Dear Families and Friends of Peace,
Christmas blessings to all!
First, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Christmas Program possible! Sunday was such a joyous morning of worship, and all of the Sunday School children did an amazing job. Through their singing and acting, they shared both the Christmas story and the love of God.
As I mentioned on Sunday and wrote in the bulletin, it took a great team of people to bring everything together, and I want to acknowledge them all again here:
- Music Directors: Marcia Craig, Ben Hanson, and Bruce Hudson for leading the Sunday School Singers, Alleluia Singers, and Peace Choir, respectively.
- Sunday School Teachers and Substitutes: Cecelia Byers, Marcia Craig, Emily Hanson, Mary Kautto, Robin Kennedy, Jason Losinski, Michelle Stockinger, Kiya Losinski, Kael Marinero, Claire Cadman, Kim Gehant, Katie Loeffler, Jeremy & Julia Macejkovic, Sarah Oman, Jason & Holly Rich, Emily & Sam Sidhom, Lauren Toppin, Angela Tschida, Jackie Waller, Bonnie Weseli, Julia Wiessner, Eli Betlock, Gavin Churchill, Kingston Fast, Parker Kennedy, Elsa & Sofia Oman, and Evie Stockinger.
There were also volunteers who prepared costumes, helped with staging, and assisted in a variety of other ways to ensure a wonderful program: Kim Barnett; Ann, Jason, & Kiya Losinski; Julia Macejkovic; Carolynn Marinero, Michelle Stockinger, and Angela Tschida.
I’d also like to thank…
- All the parents and family members who have been supporting the kids;
- The congregation for making this a wonderful intergenerational event; the kids for their talent, creativity, and enthusiasm;
- And Peace staff members Daina Sivanich, Lori Thomson, and Pastor Mark Nelson—all of whom make great contributions behind the scenes to help make the day special. To God be the glory!
Second, I hope you can join in for worship this weekend in person or online, or that you can worship wherever you are. It will be a joyous weekend!
On Sunday, we will have Christmas Eve services at 4:00pm and 5:30pm. There will NOT be a Sunday morning service!
Then on Monday, Christmas Day, we will worship together again at 9:30am.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to invite someone to worship for one of these services. Christmas is always a time when we get to extend God’s love to a lot of people experiencing Peace for the first time, and you can help make it extra special—for you, for them, and for all of us.
Lastly, we celebrate Christmas this weekend—with family, with friends, and together as a congregation—I offer a prayer for us all.
I pray:
- That your gatherings would be full of love, joy, peace, and hope;
- That your time with loved ones would bring wholeness and warmth to your heart;
- That your relationships would grow, despite any time or distance that has separated you;
- That your travels would be safe and go smoothly;
- That your bodies would stay healthy, your minds be at peace, and your spirits be filled.
And may you experience the deep, incarnate love of God, who came from Heaven to Earth for you and for me in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel—God With Us. Amen!
Merry Christmas,
Joe