Dear Church,
Every few years, the First Sunday of Advent happens the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This is one of those years. If I’m honest, I much prefer the years with a nice little week in-between, but the Creator of Time didn’t consult me first. So here we are.
Our worship series theme this year is called “Words for the Beginning.” It focuses on Advent as a new start. We tell the story of our faith again, beginning with the watchful anticipation of the birth of Christ. Each week has a different quilt pattern, and we will learn together about their meanings. The designers at A Sanctified Art, say this about the quilting theme:
“We were inspired by the visual concept of quilting because this series feels like a blanket wrapped around you, providing warmth and comfort as you begin again. Like a quilt formed by scraps of old fabrics and meaningful family items, this worship series stitches together the ancient scriptures and reminders we need to hear again and again. The medium of quilting is an ancient craft (dated as far back as 3400 BCE), but it is seeing a modern day resurgence. Quilts have been used for physical protection, comfort, ceremonies, abolition, family heirlooms, advocacy, and more. Quilting is a medium that transcends countless cultures, regions, and time periods, but is a craft rooted in community and storytelling.”
The main quilting icon (pictured above) is a “kaleidoscope” quilting design, made with simple shapes that make an intricate pattern. The five stars at the center of the quilt become like an Advent wreath, with the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love encircling the Christ Candle. The individual weekly images each have their own specific meanings as well, and will be on the bulletin cover each week.. I’m really looking forward to sharing more from our series during worship and looking at Advent and Christmas through a new lens.
As always, there is SO MUCH going on at LCC. Our renovation gets closer and closer to completion each day. I am so inspired by our construction workers and all the hard work they are pouring into this project, and we are still on track for a late December-early January completion.
We are also preparing for Rev. Catherine’s retirement in January. This is a bittersweet transition, as she has been such a gift to LCC over these past three years. We have been truly blessed, and yet seasons do change. Catherine has earned her retirement after many, many years of caring for others as a nurse and as a pastor, and we know she’ll continue to care for people in a new way in her retirement. We hope you’ll celebrate with us on Epiphany Sunday, January 5th, when we observe the end of her role as our Minister for Health and Wholeness, even as she will remain as a member of our congregation. Please join us for a luncheon following the service, and stay tuned for more information about how we will celebrate our ministry together!
Finally, I want to thank everyone for your continued support of LCC through our annual stewardship campaign. Each year I am in awe of our congregation’s generosity and commitment to building up the mission and ministry of our church. THANK YOU! If you have not yet filled out a pledge card, it is certainly not too late. Go to LCC-Church.org/give or contact me or the church office for more information.
With deep gratitude and the hope, peace, joy and love of the Advent Season,
Pastor Joanna
With Gratitude,
Pastor Joanna