Advent
Advent Bible Study - Thursdays, December 1-22, 6:00-7:00 pm. In this four-part series, Pastor Wayne will lead us in a discussion of each week's Advent theme:
-
December 1: Hope
-
December 8: Peace
-
December 15: Joy
-
December 22: Love
Meetings are on Zoom. The link is in the weekly email, and you can also get it by calling the office.
Advent Cantata - Sunday, December 11, 10:00 am. This Sunday during the worship service, we will experience two 18th century choral works instead of a sermon, a Magnificat by Francesco Durante, and a Dixit Dominus psalm setting by Nicola Porpora. Sung by the choir and soloists with period instruments, directed by Dr. Andrus Madsen. Click here to livestream.
Blue Christmas - Wednesday, December 14, 6:00 pm. This service is for those for whom the holidays are sad or difficult, or anyone seeking peace near the shortest day of the year. In Fuller Chapel (front left of the sanctuary). In the interest of privacy and intimacy, no livestreaming is available.
Christmas Treats and Carol Sing, December 18, 11:00 am following the worship service. Coffee hour indoors will include Christmas goodies and hot cocoa as well as coffee and tea, with caroling outside immediately afterward. In case of inclement weather, caroling will be inside.
Christmas Eve - Saturday, December 24, 5:30 pm. An intergenerational lessons and carols service with an opportunity for children to participate in the pageant, 5:30 pm. We are sorry, but live streaming will not be available due to staff unavailability. If possible, please bring diapers to donate to local family shelters and food pantries.
Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25. A recorded service featuring music from past years and readings and meditations by Pastor Wayne will be available at our regular livestream link/YouTube channel. Click here to view.
From Pastor Wayne:
Welcome to The time between the two Advents! Past tense: Our faith teaches us that Jesus was born in a stable long ago. Although God’s new rule was established then, it hasn’t yet come in totality. The ancient doctrinal formulation states: “Christ was born. Christ has died, Christ has risen…” and -Future Tense- Christ will come again!
The question before us is what are we doing in and with the in-between time, also known as our, Present Tense? Others have preceded us and still more will follow, but this is the space and time we have been given to do the good work that our age requires of us. God will take care of timetables, but we are here, now, and there is much to look forward to, much joy to share, much needed peace to announce and model, and much love to enjoy and give away.
That's what incarnation means: God is with us, we are with each other, and all are invited to share in the life that is truly life. Let us open our hearts so that we might fully enter into these very themes of the Advent season!