Dear friends,
As we continue our Advent journey, this week marks my favorite Sunday of the preparatory season: Joy Sunday! We'll be reflecting on the ways God delights when we come to claim the unique gifts and spirit that each of us bring to the table and use them to serve God's cause of liberation and love in the world before us, just like Mary.
Tradition has it that on the third Sunday of Advent, the third candle we light representing God's joy is the color pink. As part of that special day, you're invited to bring your brightest and flashiest pink clothing and assessories as we have a little fun and explore the next stage of Tori's art project highlighting this year's theme: Living Peace.
Lastly but definitely not least, I am so excited to share that we have new chairs! I want to give a special shout out to all the wonderful people who helped us unpackaged and move the new chairs into place last week. Many hands make light work, so thank you!
See you this joyous Sunday!
With love,
Pastor Doug
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Among our Joys
We give thank for all who had a hand in unwrapping and moving our new sanctuary chairs into place. We can't wait to break them out this Sunday!
Among our Concerns
We lift up:
The Alvarado family
Charlene Housman, undergoing surgery this morning for kidney stones
Mark Housman, continuing recovering after a heart attack and a series of other health complications at Tacoma General Hospital
September Petersen
Bear, Mel Peabody's partner
Rachel Morford
We pray for our homebound friends, Helen Bosley, Harry and Margaret Lobberegt, Jane Nelson, Marylu and Joseph Mills and Jim and Kay Thompson and Lenora Cook.
We pray for Esther Freeman and her extended family on the death of her brother this week, Earnest Freeman. Traveling mercies for Esther and for all who are gathering to comfort each other and grieve.
Among our local and global community concerns:
We pray for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, in Tacoma and around the world. We pray for a fire to be lit underneath us all, from each of us, all the way to our legislators and lawmakers, that we would find the issue of homelessness to be OUR issue, and that we would continue to work together to help all our neighbors in need and make homelessness history.
For our Global Ministries partners, this week in Colombia.
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If you'd like to share a prayer joy or concern, please contact Pastor Doug at doug@fcctacoma.org or by calling the church office. Please indicate whether your prayer is to be shared publicly, or if you'd like it to be kept private.