Our church family is blessed by the love, care and support that is shared with one another through worship and fellowship. As our program year begins, we see our youth preparing for faith formation, choir and handbells Sunday, December 1^st  invites us to enter into the 1^st day of Advent and the last month of this year 2024. We certainly understand where we’ve been- joys and challenges, endings and beginnings that include celebrations and loss.  Let us endeavor to take a deep breath to honor the experiences and emotions of the past eleven months.   Then, may we courageously embrace our experiences and look toward the promise of new life, grounded in the amazing story of God’s love come to live among humankind.  May we light a candle each day to affirm the power of light- even as we experience short days and long nights.

Please remember on this life journey that we are all embraced by love and invited to join members of our church community.  May we allow our whole selves to be open to this season, the sights, sounds, and signs that lead us toward the promise of the birth of the Christ child.  Our Advent devotional, written by our members and compiled by a team of editors offers a meditation w.  ith scripture to ponder each day.

Each week as we worship through liturgy, candle lighting, prayer, and music we are surrounded by love. Please join with us to celebrate our Longest Night Service of Beginnings and Endings on Wednesday, December 18^th at 7:00PM for those who seek time to ponder and reflect the power of both darkness and light.  The Children’s Pageant on December 22^nd is a great joy, watching our young ones celebrate Christmas. Finally, Christmas Eve worship celebrates the birth of Christ who is the light of the world. 

As the advent season continues after Christmas, we journey with the shepherds and wisemen following the star toward the manger.  May the powerful promise of this season embrace your whole being as we ground ourselves in the steadfast love of God. 

Epiphany Sunday will be my last day as your Minister of Health and Wholeness.  The past three years as your pastor have given me an opportunity to learn and grow in love and faith with our leadership team and members of our church family.  I have watched the little ones grow in God’s love, journeyed with those experiencing loss, and our elders who have entered a season of aging filled with its own joys and challenges.  

I have been blessed to journey with all of you and look forward to quietly continuing as a member of our beloved church family.   I look forward to this season and the promise of God’s abiding presence in our lives as we ultimately journey into the year 2025. 

Blessings, grace and peace,
Rev. Catherine