Dear Friends,

We are a couple weeks away from Advent, the beginning of a new church year. Moving closer to this changing of the liturgical season, I am hearing details and tales of cherished traditions from Advents past. Several people have spoken to me about a vintage nativity set that has not been in use for a number of years. While un-cluttering the Gardner Room, I discovered boxes of the bubble wrapped holy family and their adoring visitors. I am thrilled to report that Joseph has been re-glued and is ready to kneel in awe over his new son. And thanks to the work of clearing out a corner of the sanctuary, this year there will be room at Oak Lane for the Christ child to lay his head.

Cherishing the past. Un-cluttering. Kneeling anew. Making room. Sounds like the essential ingredients of something brewing among us at this time, in this place!

In late October, I recommended to the Session that we suspend all December committee meetings. Citing intense busyness and visible exhaustion, I would like us to embrace  Christ’s coming again with as much simplicity of schedule that we can allow. Instead of meetings, I have asked that we gather for meals, three Wednesdays in December, to break bread and share fellowship. For some, December races by in a blur of activity. For others, a melancholy silence has replaced the bustle of the way it used to be.

Wherever this Advent finds you, I invite you to find a place here, in Sunday worship, on Wednesdays at the table in the Social Hall, and at our holiday special events.

May we prepare our hearts and minds for the possibilities being birthed in us this Advent.

In Christ,
Pastor Judith