Christmas 2022
As we come to the close of the Advent season, and Christmas is nearly upon us, I think for many of us there is more than the usual amount of anticipation. With the restrictions of the last two years, it will be wonderful to gather again, to sing the Christmas carols, hear the choirs again and be able to greet one another fully. I hope that you are planning to worship with us at one of the four Christmas services this year.
We have much to celebrate as we gather. It will be inspiring just to be able to gather, but even though we’ve faced some challenges at Trinity this year, we are moving steadily in a good direction. After two years of large Covid induced deficits, we will come either finish with a small surplus or a very small deficit. We are moving in the right direction financially. However, more than this, were seeing more people in worship and more children in Sunday School. We’ve largely resumed our yearly calendar of events and our youth programs have full schedules. Confirmation classes are off to a good start, our adult class is meeting, and we have an incredibly talented organist/choir director in Mark Pruett.
During the summer we had another extremely good VBS program. Every year the program gets better, and 2022 was no exception. What will the VBS team do to top it in 2023? Last Sunday afternoon we had our Christmas Pageant and this year’s offering was
"The Nightshift Before Christmas.” Despite some last-minute changes in the cast due to some unfortunate illnesses, the program was wonderful. Next year we will do something different, and even better.
More than anything, I hope that the peace of God promised by the Angels fills your heart during the Christmas Season. The world needs peace, and as individuals we all could use the peace that the presence of Christ brings to us.
As we walk through the days ahead, it would be well for us to remember the promise of the angels to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem,
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ “
Luke 2:13-14
Remember, that you are among the favored. God loves you. God loves you so much that he sent his son into the world to share your burdens, fears, needs, challenges, joys, and sorrows. That is the heart of the good news the angels brought to the shepherds, and most certainly since God answered their prayers, we can count on God to hear ours, and to respond with the same grace.
Finally, I hope to see you at our Christmas services. The church sanctuary is prepared to receive guests, the table will be ready, and once again, we will share the story of the Incarnation, and sing the beloved carols that fill our hearts with delight. In the words of the hymn writer,
“O Come All Ye Faithful…” It will be a blessing to you and to me if we find one another at worship on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Blessings,
Pastor Peter
As we come to the close of the Advent season, and Christmas is nearly upon us, I think for many of us there is more than the usual amount of anticipation. With the restrictions of the last two years, it will be wonderful to gather again, to sing the Christmas carols, hear the choirs again and be able to greet one another fully. I hope that you are planning to worship with us at one of the four Christmas services this year.
We have much to celebrate as we gather. It will be inspiring just to be able to gather, but even though we’ve faced some challenges at Trinity this year, we are moving steadily in a good direction. After two years of large Covid induced deficits, we will come either finish with a small surplus or a very small deficit. We are moving in the right direction financially. However, more than this, were seeing more people in worship and more children in Sunday School. We’ve largely resumed our yearly calendar of events and our youth programs have full schedules. Confirmation classes are off to a good start, our adult class is meeting, and we have an incredibly talented organist/choir director in Mark Pruett.
During the summer we had another extremely good VBS program. Every year the program gets better, and 2022 was no exception. What will the VBS team do to top it in 2023? Last Sunday afternoon we had our Christmas Pageant and this year’s offering was
"The Nightshift Before Christmas.” Despite some last-minute changes in the cast due to some unfortunate illnesses, the program was wonderful. Next year we will do something different, and even better.
More than anything, I hope that the peace of God promised by the Angels fills your heart during the Christmas Season. The world needs peace, and as individuals we all could use the peace that the presence of Christ brings to us.
As we walk through the days ahead, it would be well for us to remember the promise of the angels to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem,
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ “
Luke 2:13-14
Remember, that you are among the favored. God loves you. God loves you so much that he sent his son into the world to share your burdens, fears, needs, challenges, joys, and sorrows. That is the heart of the good news the angels brought to the shepherds, and most certainly since God answered their prayers, we can count on God to hear ours, and to respond with the same grace.
Finally, I hope to see you at our Christmas services. The church sanctuary is prepared to receive guests, the table will be ready, and once again, we will share the story of the Incarnation, and sing the beloved carols that fill our hearts with delight. In the words of the hymn writer,
“O Come All Ye Faithful…” It will be a blessing to you and to me if we find one another at worship on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Blessings,
Pastor Peter
