December 16, 2022
Dear Peace members and friends,
I’m looking forward to Sunday and one of the highlights of the year: the Children’s Christmas program (9:30am). Actually it’s more than that! It’s less a program than it is worship. The participants are not only children, but the Peace Choir and all of us gathered together. And it still is Advent, but we get to hear the Christmas story told and sung about by the children of the congregation. They have been working hard on their parts and they are excited! Join us for a wonderful morning ahead!
The celebration of Christmas begins just a week from tomorrow. Here’s a reminder of the worship schedule:
- Christmas Eve Worship (Saturday, December 24) at 4:00pm and 5:30pm with Holy Communion at the latter service.
- Christmas Day Worship (Sunday, December 25) at 9:30am with Holy Communion.
- First Sunday of Christmas Worship (Sunday, January 1) at 9:30am with Holy Communion.
These Advent days wane and there is still time to give. Why? I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we honor the tradition of the Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus. There is also this: I remember a colleague who gave “presents to Jesus” every year. He explained his giving in terms of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25: “Truly I tell you,” the king said, “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” The hungry, the needy, the poor, Jesus tells us, are Jesus himself—in disguise!
That’s why there is special giving this time of the year. Through your offering and the children’s offering, we are giving to ELCA World Hunger and the efforts to allay hunger everywhere. We are financing a Christmas celebration for refugees stranded and living in Cairo, Egypt through the ministry of St. Andrew’s Church. Through your offering, we are helping to gift women living in local shelters with some basic necessities. In the name of Christ, thank you!
And yes, there are still opportunities to give. We are participating in ELCA Good Gifts. If you haven’t received a catalog in the mail, take a moment at church to check out the catalog and add a decoration to the Christmas tree. There is still room! There is also the Gift-Wrapping Fundraiser done by the Peace Women and Finance group this Sunday from 10:30am-1:00pm. Bring your gifts and they will wrap them. Donations will go to support local teens to attend Minnesota Business Venture.
A few other matters. Last Sunday, our planned speaker, Tim Taylor, had to cancel due to COVID concerns. We will re-schedule Tim and his insightful look at the economy until—hopefully—January. This week we had to replace a 20+ year-old furnace/air conditioner here at church which cost over $13,000. Thank you for your support that helps maintain the building (the building is a ministry, too!). Last of all, thank you, too, for all those who came out in the snow this last Wednesday for the Blue Christmas Evening worship. I’m grateful for Peace and so many that support and encourage one another during this unique time of the year.
See you Sunday!
Mark