December 17, 2020
Dear Calvary,
It is very hard for me to realize we are a week away from Christmas! It is even more baffling to me that we have been living with Covid-19 safety measures for just shy of 10 months! This year has been a tortoise and hare situation, meaning it feels like this year will never end and yet at the same time feels like this year has flown by.
And while this is not a new feeling towards a year as it comes to a close it is heightened for me this year. For example, back in September when the idea for Calvary Home for the Holidays came to be it felt like it would take so long for it to be experienced and now that we are coming to its end, I can’t believe we are less than a week away from the final pieces of it taking place.
To this point you have had the chance to experience the 30 days of Thankfulness, the Men’s Group No Food Thanksgiving Day Breakfast, and some of you have already received the mailing for Calvary Home for the Holidays (CHFTH) which includes a safety face mask with this theme printed on it. An important note, if you have not received your mailing yet please do not fret! With the holidays slowing mail down some routes and for those out of state it may take a little bit to get to you. If you have not received it by January 1 please, please let me know. So what else is left for you to experience? I’m so glad you asked!
This weekend you will get to hear Dr. Farwig singing portions of some of the carols that are in the CHFTH caroling book. Since we are not able to gather for a Christmas concert we wanted you to still have a bit of caroling joy from the comfort of your home. You will be able to access this playlist on our YouTube channel and the caroling book in the digital CHFTH folder.
On Tuesday, December 22 at 6:30 pm on our youtube channel you have a Virtual Christmas Card to enjoy. We have a mixture of videos and pictures capturing holiday traditions, favorite Christmas decorations, and stories that mark the season. If you watch at 6:30 pm you will have the chance to engage with one another in the live chat. Many thanks to all who contributed to this holiday spirit for all of us to enjoy.
While our Christmas Eve service is not technically part of CHFTH but it is the anchor of our holiday offerings next week! We look forward to celebrating Christmas with all of you at 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 24 for a communion and candlelight service. You have a chance to pick-up a candle from the church on Sunday, December 20 from 1:00-2:00 pm or Monday, December 21 from 6:00-7:00 pm. These are the candles we use every year for the Spreading of the Light and wanted to give any of you who want one the chance to safely come and get one from church.
Then to wrap up our CHFTH experiences we have our first Virtual Christmas Pageant. You can watch this on our youtube channel on Christmas Day at 2:00 pm. After you have enjoyed your Christmas morning we wanted you to have a chance to connect with your church family in a lighthearted and joyful way! If you are in our Christmas Pageant thank you for trying something new and bringing this unique experience to the homes of our church family.
I sure hope you enjoy all of these experiences! I so wish we could have been together for the Thanksgiving holiday and I really, really wish we could be together this Advent season and on Christmas Eve. With each of these offerings, I pray you feel thought of, have a chance to laugh and have moments of joy, and know that with each of these touchpoints you are continually being prayed for by your pastors. I feel safe speaking for Pastors Alice and Anne when I say, we deeply miss you and are so very grateful for your courage and vulnerability to try new ways of connecting and supporting this church family.
From Ian, Julian, and myself, have a wonderful close to this holiday season over the coming weeks. We send our love to each and every one of you!
See you in the live chat and on the screen,
Pastor Morgan