Dear friends,
What a wonderful service of Advent Lessons & Carols we had yesterday afternoon. Thank you to Cameron and the choir for the beautiful music, to all who read lessons, and to Claudia for putting together the beautiful service leaflet. It all came together beautifully.
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is two weeks from today. Here is our schedule for now through Epiphany.
- December 17 — Advent 3 — Bishop Wright will be with us. There will be NO 8:30 service. The bishop will lead Adult Sunday School at 9:30 and at 10:45 will celebrate, preach, and confirm four new Episcopalians (congratulations to Eddie Belgard, Emma Blair, Joe Gaul, and Garrett Wilson). After the service there will be a potluck lunch. Bring your favorite comfort food.
- December 24 — Advent 4 — One service at 10 a.m.
- December 24 — Christmas Eve. Music begins at 4:45 and the liturgy at 5 pm
- December 25 — Christmas Day. One service at 10 a.m.
- December 31 — One service of Christmas Lessons & Carols at 10 a.m.
- January 7 — One service at 10 a.m.
You may wonder why we will still have only one service on January 7, when the Christmas season is over. Shortly after Joe died I realized that our home Christmas celebrations would have to change. I don’t have it in me to do all the non-work things that we usually do this time of year. So I have not sent out Christmas cards. There’s no tree, no decorations, no hanging stockings, no baking. (Not doing all these things has made the season remarkably less stressful). Instead of all of that Joseph Henry and I are getting on a plane on Christmas afternoon and flying to Italy for two weeks. Since all of Joe’s grandparents immigrated here from Italy it seems like a good way to honor him.
We are flying into Venice, and will also spend time in Florence and Rome. We have several day-trips planned, including one to Lucca, the town where two of Joe’s grandparents lived. We will be in Italy for our wedding anniversary, New Year’s Eve and Day, and will be flying home on January 7. As long as JH is able and willing to travel with his mother I hope that we will be getting on a plane to somewhere on Christmas Day every year. Not a bad new tradition.
With love,
Tricia