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All of the small details are coming together for a service of worship and praise on Sunday at 10:30 am. The pedal on the big timpani drum needed WD40 and adjustment. Thankfully, Simon Newman knew what to do. Gathering all of the percussion instruments from all over the church and county was quite the feat – these are the bells and whistles….. Setting up the chancel area so that everyone is comfortable and can see the conductor, making sure all the choristers are ready to sing, gathering instrumentalists from all over to suddenly come together on Saturday to rehearse and Sunday to play, finding all of the music stands in the church, making sure that everyone has music including the children who are singing so well, making sure the sound is good and working for live and live stream, getting bulletin information into Donna, and many other small details performed by lots of people in order to give this gift of worship. My heartfelt thanks to all of those people – you know who you are! You, the congregation, will participate in singing the great carols of the season and experience some new tunes that will stick with you as you drive home from worship. AND THERE WAS LIGHT! by Joseph M. Martin was published in 2019. I chose this cantata because the music is beautiful and full of joy and the texts used are in line with our Advent Theme – A Glimmer of Light.
On Wednesday, December 21st, we experience the longest night of the year. Sunrise is at 7:21 am and sunset occurs at 5:27 pm –13 hours and 54 minutes, to be exact. This is the Winter Solstice. On that day, we are tilted as far away from the Sun as possible, which means that the Sun’s path across the sky is as low in the sky as it can be. It’s no mistake that this date has been chosen to hold our Longest Night service. On that date at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary, you will have an opportunity to honor and remember lost loved ones.
Christmas Eve brings our traditional services of Carols & Candles. At 4, there will be an abbreviated service with a children’s nativity tableau as the story is told. At 5:30, the choir and instrumentalists will add to this full service of Lessons, Carols, & Candles which also includes the nativity tableau. There will be soloists and duets, as well. Shortly before 9:00 pm, our newly formed Early Music Ensemble will provide music for meditation. This Candlelight & Communion service will include a homily, communion, solos, and carols.
We return home on Christmas Eve only to wake the next morning back at church to celebrate the actual Lord’s Day at one 10:30 am service. Christmas Day occurs on Sunday on average every seven years, depending on leap years, etc. This service will be in the same format as the 8:30 service with more singing of carols.
New Year’s Day also falls on Sunday! This is a great way to start off the new year at this one service at 10:30 am.
The holidays for many will be filled with laughter, food, joy, family, gifts, and travel. I pray for your safety, your health, and ask for many blessings for a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I thank you for your prayers for our family as we have gone through difficult times and situations. There is much hope for healing and we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers. We have felt them and experienced much peace. Thank you.
Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Gratitude,
Rhonda
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