From the Pastor's Desk

It's been a wonderful journey through Advent! Many thanks to our Sunday School children and parents who brought the Advent season to a culmination yesterday at our 11am service with their annual Christmas Program. What a wonderful celebration. A special thanks to Charlotte Elizabeth Roble, born October 3, (Dr. Linda Aiken's granddaughter) who was Baptized at the 8:30 service and came back to be "baby Jesus" at the 11am service. She truly lived out in a hurry what Martin Luther said that each of of our callings is as a Baptized child of God, that is to be a "little Christ" in the world!

We now stand on the threshold of the Christmas celebration.

On Christmas Eve we have 2 candlelight communion services: one at 6pm with our Handbell Choir ringing and one at 9pm with our Chancel Choir singing. There will be preservice music beginning about 1/2 hour before each service.

On Christmas Day there will be a service with Holy Communion at 11am followed by our annual Home Alone Christmas Dinner at noon. The menu will be mashed potatoes, gravy, roast beef and all the fixins! This is our gift to the community. If you'd like to make a reservation, reply to this email and we'll save a seat for you.

Since Christmas Day is on Saturday this year, there will be no regular 6pm Saturday service, but there will be two services of Lessons and Carols on Sunday at 8:30 and 11am.

At Christmas we celebrate that God has not stayed far off in an unknown distance, but has come to be with us in the person of Jesus. May these holy days be filled with the Peace, Joy and Love of the Christ Child for all of you.

Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III,