Had a few minutes here at the office whilst the sermon from yesterday is uploading and being produced from the software utilities ... so thought I'd do just a quick update from here to stay on task for all the preparations that are yet ts come. Am driving down to Roseburg to get June this afternoon - will have dinner together tonight and then come back tomorrow - she'll catch the "silver bird" to San Diego and be with the rest of the family for the holidays. I do so look forward to the days when I can be one of those travelers and be with the family for the holidays ... but have a few more years to wait for that to happen with me and with my dear Karina. Yet, like Advent, we still wait in anticipation.
I mentioned the Worship Arts Committee - and their Advent path ... donated squares of blue cloth to "get us to the manger" for Christmas Eve. Well, we're about halfway there ... and I am assured that the finished project will be beautiful. Last Sunday, this is what we saw.
view from the sanctuary doors
from the back looking forward - 70% (?) complete
even cute squares are included
looking out the back door ...
The Health Ministry Team completed our "Walk to Bethlehem" and we made it from Portland (then flew to China) and walked from China to Bethlehem in 12 weeks (some 6000+ miles); had about 40 families participating this year - it gets us into a discipline of both physical and spiritual exercise. Even keep a huge world map on the back wall to "track" the trek. Yesterday morning Ray (our fearless journey leader) kind of laughed when he got all the miles tallied on Saturday afternoon - we were 2 miles short - and he was going us have the whole congregation get up and walk around the building a couple of times to complete the distance - but then he got a more emails from more participants until 10:30 Saturday night, and I think he said we made it by 114 miles! It is an enjoyable challenge.
Christmas Eve we're doing an interactive program at 5 and 7 - something quite different than our traditional format; we'll let you know how that works out. Christmas Day will be 20 minutes of Christmas Carols; the Christmas Story (I always recite it from memory); a meditation, communion and a birthday cake! So that is also breaking from tradition. Dec. 30th and 31st all the musicians are gone, so I guess I will be leading a "folk" service with guitar or keyboard or something. NYE is at 4:00 and has a brief devotion with communion - then followed by a progressive dinner - something new for us as well. We'll see how all the ideas pan out. Pray for us! Some don't deal with change as easily as others.
That's about it for today!
Oh, Sarah, if you read this, WOW! your blog had more Posts than Toasties! whatever that means?!?
You go, girl!
Love ya.
From the left coast.
Karina and Dan
I look forward to hearing/seeing more about your 'non-traditonal' services coming up. Some great ideas that have gotten thoughts going for me. Perhaps not in our small congregation, but with our own kids and possibly their school and chapel services.
ReplyDeleteA blessed Advent to you both as we keep our focus and eyes on the coming Savior.
Becky & all