant liberation was near.  Christmas Carols in their hymnody tell the story of God with us. As we sing this season may our faith be enriched through the retelling of God's love for the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Murphy, Joy and I.

The service, which will be held as part of the area's observance of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will take place at First Presbyterian Church of Willmar beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley, Executive Presbyter at the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, will  deliver the message. Special music will be provided by John McKay, an accomplished pianist from Saint Peter, Minn.

Begun in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated each year in cities and towns across the country and around the world.

The theme for the 2019 observance is Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). The theme and text for each year's observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are chosen and prepared by representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and representatives of the World Council of Churches. The international texts are developed, adapted, and published for use in the USA by the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute.

The Willmar service is sponsored by the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys. Please contact Karen Lange if you are willing to bring a plate of 24 baked treats to serve following the event. 

The public is cordially invited.

It is with great joy that the Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center Board of Directors introduces Rob Rathsack as the new Director of Outreach and Programs.

Rob comes to Clearwater with 17 years of experience as the former Camp Director of YMCA Camp Nan A Bo Sho, YMCA of the Fox Cities, WI. His emphasis on staff development and desire to build their leadership skills, his passion for working with children and youth, his laughter, questions, thoughtfulness and self-awareness, his extensive experience with the technical side of running a camp (including a strong understanding the American Camp Association accreditation process, high ropes maintenance, programming trends), as well as his experience in funds development all led him to stand out to the search committee.

Sorcha McGuire, who served as co-chair of the Search Committee with Jon Kirschhoffer, stated, "He is a strong communicator, talented relationship builder, and is excited to help us all tell our story. Rob is determined to maintain Clearwater's commitment as steward of the magnificent Creation before us. Finally, Rob will collaborate to build intentional, transformational experiences for all people who visit Clearwater Forest."

Rob will begin his work as Director of Outreach and Programs on January 1, 2019 He joins Tami Jacobs, Director of Operations and Guest Relations and Lance Bauman, Director of Buildings and Facilities to complete our Leadership Team.