PASTOR'S CORNER

After a warmer than usual autumn, the leaves still changed to brilliant colors of yellow, red, rust and brown.  Then those leaves fell or were blown from the trees.  As I look out the window, at bare trees and overcast skies, autumn has slowly given way to winter.

It happens this time every year.  And we, who call ourselves Christians, prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child in the season of Advent.  That birth is like warm embers of fire of faith.  That birth is the thing to keep us warm during those cold days.  That birth is the hope of life in a newborn when all else appears to be dying or dead.  So, we gather during this Advent season for worship, leading to the birth of the Christ.

This Advent season I'm going to leave the regular Lectionary readings and preach about the Locations of our Faith leading up to and including the birth of the Christ.  The locations will be the Garden of Eden (11/27), the Journey to Canaan (12/4), Nazareth in Galilee (12/18), and finally, on Christmas Day (12/25), Bethlehem/Defiance.  That's right, Christmas is on Sunday this year.  Christmas Eve Worship will be at 7:00 P.M. with the Symbols of Christmas, the Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service with Holy  Communion at      11:00 P.M., and Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion at 10:30 A.M.  With each of these Locations of Our Faith, there will be art work from various groups of the church to remind us of those locations.

The Christmas Day Sunday morning service will include, during the Children's Moment, the Blessing of the Toys (batteries optional).  Children are invited to bring their toys for a blessing to be given by the pastor.

Be sure to mark your calendar for other important events of the season: Hanging of the Greens 11/27 at 4:30 P.M.; Messiah rehearsals 11/29, and 12/5 at 7:00 P.M., and Messiah Performance 12/11 at 7:30 P.M.; Christmas Pageant rehearsals 12/4, and 12/7 at 6:00 P.M. and 12/10 at 3:30 P.M. and Christmas Pageant Performance 12/11 at 10:30 A.M.; Nirote Christmas Open House 12/16 from 7:00-10:00 P.M.; and St. John United Church of Christ Christmas Caroling 12/18 at 5:00 P.M.