Dear friends,
As we approach the holiday season, I know this time of year can often be filled with mixed emotions. While there can be great joy in the gathering of friends and family for events surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas, these yearly rituals and holiday celebrations can often come with sadness, too. Some of us are missing spouses or other relatives or friends who have died, some are grieving changes in their family living situations and/or structures. Some of us are grieving the loss of old Christmas traditions, some of us are struggling with difficult medical diagnoses or financial struggles, the list goes on.
I'm delighted to announce that this Advent, we will begin a new tradition to set the tone of God's unfailing love for each of us within community, even those of us who journey this season with complex emotions and feelings. On Wednesday, November 30th, all are invited to join us for our first Blue Christmas Service at 4:00pm in the sanctuary. This contemplative, musical service is being designed by some of our artists and myself to provide a worshipful space for anyone experiencing grief or sadness during this holiday season. Worshippers will be invited to bring a photo or some other piece of memorabilia representing the person or situation they have on their heart to be displayed in the center as a focal point. We will hear words of comfort and peace through liturgy, music and scripture. Those who wish will also have the chance to receive an anointing for healing and to pray individually with an elder or other church leader.
With love,
Pastor Doug
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Among our Concerns
We lift up:
Roger Davidson, having surgery on the 22nd
Charlene Housman, continuing recovery at a rehabilitation center in Puyallup
Steven Lynd
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.
Among our local and global community concerns:
We pray for the most vulnerable in our community without warm, safe housing as the winter season approaches.
For our Global Ministries partners, this week in the Dominican Republic.
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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.