This Season in Worship
Dec 21, 2024: Longest Night
Dec 22, 2024: Matthew 1:18-25, “Hope is Worth the Risk”
Dec 24, 2024: Luke 2:1-20, “Love Knows Your Name”
Dec 29, 2024: Taizé Service
Jan 5, 2025: Matthew 2:1-12, “The Road Isn’t Straight”

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

In the next few weeks, we will experience three liturgical "seasons": the end of Advent, Christmastide (the 12 days of Christmas), and Epiphany! Whew!

On December 21, many churches will hold a "Longest Night" service to honor the challenging feelings people may be having at this time of the year. Are you grieving? Stressed? Angry? Tired? Join us for an hour on Saturday evening (in the sanctuary and on Zoom) for a peace filled service that has meant a lot to those participating. Our friends from Clayton Valley Presbyterian & Concord United Methodist will join us.

December 22: The fourth Sunday of Advent theme is LOVE — God's love made flesh, God's love for all of humanity, and God's love that makes hope worth the risk. The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus' genealogy. We then read about the story of Jesus' birth from Joseph's viewpoint. He took the risk. He believed the hope Gabriel promised was worth the risk of family and community rejection.

On Christmas Eve, we hear the story of Jesus birth. We, alongside the shepherds, are given the good news that God's love knows their names (and ours). We are told the good news that a child named Jesus, who will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting One, and Prince of Peace," has been born.

On December 29, I will be away, and Audrey will lead the Taizé service of prayers, songs, silence, and communion. Please come to the sanctuary (or join us on Zoom) and celebrate Christmastide together in a contemplative service.

On January 5, we will celebrate the first Sunday of the new year. We will note that the Magi have arrived at the home where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are staying. They present Jesus with gifts that will symbolize his life and ministry (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), and they warn Mary and Joseph to go to Egypt and hide there. They will go back home by another path, as well. We will see that sometimes God sends us on a path we do not expect to live into the life God has in store for us. We will be reminded that "The Road Isn't Straight."

The way we worship is the way we live.

Worship is the work of the people, bringing together our fullest selves in a communal act of love and gratitude.  Each voice is important; each person is valued as the Spirit draws out our authentic gifts and talents, shared in the ever-widening circle of God’s people.  We hope you’ll join us this week as we gather to worship the God of extravagant welcome.