Thursday, December 6, 2012

Midweek Advent Worship


Advent Vespers Services
      Wednesday December 5th and 12th  - 7 pm
Longest Night Service
      Wednesday December 19th  - 7 pm

Take a moment to “take a breath” and fill your soul this busy season. 

Come worship at our Midweek Advent Vespers services on December 5th and 19th at 7 pm.  These worship services will be about 30 minutes and will allow space for some quiet and peace in God’s presence. After worship, there will be time for us to enjoy some refreshments and each other’s company.

On Wednesday, December 19th, we will hold our annual Longest Night worship service.  

The Longest Night is a special worship service, deriving its name from the approaching Winter Solstice – the longest, darkest night of the year. The Longest Night is not a reference to a length of time (or the length of the worship service!) but to our deepest need for hope, comfort, and peace in our lives and souls. There will be a time for lighting candles in memory or in hope, for prayers asking for God to take away our fears and pain, and for communion with the promise of God’s presence with us.  

Those who have attended the Longest Night have found it to be very meaningful, especially at this time of year. It is also the perfect opportunity to invite a friend or neighbor who you know to be feeling sadness or loss in this season.  

We all know that December is a month of a lot of activity and hustle and bustle.  Come to Midweek Services and be filled spiritually.  It is true preparation for the Advent of our Lord! 


Sunday, December 12th – Super Sized Sunday School Christmas Event


Jesus Gives Us the Power to Know God
Sunday, December 9th 

We’ve been having a great time with our new Sunday School ministry this year.  Come and join us for our December event as we explore how Jesus Gives Us the Power to Know God! We’ll be singing, learning, creating, playing, and eating together as we do every month, but this Sunday we’ll be focusing on what Christmas is all about!  

We will gather at 10:20 am and finishing up at 12:20 pm.  This is the perfect event to invite friends and neighbors!  All children and youth are welcome!  

Christmas Eve Barn Service 4 pm


We’re heading out to the country again this year to worship the newborn Christ Child in a powerful setting - a barn!  Yes – a barn with straw, animals, and the quiet outdoor peace of that first Christmas when the baby Jesus was laid in a manger.   You’ll want to dress warm – so boots, coats, and mittens are welcome wear for the evening.  

Directions to the Rodawold Farm at 17292 Ballou Road:  Go east on Ballou Road off of Route 102.  (You’ll be turning at the electric plant on the corner of 102 and Ballou).  Go east about 5 miles and cross Chicago Road.  Continue east for another 2.2 miles and the farm is on the north side of the road.  

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 10 pm


Our 10 o’clock service will be the traditional candlelight service many us have grown to know so well over the years.  We will hear again the story of Christmas - the birth of Jesus and the Word made flesh. We will join in the Christmas carols and hymns that mean so much to us. There will be special music and instrumentalists (including Pastor’s daughter, Anna!)  We will gather for Holy Communion - and of course ending our service by candlelight.  Come and worship during our Christmas Eve Candlelight service.