Dear Friends in Christ,

Our stormy weather is bringing its own kind of beauty to my garden.  The peach trees have lost their leaves.  The camellia bushes are thinking about showing us their blossoms. (The one beside the side door of the church is in full bloom with beautiful pink flowers.). The strawberries were beginning to fruit – but have now given up.  The plants are now a delightful mix of yellow, brown and green leaves.

We are down to one chicken (You don’t really want to know.).  She has taken objection to the weather and is laying her eggs as far under her house as she can manage.  At every opportunity she is letting us know that things are not to her liking.

During the month of December, all four of our churches celebrated Advent and Christmas in their own ways.  We also collaborated on some spectacular events: Thanksgiving Food Giveaway, Lessons and Carols, Special Music and Coffee Hour provided by the Tongan Church when Bishop David came to visit for the last time, Las Posadas, the Live Nativity.

It is the nature of Christmas, that even when we are doing all that we can do, we wonder if we need a wee bit of forgiveness for those things which we have done, and those things we have left undone.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas have set the stage for the quieter revelations of Epiphany.  Epiphany begins January 10. 

If you have not signed up and would like to attend our Icon Painting and Weaving Workshop on Monday and Tuesday: December 29 & 30 from 9 am to 12 pm, please give me a call (508-558-6849). 

The Zion Chamber Music Orchestra concerts are early this year.  The first one is January 4.  You can buy your tickets on the Zion Lutheran Church Website or during office hours at Zion.

On Valentines Day: Saturday, February 14, the Tongan Church, the Tongan Church Youth Group and the Church of St Anne’s will be offering a dinner @ St Anne’s to raise funds for Grandma’s Garden.  Stay tuned for details.

Faithfully yours,

Rebecca