Weekly Email #35

I hope this email finds you having a wonderful Christmas week.  We are busy putting the finishing touches on what I expect to be a wonderful Christmas Eve celebration tomorrow night.  I hope you are planning to be with us….
 
There are just a couple of things I want to share with you before Christmas.  Here is what I will cover in this week’s email:

1. Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion
2. This Sunday @ FUMC
3. Office Hours During Holidays

1.  Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion

I want to remind you one last time about our Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service tomorrow night at 6 p.m.  This is one of the most popular services of the year and we are anticipating a very large crowd.  I encourage you to arrive early to ensure you get a seat and to give you an opportunity to greet our many guest.  This service will last around 45 minutes and I am sure it will bless your Christmas season.
 
I hope you will plan to pause your family gatherings and, together, come and worship Jesus Christ, the giver of life and true gift of Christmas.  There will be a nursery available for children 3 & under.
 
2.  This Sunday @ FUMC

The chaos of Christmas is often times difficult to handle…..but maybe not as difficult as life after Christmas.  Do you ever find yourself struggle with life after the celebration?  The excitement is over.  The anticipation has been filled.  The Christ-child has been born….but now what?  
 
This Sunday @ FUMC Rev. Cheryl Wood will deal with this very topic by looking at the story of Joseph and Mary after the birth of Christ and how it took Simeon and Anna to remind them that God is found in more than just the excitement of the moment.  God is truly found in everyday life….if we will but open our eyes.
 
You will also be blessed at both 8:15 and 10:30 services with the return of our former organist Mark Montgomery (he will fill in for Alicia) and a beautiful duet by Tami & Tori Beall.
 
I hope you will join us this Sunday @ FUMC as we continue to celebrate Christ in our lives.
 
3.  Office Hours During the Holidays

As you are well aware, our staff works extremely hard during the Christmas Season (right up through Christmas Eve), often times missing out on family celebrations prior to Christmas in order to provide you with the best possible Christmas opportunities.   Because of this schedule it is important for me to give them a bit of time off after Christmas Eve so they can enjoy the holidays with their families.  Therefore, I want to remind you once more of our office hours during the holidays.  We will be closed December 24-January 4.  However, I will be available throughout the holidays to meet your pastoral needs.  In fact, I will be by the office on the 29th and 30th.  
 
If you need pastoral care during the holidays, please feel free to contact me at home (207-8218).  If there is no answer, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

That is about it for today……  I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night for a great Christmas Eve celebration.

Wayne