As we continue to approach Christmas Day, many of us experience an increasingly joyful state!
We also welcome and embrace those for whom this season is more of a “Blue Christmas”, filled with sentiments of sadness and loneliness. We make room for the heaviness of grief, loss, broken relationships and lack. Ours is a brave space to feel all of what you may be feeling during the holiday.
You are especially invited to take your place among the people at GreenbeltCommunityChurch, where we will greet you like an old friend, sing together and lift up prayers.
Our biblical narratives will bring us back to the joyful anticipation of the shepherds who journeyed to see Jesus in Bethlehem, even before the accounts of “the wise men”.
We will light the third candle of Advent together and rejoice in our community, like the shepherds. This candle is often called the “Shepherd’s Candle”. The candle is pink to represent the liturgical color for joy.
Lighting our Advent Candle for Joy will be David Alexander and Rachel Alexander, this Sunday. We welcome our Lay Readers, Beatrix Whitehall and Karen Yoho.
Our Opening Hymn to fill the sanctuary is “Dona Nobis Pacem”, (Grant Us Peace), as we journey through the Peace Sunday on to our Joy Sunday.
The Greenbelt Community Church Choir, under the direction of Dr. Wei-Der Huang, will offer an anthem during the service.
I will deliver a sermon entitled, “And Still We Wait, Expectantly“.
Our other congregational singing will include the time-tested favorite, “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”, along with “Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life“.
Come, as we continue our trek through Advent and on to Christmas Eve, when we will celebrate our final worship service of the Christmas season on Wednesday, December 24th at 7:30PM at the church.
It is not too late to let us know you want to participate as a Reader at the Christmas Eve service. We will enjoy an evening of fellowship with Word and song, as we recall the birth of Jesus.
O tidings of comfort and joy!
Beloved,
Pastor Aubra
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