Hi Friends,
I hope you and yours are having a blessed Christmas (remember, Christmas is a season, not a day--it begins on Christmas Day--December 25--and continues for 12 days until Epiphany on January 6 when we remember the Magi arriving to visit).
This year, our celebrations were a bit muted because we couldn't gather with friends and family. It was the first Christmas in my life I was not at church. Growing up at a large church, we had upwards of 9+ services on Christmas Eve, and I was there for them all. My mom worked in the church office and my dad was the "sound guy" so I had to be there too. Instead, this year, at 3pm, when the kids were still in good moods and both awake, we put the recorded service streaming to our TV and watched it. We got out our candles, lit them (or battery ones for the kids), and sang silent night together. I started crying because I missed the traditional gathering of people. But it was good to be able to worship with my husband (serving different churches makes that hard!), and actually read "The Night Before Christmas" and put my kids to bed instead of relying on grandparents or babysitters.
This year is different and one to remember for sure. I hope that next year we can go back to singing "Silent Night" together; but I don't want to go back to not being home with my kids. I wonder, on the cusp of a new year, what old traditions do you want to return to, and what new ones do you want to adopt as a vaccine becomes available and life can gradually return to "normal" (whatever that means) in 2021?
Tomorrow we will be continuing our series on "Minor Characters Welcome" as Jesus is presented in the Temple to Anna and Simeon. It will be a wonderful celebration! Please join us in one of the ways listed below.
First, the worship service will "premiere" on Facebook and YouTube (minus one song due to Copyright) at 945am.
Or, join us on Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting via computer or smart phone with data plan
https://umcom.zoom.us/j/97309102821
Dial In
1 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 973 0910 2821
All are welcome! Invite a friend! (Remember, it doesn't matter where they live right now).
If you are interested in receiving communion in January, please contact me via email (preferred) or by leaving a message on the church answering machine (410-243-1129) no later than Monday, January 4 so we can arrange pick up (Preferred) or drop off before January 10. Thank you!
Merry Christmas! You are loved.
I hope you and yours are having a blessed Christmas (remember, Christmas is a season, not a day--it begins on Christmas Day--December 25--and continues for 12 days until Epiphany on January 6 when we remember the Magi arriving to visit).
This year, our celebrations were a bit muted because we couldn't gather with friends and family. It was the first Christmas in my life I was not at church. Growing up at a large church, we had upwards of 9+ services on Christmas Eve, and I was there for them all. My mom worked in the church office and my dad was the "sound guy" so I had to be there too. Instead, this year, at 3pm, when the kids were still in good moods and both awake, we put the recorded service streaming to our TV and watched it. We got out our candles, lit them (or battery ones for the kids), and sang silent night together. I started crying because I missed the traditional gathering of people. But it was good to be able to worship with my husband (serving different churches makes that hard!), and actually read "The Night Before Christmas" and put my kids to bed instead of relying on grandparents or babysitters.
This year is different and one to remember for sure. I hope that next year we can go back to singing "Silent Night" together; but I don't want to go back to not being home with my kids. I wonder, on the cusp of a new year, what old traditions do you want to return to, and what new ones do you want to adopt as a vaccine becomes available and life can gradually return to "normal" (whatever that means) in 2021?
Tomorrow we will be continuing our series on "Minor Characters Welcome" as Jesus is presented in the Temple to Anna and Simeon. It will be a wonderful celebration! Please join us in one of the ways listed below.
First, the worship service will "premiere" on Facebook and YouTube (minus one song due to Copyright) at 945am.
Or, join us on Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting via computer or smart phone with data plan
https://umcom.zoom.us/j/97309102821
Dial In
1 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 973 0910 2821
All are welcome! Invite a friend! (Remember, it doesn't matter where they live right now).
If you are interested in receiving communion in January, please contact me via email (preferred) or by leaving a message on the church answering machine (410-243-1129) no later than Monday, January 4 so we can arrange pick up (Preferred) or drop off before January 10. Thank you!
Merry Christmas! You are loved.
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