Celebrating the Incarnation

Dear friends,

A few nights ago I had the privilege of attending the Holiday Pops concert at the Ferguson Center.  The program included an audience singalong, which was well-received.  A thousand people lifted our voices in song.  Afterward the conductor thanked us and pointed out that singing together is a way of building community, of creating and sharing beauty.
 
This broken world in which we live desperately needs community and beauty, peace and reconciliation.  That is of course why God sent Jesus to us: to be with us in our messy midst and ultimately to save us.  The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
 
If I were God and planned to send my beloved son into this sinful world, I would have sent him as an invincible grownup, shielded behind impenetrable armor—not as a fragile infant born on the road to poor parents in occupied territory.  I would have chosen safety over community, protection over vulnerability.  But that’s not how God works.  Community and reconciliation are so important to God that he came to us as one of us.  That’s Incarnation.
 
I look forward to celebrating the Incarnation with you; and I very much hope that you will take part in one or more of our upcoming Christmas services:

Christmas Eve Family Service, December 24 at 4:30 PM with Children’s Pageant, Children’s Homily, and Candle-lighting. Plan to come at 3:45 for Cookies 'n Goodies (see below)
Christmas Eve Festive Eucharist, December 24 at 8:30 PM with Special Music and Candle-Lighting. Plan to come at 8:10 for special music and carol singing.
Christmas Day Eucharist, December 25 at 10:30 AM
Service of Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 31st at 10:30 AM
 
As is customary here at St. Andrew’s, there will be a special Christmas offering again this year.  You may make your gift online here, or use the Christmas offering envelope you will find in your Christmas Eve/Day service bulletin.
 
Friends, as we rejoice in the precious gift of Incarnation this Christmas season, may we too dare to choose reconciliation and community, seeking ways to create and share beauty—for the sake of the world, and for Jesus’ sake.
 
Blessings and love.  -Anne

Everyone who plans to attend the 4:30 PM Christmas Eve service is invited to come at 3:45 PM for Cookies n’ Goodies in the Parish Hall. Please bring your favorite Christmas cookies to share. This will be a time for fellowship, snacking, children’s activities, and for the children to pick a pageant costume if they haven’t already done so.