As we enter the Season of Advent, we are blessed with many opportunities to deepen our faith.  This past November 23rd we had an eccumenical service with some folks from Bethel Lutheran Church.  We had an evening filled with music, gerat preaching, I can say that since I did not preach, and the chance to get to have a service from a more eccumenical perspective.  We used elements from both the Lutheran and Episcopal service.  It was a privelege to hear the Rev. Heather Apel preach and have the Rev. Nancy Nyland give a message for our children and to have her celebrate.  One of the highlights for me was having homemade unleavened bread, that Pastor Nancy had made herself to share.  Another unexpected delight was meeting her father, who had served the Lutheran Church for 61 consecutive years - as I shared with him, I hope I live that long!

We will be having an eccumenical choir for our 11pm service Christmas Eve and hope that we will have many of you being willing to stay up and enjoy what should be a wonderful midnight communion service.  We will also have a children's pagaent that early evening at 5pm.  This pagaent will be more of a musical and I hope you will be sure to join us to see our children help remind us just what Christmas is all about!

On December 9th we will have a lock-in for our Christmas pagaent participants so they can have the chance to learn their lines, go bowling, and have fun watching movies!  This should be a wonderful evening and a great chance for our kids to get to know each other better.  We are blessed with an active youth group, a large Sunday school and many many talented kids.  Please be sure to join us for what should be a wonderful evening. 

We will be going caroling to shut-ins on December 18th.  This is a chance to reach out to those who cannot get out for the Christmas holiday.  This past year I will never forget going by and singing to one of our shut-ins with snow falling gently in the background.  

Finally, during Advent we will have the chance to learn about many of our favorite Advent hymns and reflect on Jesus' first coming while preparing for His second coming.    We will meet on Tuesday evenings.  Our next meeting will be on Tuesday December 6th at 6pm.  We will meet with those gathering for Commission meetings.  Our next meetings will be on Tuesday December 13th and the 20th at 7pm.  Both of these meetings will take place in the sanctuary.  May God bless you during this Holy Season as we prepare for the coming of the Christ,

I am,

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Lee