The TRUMPET

December 2018

Choosing Advent Here’s the dilemma – what do we do about

Christmas? The Grinch had his solution. He scowled

as he growled, “I must stop this whole thing! Why for

fifty-three years I’ve put up with it now. I must stop

Christmas from coming…but how?” Here’s the truth: December 25th will come

whether we like it or not. Here’s the question: How will we spend the

days leading up to Christmas? The coming days will

slip relentlessly by whether they are filled with

shopping, decorating, baking, or are simply endured

as one dark winter day follows another. Here is my recommendation: choose

Advent. Or rather, choose to Advent. Make “Advent”

a verb this year. How we spend these days is up to us;

let’s define Advent by our actions. Let’s make time to

engage in the gentle, quiet season of Advent. Here are some ideas:

- Light a candle. Look at the flame and consider

the dark places in the world or in your life.

Think about the miracle of Christmas that tells

us that God chooses to enter into the messiness

of our lives. Ponder this God who lights up the

sky in the hope that we’ll notice.

- Sit down and listen to a favorite song. Don’t

multi-task; instead, allow the beauty of the

words, music, and message to wash over you.

Think about God who sends mysterious

messengers with tidings of great joy in the

hope that we’ll listen.

- Read or listen to a story. It might be Scripture,

maybe it’s poetry, or perhaps your favorite

children’s book, but take the time to listen to

words that lift your spirit and touch your heart.

Advent is a time for seeking, anticipating,

wondering, listening, watching, and looking. Advent

reminds us that God wants to be found. Advent can be

a journey toward discovering more about God’s

boundless love for God’s people. December 25th will come in good time. The

days between now and then are God’s gifts to us.

Take the opportunity to “advent.” Shut out, at least

temporarily, the world’s insistence that we do more

and buy more in order to obtain some impossible

ideal. God is already here. God is Emmanuel. Take

time to “advent” and re-discover that gift.

Wishing you a blessed Advent season.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Dr. Susan J. Foster

A publication of the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Road, East Woodstock, CT 06244 Pastor: Rev. Dr. Susan J. Foster Interim Director of Christian Education: Louise Labbe-Fahy

Youth Group Director: Anne Sorensen Music Director/Organist: Nancy Ducharme Bell Choir Director: Andrew Tomkins Office Manager: Heidi Tucker

Office: 860-928-7449 Residence: 860-928-7145 Email: ewccpastor@gmail.com Website: www.eastwoodstockchurch.org

Office Manager’s email: ewccsec@yahoo.com Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:00 am

The Trumpet deadline is the 20th of every month!

The following are the scriptures for the month of December:

You are invited to read them as part of your daily devotions and as

preparation for worship.

December 2 December 9 Jeremiah 33:14-16 Malachi 3:1-4 Psalm 25 Luke 1:68-79 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 21:25-36 Luke 3:1-6 December 16 December 23

Zepheniah 3:14-20 Micah 5:2-5a Isaiah 12:2-3 Luke 1:46b-55

Luke 1:47-55 Psalm 80:1-7 Philippians 4:4-7 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 3:7-18 Luke 1:39-55

December 30 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Psalm 148 Colossians 3:12-17

Luke 2:41-52

Worship News

We hope that you can join every Sunday for worship and fellowship –

and bring a friend!

During December, we celebrate the season of Advent and the joy of

Christmas.

December 2: 1st Advent. Communion Sunday. Everyone is welcome at

God’s table.

December 9: 2nd Advent.

December 16: 3rd Advent. Christmas pageant

December 19 (Wednesday), 7:00 p.m.: A Quiet Christmas. Especially for

those who are grieving or find the holidays challenging, we will gather

with readings, music, and candlelight and ask for God’s comforting peace.

December 23: 4th Advent. Bell Choir ringing.

December 24: Christmas Eve

5:00 p.m. Christmas story and Carols. Children’s choir and bell choir.

11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion. Adult choir

December 30: Guest preacher: Rev. Bob LaRochelle

A mid-week

opportunity for

conversation, coffee,

learning, and

laughter.

Give yourself the gift

of time…

Wednesday

morning study

group

10:00 a.m.

Everyone is

welcome!

The TRUMPET Page 2 December 2018

HOLIDAY ART & CRAFT SHOW and SALE

Saturday, December 1st 10 – 3

Over 30 local crafters/vendors will be setting up in the Fellowship Hall

for this show. Crafts, Christmas Decorations, and other Holiday items will be for

sale in the nursery room right off the main room. Coffee, tea, and refreshments

will be available in the Hospitality Room. A penny social will also be held in the

Hospitality Room… each vendor will be donating one of their items for this.

So many different gifts will be available to the lucky winners!!

You can also pick up a green swatch for your front door!!

What can you do to help?

1. Plan to attend!

2. Bake a plate of “finger food” for the refreshment table. Cookies, bars, brownies, cupcake, or sweet breads. A donation jar will be set up on the table.

3. Help set up or clean up…see the sign-up lists in the fellowship hall. Help is needed setting up tables on Thursday the 31st and taking them down after the show on Sat at 3:30.

4. Please let Val Law know if you can help with the Christmas gifts/decorations.

5. Serve refreshments, help with the penny social, put out posters in various places, invite your friends via FaceBook or emails.

See you there! Karen McFarlin

kmcf3470@gmail.com or 860-933-8667

The TRUMPET Page 3 December 2018

Join us on December 12th for

A Special Advent Evening

We will meet at the Senexet House (Senexet Road, Woodstock) at 6:00 pm for dinner. Then we will gather in the lovely living

room for conversation before ending with a short Advent worship. The cost is $5.00.

Contact Pastor Sue or sign up in Fellowship

Hall to reserve your spot today to celebrate the Advent season.

Crafting Group

Do you love knitting, crocheting, quilting, and fellowship? EWCC will be opening their hearts and

their space to anyone who might be interested in creating items to donate to people and groups in need.

We can work on any project that we want individually or as a group.

Only like to quilt or cut out patterns? Then come and help us do that. We welcome all your talents! Starting on Friday, December 7th, 9:00 a.m. – noon. Weekly gatherings – come when you can and stay

as long as you are able.

We will be sharing our ideas for a name for our group and ideas to donate to what

speaks personally to each of you. I know all of us have been touched by someone

or something that rings true for us. Let’s get together and share the joy that this will

bring.

For more information, please contact Mona Lee at 860-428-3640 or leemonact@gmail.com.

The TRUMPET Page 4 December 2018

Hospice - Tree of Life Ceremony to Honor Jack Relahan

The Missions Committee has made a donation to Hospice Tree of Life. We have honored Jack Relahan with a red light as a symbol of hope and healing. We honor Jill as she has been an

inspiration and taught many of us how to care and to live with a terminally ill loved one. Thank you, Jill; may God surround you with love and strength this holiday season.

Tree of Life Ceremony will be held on

Sunday, December 2, 2018 Ceremony: 5:00 p.m. Lighting: 5:15 p.m.

Woodstock - Roseland Cottage

All are welcome to attend.

Advent “live” on Facebook

Do you find it difficult to worship on Sunday? Or perhaps you need a “boost” of prayer and encouragement. Join Pastor Sue on our church’s Facebook page on Mondays, December 3 and 17th at 7:00 pm. She will share Advent readings and reflections and gather us for prayer. This brief “virtual” gathering offers a quiet respite during the busy week.

Column Restoration Completion

The complete restoration of our original Tuscan order columns was completed in early November.

The columns are an important architectural detail of our beautiful New England Congregational

Church.

Our Meeting House was dedicated in 1834 following the design and form of meeting houses being

built in the south-central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut region during the 1820s and

1830s. The staved Tuscan columns (similar to the construction of a wooden barrel) weathered the

last 184 years (including the 1938 hurricane), but they suffered some deterioration and have undergone several phases

of minor repair over the years. The columns were in need of repair and restoration to their original form to ensure that

the surviving original materials will endure the next 184 years. The EWCC has been collaborating with the CT Trust

for Historic Preservation and the CT State Historic Preservation Office, first receiving a matching grant from the

Trust, completed in 2015, to study the condition of the columns and to make recommendations for their repair. In

2017 the EWCC received a matching grant from the CT Historic Preservation Office Historic Restoration Fund to

complete the necessary repairs and restoration of the columns.

Throughout the summer Peter Hamm and Greg Wilmot, local craftsmen, completed the complicated process of

rebuilding the staved columns and returning them to their original grand design. The columns are now beautiful and

secure ready for their next 184 years.

Thank you to all members for their financial support allowing this project to be completed and preserving our Church

building.

The TRUMPET Page 5 December 2018

Holly Fair Thank You

The Holly Fair was a giant success thanks to all of you! Everyone has a role in what happens in our church and it showed this past Saturday. The rain did not hamper the attendance, as everyone browsed and talked, ate and laughed. Fellowship hall was a welcoming place for all.

We can’t thank you enough for all your cookies, cakes, candies, jams, crafts, jewelry, baskets and donations. Our congregation really pulled together to cook, decorate, set up and take down, and we showed everyone what a wonderful place East Woodstock Congregational Church really is. It’s not just a building, it’s the people that are so dedicated to making this church the special place that it is.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

Pat and Donna (aka Holly and Ivy) Holly Fair co-chairs

Holly Fair Report November 4, 2017

Booth/Event Net Profit

Luncheon $ 317.50

Cookie Store 432.00

Basket Social 2,565.00

Baked Goods & Canning 453.00

New & Like New Gifts 1,123.27

Crafts 624.00

Jewelry 577.83

Candy 569.00

Cash Donations 0.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS $6,661.60

Advertising -321.90

Clips for tablecloths -249.90

TOTAL EXPENSES $ -571.80

NET PROFIT $6,089.80

The TRUMPET Page 6 December 2018

An Advent suggestion:

Even if you’re not able to collect all of these food items, any of these foods would be helpful to our food pantry.

Please collect as many items on the list as you can and bring them in after Christmas. We will bless this food

collection on Epiphany Sunday, January 6th.

The TRUMPET Page 7 December 2018

Poinsettias in the Sanctuary

Would you like to have a poinsettia in the sanctuary for Christmas?

Please fill out this form and return as soon as possible.

Deadline is December 9th.

Make your checks payable to EWCC and mail to EWCC, PO Box 156, East Woodstock, CT

06244 Attn: Donna Baldyga (phone: 508-764-3595) or leave it in the church office.

You can also text yourpayment to 860-357-6119. Example: $17 Poinsettias

One size is available - $17.00 ea.

How many? ________ Total enclosed $__________ Paid by Text ___

From_______________________________________________________________

To Honor____________________________________________________________

In Memory of_________________________________________________________

Would you like to give your plant to a shut in? YES _______ NO _______

The TRUMPET Page 8 December 2018

Please join us for Christmas Eve Services

5:00 pm: Features the Christmas story and songs; children are especially welcome!

11:00 pm: Candlelight Communion.

Please join us for one or both!

Let’s remember our friends who can’t join us on Sundays.

If you have a moment, send someone a card – it means so much to be remembered. (If you know of others, please contact the church office)

Von Hibbard Ellie Smith Westview Nursing Care Greenville Center PO Box 428 735 Putnam Pike Dayville, CT 06241 Greenville, RI 02828

Allie Compagnone Jasmin Floyd 1768 Gale Street 93A Prospect Ave Englewood, FL 34223 Danielson, CT 06239

Bill Locket Phyllis Jacobs 25 Tattoon Road 3 Cornfield Point Woodstock, CT 06281 Woodstock, CT 06281

The TRUMPET Page 9 December 2018

Do you have a special event you would like to share with your Church family – a birth, a graduation, a

new job, an engagement, a wedding, a special honor, etc., etc.? Drop a note off in the secretary’s office

or e-mail Heidi at ewccsec@yahoo.com.

Alana Spalding and Christopher Workman were married on November 24, 2018.

May God bless them and fill their marriage with peace and joy.

Our church is blessed by the work of many volunteers. Every bit of effort and caring helps our church live out its calling to be the Body of Christ. This month we especially would like to thank…

Donna Baldyga and Pat Ziemba aka “Holly” and “Ivy” for organizing a successful, enjoyable Holly

Fair. We appreciate your hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm. It was a wonderful day of fellowship

and holiday spirit! Also to the many volunteers – candy-makers, cookie-bakers, cooks, crafter, and

basket-creators who made it all possible!

Judith Wong and our Society Committee for organizing Jeans Sunday. A HUGE thank you to all the

volunteers who washed windows, dusted, raked, scrubbed, organized, and generally tidied up our church

home. Thank you for your caring and dedication – it was wonderful to see our congregation working

together to take care of our beloved church! )

Our Congregation for the abundance of canned goods and turkeys and the Missions Committee

who were able to put together over 30 boxes to share with local families who would not otherwise have had

a Thanksgiving meal. As always, your generosity is boundless!

Karen McFarlin for organizing our 6th annual Art Show. Be sure to come and see all the beautiful

handmade items on December 1st!

Thank you for showing your pride in our Church! The Society Committee would like to thank all those parishioners who helped cleanup on Jeans Sunday, November 11. All areas of the church were disinfected, windows were all washed, all burnt light bulbs were re-placed. Rooms were reorganized and cleaned, the gutters were cleared of all debris and the Sanctuary pews and windows cleaned. A special thanks to DeEtta and Seth Spalding for all their work cleaning up the grounds outside and to Judith Wong who worked tirelessly organizing this church cleanup. It was a spirited effort by a lot of great people and we were able to enjoy fellowship with lunch afterwards. Thank you to all who helped make this Jean’s Sunday such a success!

Men’s Fellowship News

Sunday, December 16th: Men’s Breakfast. 8:00 -9:30 a.m. All men invited! Come for good food and interesting conversation. If you’d like to help with set-up, cooking or clean-up, please contact Roger Solomon at roger.solomon@yahoo.com or 860-928-7145.

The TRUMPET Page 10 December 2018

Ladies Benevolent Society News

Did you know that the Ladies Benevolent Society of East Woodstock dates back to the 1850’s? It has been an active part of our Church for more than 160 years! “Most of the records before 1860 are no longer around but we have almost complete records from 1860 on”, writes Mrs. Hilda Eddy in her report of October 1988. During the coming year I will provide bits of history from LBS records along with our current activities.

Our next meeting will be our Christmas Party on December 19, 2018 at 1:30. It will be held at Nancy Young’s home. We ask each attendee to bring a gift card for either a supermarket or gas station. The gift cards will be given to Pastor Sue to help meet emergency requests from our community. Come and join us for fun and food. All are welcome!

Kerstin Forrester, President LBS

Women! Save the Date!

March 29-30, 2019:

Women’s retreat at Camp Wightman.

A beautiful setting with good fellowship,

delicious meals, and time for learning and

relaxing.

Watch the Trumpet and Sunday bulletins

for registration information.

The TRUMPET Page 11 December 2018

Join us for Star Gift Sunday

Several years ago, we began celebrating Epiphany with a new tradition of

receiving “Star Gifts”. About 180 different words are printed on colorful

star-shaped paper. During the service, baskets of the stars are passed around

and each of us takes one – without looking! When we receive our Star Gift, no

matter what it is, we are asked to contemplate the meaning of the word in our lives over the

course of the year. Sometimes the word will speak to you immediately; sometimes it is not so

easy to see the relevance, but it is thought-provoking and often some meaning can be found

even when you want to throw it back and take another!

Please join us on January 7th when we will be receiving Star Gifts.

Donate your old ink

cartridges!

The church as an account with Staples so we can return used ink cartridges for coupons towards office supplies. We can return up to 20 cartridges per month, which can add up to big savings! Please leave your used printer cartridges in Heidi’s office.

Thank you!

Missions Update: Gratitude

Missions is forever grateful for the generosity of our church community.

Successful - Winter Coat Drive - Thank you! Approximately 90 gently used winter coats and 25 hats and gloves were graciously donated

and distributed throughout Northeastern CT.

• TEEG Serving Thompson, Pomfret, and Woodstock

• Close Closet IHSP - Interfaith Human Services of

Putnam

• Woodstock Public Schools

• Domestic Violence Shelter

_________________________________________________

Thank you for your donations

Through the generosity of our church community and our wider community we were able to provide 32 Thanksgiving Baskets and brought joy to many lives. The collaborate effort of so many: donations of turkey and food was greatly appreciated! Additional food not put into baskets was stored at our EWCC food pantry.

___________________________________________________

The Giving Tree

Bring joy during the holidays by giving…

Look for the ‘The giving tree’ – Gift Tags Providing gifts to:

• Covent to Care (DCF Social Workers provide to needy children in area)

• Domestic Violence Shelter

• The Homeless Shelter.

All unwrapped gifts are due Sunday, December 16.

Your participation in our Christmas Gift Drive is an opportunity for you to personally, positively influence the lives of less fortunate people in our community.

The TRUMPET Page 12 December 2018

Benefit Concert for Jasmin

Save the date! Singer-songwriter Kate Campbell will be at our

church on Sunday, January 13th at 3:00 p.m. to offer an afternoon

of stirring, heart-warming music. All proceeds will benefit Jasmin

Floyd, a member of our congregation who battles the disease FOP

(Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva).

Tickets are $20 each and will be on sale in Fellowship Hall soon!

They would make great Christmas gifts!! Watch the Weekly Reminder and Sunday bulletins

for ticket information.

A little bit about Kate Campbell

Kate Campbell is a southern singer-songwriter who writes

and sings memorable folk songs infused with undercurrents

of delta blues, folk, pop, and country that originate from a

musical landscape spanning the less-travelled back roads

from Nashville to Muscle Shoals to Memphis. Over the

course of 20+ years since her acclaimed debut album Songs

from the Levee, she has resisted the temptation to follow

musical trends but instead chooses to set the pace for her

unique musical journey clearly palpable in her latest

release Damn Sure Blue, a heart-felt collection of tunes that

pays a respectful nod of admiration to the Man in Black and

reverberates with the soulful sounds of award-winning Americana

guitar whiz and producer Will Kimbrough.

Kate’s endearing, clear-water vocal delivery and her eloquent gift for storytelling have drawn repeated

comparisons to such bastions of the Southern literary tradition as Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty,

and William Faulkner. Her easy command of a full range of American musical styles has earned

Campbell recognition as a formidable talent by critics. Time Out London proclaimed her a “major talent”

while Chicago Daily Herald described her as a “world-class singer-songwriter”

You can find out more and hear some of Kate’s music at www.katecampbell.com And – come to the

benefit concert on January 13th!

The TRUMPET Page 13 December 2018

Jasmin Floyd

December 2018 Youth Group News

Sunday, December 2 Help with Worship Come help with worship on the first week of Advent. We are looking for youth to greet, collect offering,

and read Scripture. Please see Anne Sorensen to let her know how you can help!

After worship, stay for the Advent Festival. There will be music, hot chocolate bar, and wreath making.

Sunday, December 9 Breakfast Club Come to Breakfast Club after the Children’s Story. Help make a surprise to be given to the youngest

members of our church on Christmas Eve. Meet in the library. Light snacks will be served. Bring a friend!

Friday, December 16 Our Christmas Pageant Come to the Sunday School’s Christmas Pageant to watch a joyful retelling of the Christmas Story during

worship. Then stay to help with their post Pageant Party. We will serve the children cookies and sparkling

cider to celebrate their hard work. The children would love to have you there.

Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve EWCC Come help with worship during the 5:00PM or 11:00PM service. You could sing (either a solo, or maybe

a few of you want to think of a song to sing together), play an instrument, read Scripture, collect offering

or light candles. Let Pastor Sue or Anne Sorensen know that you are willing to help.

Want to know more about youth group?

Check us out on:

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

woodstockSYG Youth Group 18-19

Question? Comments? Ideas? about Youth Group

Please contact Anne Sorensen, Youth Group Director

at 860-428-2198 or youthgroup.woodstock@gmail.com

The TRUMPET Page 14 December 2018

Mark your calendars for a day of service on Monday, January 21

We will be making meals and delivering them to members of our

congregation. We will be looking adults to chaperone and help drive.

Please contact Anne if you are willing to chaperone.

A CALL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING

A call for the annual meeting of the East Woodstock Congregational Church which will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2019 immediately following our service of worship to:

1. Hear and act on officer and committee reports. 2. Hear and act on the report of the Society Committee regarding the 2019 budget. 3. Hear and act on the report of the Nominating Committee 4. Hear and act on any other business to come before the meeting.

Called by the Church Council

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Friendship Bread project. It was very

successful. Also thank you to all those who brought in cookies, fruit, candies etc. All

those who received plates where so happy to be thought of.

On Sunday, December 2nd we will be having an Advent Festival immediately following

worship in Fellowship Hall. This will be an intergenerational activity with something for

everyone. There will be music, crafts, food and an opportunity for fellowship. You are

welcome to stay as little or as long as you would like.

Our annual Christmas pageant will be on December 16 during worship. I NEED TO

KNOW IF YOUR CHILD(REN) WILL BE IN THE PAGEANT. We will be practicing

during Sunday school. In addition, I am asking that all the children arrive at 9 am on

December 2nd so everyone has an opportunity to get into their costumes and to allow us .

to have one final rehearsal.

There will not be any Sunday school on

Sunday December 30th.

The TRUMPET Page 15 December 2018

A Picture to Color

Join us for our Christmas Pageant!

December 16th during worship with a soup luncheon to follow. Please join us for this enjoyable recreation of the Nativity Story.

The TRUMPET Page 16 December 2018

Looking Ahead:

January 6 – Star Gift Sunday January 13 – Kate Campbell Concert January 26 – Ham and Bean Supper January 27 – Annual Meeting

COFFEE HOUR

The coffee hour in December will be served courtesy of: Nominating Committee

The coffee hour in January will be served courtesy of: Altar Guild

December Birthdays:

Victoria Tolentino Dec 2

Dean Lawrence Dec 4

Tucker Chamberlin Dec 11

Alexander Hermonot Dec 17

Charles Manhanga Dec 23

Karoline Noë Dec 23

December 2018 Daily Bread Donations for this month: Holiday Meal Items

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

10 am Art Show

2 1st Sunday of

Advent Blanket Sunday Advent Festival

3 9 am Community Kitchen (Hill) 7:00 pm Advent Facebook Live

4 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Deacons

5 10 am Study Group 7:00 pm Sanctuary

Singers 7:30 pm Al-anon

6 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Handbells

7 9 am Craft Group 5 pm 4-H Club

8

9 2nd Sunday of

Advent

Blanket Sunday

Breakfast Club

10 9:30 am Music

Class 7:00 pm Society

11 10:00 am Tai Chi

12 10 am Study Group 6:00 pm Advent Evening (Senexet

House) 7:00 pm Sanctuary

Singers 7:30 pm Al-anon

13 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Handbells

14 TRUMPET

DEADLINE!!

9 am Craft Group 9:30 am MOM’s

Group

15

16 3rd Sunday of

Advent 8:00 am Men’s

Breakfast Christmas Pageant

during worship

17 7:00 pm Advent Facebook Live

18 10:00 am Tai Chi

19 1:30 pm LBS Christmas Party @ Nancy Young’s 7:00 pm “A Quiet Christmas” Service 7:30 pm Al-anon

20 10:00 am Tai Chi

21 9 am Craft Group

22

23 4th Sunday of

Advent

24 Christmas Eve Services: 5:00

pm & 11:00 pm

25 Merry

Christmas!

26 7:30 pm Al-anon

27 10:00 am Tai Chi

28 9 am Craft Group

29

30 Rev. Bob LaRochelle

31 New Year’s Eve

Happy New Year!

The TRUMPET Page 17 December 2018

When we are apart from one another, we can be united in prayer…

The TRUMPET Page 18 December 2018

A Parents' Prayer for Advent - from Airanne Braithwaite Lehn

Lord Jesus, I now stop what I'm doing, what I'm thinking, what I'm scrambling to plan, and hustling to finish so that I can be here. Be here in the safety and warmth of your love. This love that holds me fast and keeps me grounded. What I want to be a season of joy for my children so quickly becomes a season of increased expectations for me – not because they expect things, but because I do. It's the pressure I put on myself to make things perfect, and memorable, and happy, and *special.* But you came to me amidst darkness and stars – reminding me how darkness and light are most beautiful together.

And in that holy, mysterious and messy night you re-defined perfection, promising me that leaning into the mystery and laying down in loving awe composed the most beautiful response. You tell me the best gift I can give my children this Christmas is to look with love into their eyes. To pause throughout the day to pray over them. To envelop them with arms of fierce grace when I feel most frustrated or annoyed. To sit in wonder for a moment (or many) and marvel at all that shaped our family this year. To give thanks and allow tears to fall and dreams to rise. To take my pilgrim band by their hands and walk together, deep into the heart of Bethlehem shining bright within our souls. This will be more than enough, Because you've made a manger in which my heart will rest and find your heartbeat becoming mine.

Amen.

After Annunciation

This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild. Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child. -Madeleine L’Engle