Yesterday Facebook presented me with a video of 2018 created from selected photos I’ve posted or been tagged in. Photos of us in Washington, San Antonio, Branson, or at home. Photos of pizza and rhubarb pie. Photos from Confirmation Sunday and the Habitat for Humanity house dedication. Photos while fishing or relaxing in the front yard. Photos of the two sides of the rental house that got painted this year. Yes, it has been a very good year.
But the year isn’t over yet! There is still half of December left. Will we enjoy it? Will we wear ourselves out trying to have the best Christmas ever? Will we struggle through, one way or another, to remember the goodness, the kindness, the hope, and the love shared especially at this time of year? We didn’t really set out to make changes this year in how we prepare for Christmas. It has just kind of evolved. You might say that our theme this year is simply: Simplify, Simplify, Simplify. Our Christmas tree this year is our skinny tree, not the natural-looking artificial from my parsonage days or a real tree grown in our yard. There are none of our annually-hung ornaments on it, but there are lots of lights! Our front-of-the-house display morphed from lights across the roofline with a tree or gift-wrapped boxes on the deck into nine upside down tomato cages wrapped in nine strings of lights. Somewhat odd-looking by day. But stunning Christmas trees by night! Still on our list are: gift shopping, sending Christmas cards and letters, and Christmas caroling. And on my list: preparing for The Longest Night services and the Christmas Eve services at each church. A young mother mentioned a while back a gift-giving method she will be trying out this year with her kiddos. Maybe you’ve heard of it. It’s called Something Four. The idea is giving/receiving four gifts each … something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. I like it! Another way to simplify. Holy God, help us have courage to find joy in the simpler things of life. Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat
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