November is bearing down upon us. The kids have had Fall Break and the schools are now in the big push to finish the semester strong. Bands, Orchestras, and Choirs are all planning and preparing for their Christmas or “Winter” concerts. Stores are beginning to prepare for Black Friday sales and all the shoppers that will be “doorbusting” at the end of the month. Some of us will begin planning Christmas lists for all the gifts we need to buy and planning how best to buy gifts for our loved ones. And, at least as of the time I am writing this, the Broncos are still undefeated and people are still excited about the rest of the season. Some folks are even planning their schedules around being able to watch the games. Before your schedules get too full, I would ask you to schedule (in pen, not pencil) a couple dates here at the church.

 

First, we would love to have as many as possible to attend our Hanging of the Greens on Nov. 24. This is when we, as a church family, get together and decorate the church for Christmas. Normally, we do this on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent. Unfortunately, this year that is the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. So to make it easier for folks to participate, we are going to do it right after the 11:00service on November 24. It will probably take from 12:00-3:00pm and is always a lot of fun. Please plan on coming!

 

Second, a wonderful opportunity to prepare for Advent and for Thanksgiving is the Taize Service on Nov.27, the night before Thanksgiving. This service is a quiet, meditative service of music, silent prayer, and scripture readings that center us on the meaning of the upcoming holidays. I have always been blessed by attending this service and I hope you will join me.

 

Third, the annual sharing of selections from Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 8 at the 8:00a and 9:30a services. Normally, Messiah is performed on the first Sunday in Advent. However, because that is Thanksgiving weekend this year, Messiah will be a week later. Please plan on sharing this gift of worship through music with us.

 

Finally, similar to our Lenten studies, Randy will be leading the church in an Advent study on each of the first three Thursdays in December (5^th, 12^th, and 19^th). The classes will be from 5:30-7:00p, starting with a meal and will help get us ready to celebrate the birth of the Savior.  Don’t wait to put all these on your calendars. I look forward to seeing you then!