The Villager Voice
I do believe this is the shortest Advent the church can have. With Christmas Eve on Dec 24th, the fourth Sunday of Advent, the season has only been twenty-one days long. Still, it has been long enough for us to consider the themes of hope, peace, joy and love, so let’s bring on the nativity first thing Monday morning!
But first…. Did you read Matt Laney’s piece in this morning’s UCC Advent devotional? He writes about Joseph’s role in the story of Jesus’ birth, and at one point wishes the Bible said more about him. While Joseph does figure prominently in Matthew’s gospel, come Christmas Eve, Luke’s story is almost always front and center. So I thought you and I might spend some time with Jesus’ human father on Sunday and see if we can flesh out a bit more of his part in the narrative. And remember, we have two services Sunday, our regular morning worship at 10:00 and our Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols at 5:00.
I’m taking some time off next week, so I want to look ahead and remind you of our Annual Remembrance Tree service on Sunday January 7. Through Advent we have been writing the names of loved ones gone on paper ornaments and hanging them on the small Christmas/Remembrance Tree in the narthex. If you haven’t done so already, I invite you to inscribe and hang a paper ornament of your own this week or next, so that we may honor and celebrate those who were dear to you the first Sunday of the New Year.
Links to our bulletins and services are found here:
Link to Bulletin – 10:00 am worship
Link to Bulletin – Christmas Eve 5:00 pm