October 29, 2020
Dear Calvary,
As we prepare for a holiday season unlike most, if not all, of us have experienced before, there are a lot of emotions coming up. I know for me, the emotions range from deep disappointment to hope around creating new experiences with Julian and Ian. Perhaps you feel similar as you may be preparing for a holiday season without family, or at least not in ways you are used to. Part of this preparation for me is navigating my emotions around how things will be different at church. Julian’s first holiday season will be like many of his firsts, rocking it solo with his dad and me. Another in a long line of things we had envisioned differently for him and us. And yet, I cling to moments of hope. The things that connect us to our family and our church family. Part of that is the joy of the upcoming Calvary at Home for the Holidays.
While we cannot gather in our typical ways for the holiday season we wanted to make sure Calvary was with you Home for the Holidays this year. For the various holidays over November and December we will be sending you digital items to enjoy at home and will be sending one mailing for you to use throughout the days.
For November you will have a chance to engage in 30 Days of Thankfulness Devotional. This Devotional comes from Vibrant Church Communications and gives you access to digital files that you can download to your tablet/computer/phone or print off at home. You can also follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts for daily connections there! Also, the Men’s Group will be hosting a NO Food Breakfast for Thanksgiving that will include chances to engage live during the zoom gathering, enjoy hearing music from David Farwig, a bit of Thanksgiving history, and the pome “the Great Turkey and Gentlemen Gay”, and thankfulness vignettes from members of the congregation. Keep an eye out on the enews for more details.
For December you will have a chance to enjoy a little token of care in the mail, a virtual Christmas pageant, a packet of carols and a few audio files to accompany them, and of course ornaments you can print off and color to add to your other Calvary craft ornaments from years past.
We so wish we could be gathering in person for all of these holiday activities but we want to be sure you know that while we cannot gather in ways we used to Calvary will be joining you at Home for the Holidays this year! We want you to know we are thinking of you, praying for you, and finding ways to ensure we can connect. This will certainly be a memorable holiday season and we look forward to joining you at home in these small, but meaningful ways, over the next two months.