Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,
Advent blessings of hope and peace!
This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent, a time when we celebrate Joy. And joy will be in God’s house because it is a special Sunday with our Children’s Christmas Pageant: Christmas on the Beach, adapted by Nancy Coffin. Our children and teachers have practiced diligently to bring you a fun re-telling of the Christmas story from the beach of the Bahamas. After worship, we will have our annual Christmas party in the Education Building. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves will be making a special appearance! Invite a friend to this family friendly worship at MRC.
Beloved, if you’ve been away for a while or have been coming to church every Sunday, I look forward to continuing to worship with you in this beautiful season of Advent. Let there be joy!
BLESSING TO SUMMON REJOICING
When your weeping
has watered
the earth.
When the storm
has been long
and the night
and the season
of your sorrowing.
When you have seemed
an exile
from your life,
lost in the far country,
a long way from where
your comfort lies.
When the sound
of splintering
and fracture
haunts you.
When despair
attends you.
When lack.
When trouble.
When fear.
When pain.
When empty.
When lonely.
When too much
of what depletes you
and not enough
of what restores
and rests you.
Then let there be
rejoicing.
Then let there be
dreaming.
Let there be
laughter in your mouth
and on your tongue
shouts of joy.
Let the seeds
soaked by tears
turn to grain,
to bread,
to feasting.
Let there be
coming home.
—Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons
With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,
Pastor Trish