Merry Christmas, CCUMC!
Over the last four weeks, we’ve wrestled with the question of whether and how Christmas can still make a difference – in our own lives as well as in the world. We’ve re-arranged schedules, struggled with our gift-giving, and made choices about how best to give in the way God gave. I pray that our wrestling with the question sparked new life in how you celebrate this wonderful holy day. I pray too that this will just be the beginning to how we reclaim Jesus’ birthday.
In addition to our individual practices of Advent Conspiracy, we also got busy as
a community bringing a sign of Christmas to our neighborhood. I want to give great, great thanks to the many that shared time during the Advent season to
wrap and label ornaments, to wrap and label toys for Asian Health Services, to
carol in the streets (even in the rain!), and to visit elders, homebound and new
folks to the community. Thank you! Our goal was to have 20 people involved
each Sunday and to have folks from both worship services. I give thanks that we
averaged 26 people participating each week! Perhaps it is time to set a new goal!
As we move from Advent to Christmastide and on into the season of Epiphany,
my hope is that the spirit of Conspiracy will grow and that we will find new ways
to make God known, to welcome Jesus anew, and to be signs of God’s love, peace, hope, light and joy in the world.
Christmas Blessings,
Pastor Emily