Greeting St. George’s families,

I wish you peace and joy during this wonderful season. Usually I include a suggestion for an Advent wreath for you and your family to help you prepare, but I decided to post a reflection on Christmas this year instead. I do encourage you to set a bit of time each day as a family to talk about the real meaning of Christmas. (Here is a link to my instructions for an Advent Wreath from 2012.)

The theme for Messy Church this month is…..Christmas! We will be doing a new nativity play as well as some Christmas crafts. We have a Messy Church tradition that for the December Messy Church we do our nativity pageant, with the parents of the ‘newest’ baby playing the role of the Holy Family. The costumes and props are all laid out and everyone gets to choose a part. Some years we have 5 or 6 Magi and only 2 shepherds, but it is all good. The nativity pageant is filmed and there is a copy for each participating family. Come and be part of the fun. We will be having ham, hash brown casserole and birthday cake (it is Jesus’ birthday) for dessert. Messy Church is December 9 and the doors open at 5:00.

On December 20 at 7:00 there will be the 9 Lessons and Carols service. Our Christmas Eve services are at 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00 this year. There will not be an 11:00 service. It is a wonderful tradition to come to the Christmas Eve service. I have memories as a child walking to the Church on the corner in the gently falling snow on Christmas Eve. To be truthful, I also have memories of trudging through the pouring rain! On Christmas Day there is a 10:00 service.

If you would like to donate towards the purchase of flowers to decorate the Church for Christmas there are donation envelopes available. Donations are often made in memory of someone, to celebrate a happy event or just to give thanks.

I would also encourage you to remember St. George’s in your gift giving. The work of the Church is important and each of us need to consider our Church in our gift giving decisions.

I wish you joy this Christmas and a renewed sense of how much you are loved by God. I look forward to seeing you during this season.

Blessings,
Nancy