Happy Third Sunday of Advent, Friends!

One of my favorite poems for Advent includes this verse from poet and author Madeleine L'Engle:

I am prayerful with you that this can be such a season in your own life and the life of our world.

Today, we celebrate the Advent Sunday of JOY. I don't know about you, but I could use an infusion of joy in the midst of the devastation and despair and calamity of our world. Some peace and calm in the midst of chaos both within and without.

Join us today at 10am MT either in-person or online. We'll learn deeper ways to understand what joy really means---through two eccentric and unlikely characters named Buddy the Elf and John the Baptist. Trust me. There's more to both of them than what meets the eye!

Finally, due to seating limitations this year per health guidelines, be sure to register for one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight services on December 24th at 4pm or 6pm. We will collaborate with All Souls Church as we celebrate the wonder and light of Christmas. REGISTER NOW

CLICK HERE to download a copy of Sunday's worship guide. I look forward to seeing you in-person or online this morning at 10am MT.

Advent peace,

Andrew

Whether you consider yourself a Christian or not, you probably celebrate Christmas in some form, even if it’s just purchasing gifts for friends. But did you know our manner of celebrating this holiday did not reach its current format until the late 19th Century? In this series titled "The Art of Christmas" we will explore the history of this holiday, beginning with its pagan influences. The Christmas tree, stockings filled with gifts, the Yule log, mistletoe, and even the date of Dec. 25th all have their roots in pre-Christian European and Middle-eastern religions.

As we continue our exploration of Christmas, we will examine its Jewish influences and the spiritual, psychological, and philosophical meaning of the Holiday. And as always, we will allow art and literature to guide our journey.

Join us as we explore the spiritual and therapeutic potentials of psychedelics. This is both a virtual meeting (9:00 AM MST) - CLICK HERE to join via Zoom - and an in-person meeting (11:15 AM MST) taking place at 1237 Pine Street, Boulder, CO - Pine Street Church Art Salon, first floor.

TODAY! VIA ZOOM (link HERE)

To help you get in the spirit, this afternoon our AB Women’s Ministries group is hosting a Zoom Christmas Celebration for everyone at 2:00 PM.

Rev. Maren C. Tirabassi will be our program speaker on the theme, “It’s Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas”. Read more information in the attached flyer. (The Zoom link follows the promotion flyer.) Wear some Christmas colors and come to share in some Christmas fun on this Advent Sunday of Joy. 

I hope to see you this afternoon on Zoom!

Mary Beth Mankin, for the ABWM Planning Team

Contact Mary Beth Mankin, 307-399-7769, for more information or if you would like to purchase a copy of Maren’s book.

This Advent season you're invited to participate in what we're calling the "Let's Bag Hunger Advent Food Drive". Pine Street Church community partner, Community Food Share, has a vision of a hunger-free community, and seeks to eliminate hunger in Boulder and Broomfield Counties through engagement, collaboration, and leadership.

Beyond the highly visible affluence prominent in Boulder and Broomfield counties, Community Food Share Studies show that 33,730 people are hungry in Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 12% of children are food insecure — that’s 7,310 children, and $3.90 is the average cost per meal — 26% above the national average of $3.09.

One reason is lack of sufficient income: it’s expensive to live in this part of Colorado. In Boulder County, a family of four needs to earn at least $86,000 annually to make ends meet without public or private assistance. Comparatively, the majority of families served by Community Food Share and its Partner Agencies survive on an annual income of $50,196…or less.

Beyond income, however, people may need to access food assistance for a variety of reasons. Whether they lost a job, experience terminal illness, or have become a caretaker for other individuals, Community Food Share and other local hunger relief organizations are here to help.

Help us collect food for this critical ministry at the heart of our community during this Advent season. We'll be accepting donations each Sunday in Advent (through 12/19). Items most needed are:

Please donate packaged, non-perishable items, and avoid glass containers. We are always in need of healthier options (i.e. low sodium, whole grains, and fruit in 100% juice).

For those who have experienced loss, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in acute ways. As a result, churches around the world have adopted the practice of having a “Blue Christmas” or a “Longest Night” service during the Advent season. In the Northern hemisphere, this service is often observed on December 21st, the Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year.

This service is designed to provide space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. In this pandemic season of life, we imagine that grief and loss will be magnified and nearly universal, and a service like this

may be needed now more than ever. Therefore, we hope that this special service can be a gift to individuals and communities alike, providing a space of calm, quiet, and healing.

This year's special services will once again be shared with our friends and neighbors of All Souls Church. You and your family won't want to miss the music, message and spirit of the season! Please plan to attend one of two serves at either 4pm or 6pm. We are asking folks to pre-register this year so that we can maintain safe and responsible gathering methods this holiday season. Register for one of the two services by CLICKING HERE.

Typically the earlier service is more family friendly.

This year, on the last Sunday of the year, your Pine Street Church Leadership Council has affirmed a commitment to meaningful Sabbath care for the staff here in this beautiful community, and voted to not hold a worship service on Sunday, December 26th. Instead everyone will be provided with a special Close to Home worship series at-home liturgy that you can bring to life in your homes either alone, or with loved ones. Many blessing of good tidings and joy for a new year that we will journey together!

Oasis Women’s Book Study group will begin reading their new book, Christmas Eve and the Epsom Circle McDonald’s and Other Poems by Maren Tirabassi, on December 9. Oasis meets on Thursdays, 1:30 - 3:00 pm, currently by Zoom, and welcomes new participants. Join us to appreciate Maren’s insightful reflections and poetry throughout the church seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Contact Mary Beth Mankin, mbmankin545@gmail.com, with questions, for more information, or to purchase a copy of the book.

May 6--May 20, 2022

You are invited to join us not as a tourist, but as a pilgrim.

Along the way you will be encouraged to approach each experience with contemplative awareness and each sacred site with care.Time will be given for learning, integration, meditation and interaction. As we journey together, we will focus on major themes in the Irish spiritual tradition.

Time will be spent exploring how those themes can be integrated into our lives. Optional meditative sessions will include the music of the Taizé community, Celtic music, mandala work, journaling, small group interaction, discussions with our leaders, Irish music and prayer. Because registration is limited to 20 participants, group size will encourage personal interaction in style and content.

When we are joined by local specialists, mythologists, archaeologists, artisans, musicians and storytellers to share experiences and offer guidance to us, there will be opportunities for interaction. We are confident that your journey will be a fulfilling one.We have gone before you, having traveled to Ireland many times to meet with those who will join us as we go.

Questions about the tour itinerary?

Contact Brad Berglund: Phone: 720-489-8073

1-877-489-8500 toll free

E-mail: brad@illuminatedjourneys.com

Three ways you can still make your financial commitment for 2022 to PSC's mission and ministry.

Thank you to all those who have already made 2022 financial commitments. This action is critical for our leadership's planning of all of Pine Street Church's ministries and missions in 2022 and beyond!

This is a new section of the Pine Street Post intended for that holy experience of laughing. As Mark Twain said,

"Humor is mankind's greatest blessing."

There is nary a time in our lives where at least a little humor couldn't improve our day. Come to this section each week for a little laughter that will come in various forms.

Showing hospitality takes a team. And we need a few more players on our hospitality team for Sunday mornings! Can you help?

We're looking to fill out our online signup form for being a greeter on Sunday mornings. It's both easy and important! And even more so, FUN!

The Men's Fellowship Group has a new meeting schedule. Beginning immediately they will meet in person for Breakfast at the Parkway Cafe on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 a.m. They will also hold a monthly Zoom gathering at 9:00 a.m.on the third Tuesday of each month. Please contact Bill Mankin for more information on how to join these meetings: mankin@ucar.edu

Check it out, and register today, HERE. There's a church directory, updates from the PSC Leadership Council and much more. Email admin@pinestreetchurch.net if you have any trouble registering and gaining access.