It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Trees and lights and nativity scenes abound. Even here at Caldwell. (Thanks to and for the team of people who decorated the church last Saturday.) Please plan to come for worship in the next few weeks and check out how lovely Caldwell looks.
But between the tinsel and lights, between the gift buying and Sunday worship services, while we wait for the celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning, there are moments when we feel the blues. When we feel sad. Lonely. Conflicted. Worried. Afraid. Exhausted.
And it’s not only because our bodies are tired. It is because our souls are weary as well. We’ve done too much for too long. We’ve cared for others, but neglected to care for ourselves. We’ve fed others, but neglected to feed our hungry hearts. We have lost hope. We have lost touch with the joy of our salvation.
This Thursday, December 8th, we will gather in Hope Hall at 7 pm for our Blue Christmas service. We will pray, ponder, sing, name our blues, and offer them to God in prayer. We will be reminded that hope is still on the horizon. Joy is still possible. After all, Jesus, Emmanuel (which means “God with us”) is coming so very soon.
(Spoiler alert: Jesus has already come. God is already present with us through the indwelling of the Spirit of God. Feel free to tell anyone and everyone!!!)
On Thursday evening, please plan to enter through the courtyard doors into Hope Hall – not the sanctuary doors or the office entrance.
Come around to the back of the church building and enter through the courtyard.
Enter and find a seat.
Enter and find a place of rest.
Enter and take a few deep breaths.
Enter and take a few moments to just be.
Enter and prepare yourself to be held tenderly – in your own hands, in the hands of others who will be present, and most important of all, in the hands of our loving and gracious God.
This coming Sunday, December 11th, we will continue to ponder the theme, “Close to Home,” as John will preach out of a Hebrew prophetic text, Zephaniah 3:14-20, and also from Luke 3:7-18.
And next Sunday, December 18th, at 9:30 am, the Caldwell Christmas Pancake Breakfast Returns! Plan to join other Caldwellians for a time of food and conversation. Perhaps together – with God’s help – we can hold the blues at bay.
Please bring your favorite pancake topping (fruit, jelly, etc.) or other breakfast treats to Hope Community Hall. Let’s enjoy one another’s company over pancakes, bacon, and veggie options, coffee and more.
If you are willing to help with set up before the breakfast, during the breakfast, or clean up after the breakfast, please let Rachel Eldridge know — email congregationallife@caldwellpresby.org or text/call 704-258-6033.
The blues are real. So is the gift of community. I hope you will allow yourself to feel the former and bask in the latter.
May the grace and peace of God be yours.
Even now.
Gail