Dear Friends,
Calvary’s vitality continues to grow as new (and former!) members swell our numbers on Sundays, and each week during this Advent season offers a feast of opportunities for learning, worship, and fellowship.
Last Sunday, artist and teacher Janena Reynolds offered the first of two sessions for Adult Christian Education exploring “Art of the Nativity.” This coming Sunday’s class will continue that study and include particpants’ working with a gold-leaf project of their own. You are welcome to attend even if you missed the first class!
On Tuesday, 34 people from a variety of Ashland churches gathered at Calvary as we hosted the final Community Prayer Breakfast. Later that day, “Dinner with the Arts” served up a hot spaghetti dinner with all the trimmings for more than 70 folks from around town before the Kenny Rogers show at The Paramount.
Tonight, the Advent Evening Program continues at 6:30 with a simple soup supper followed by some teaching about Luke’s gospel and a simple Holy Eucharist. And tomorrow, Sci-Fi Geek Night offers Iron Man 3 (PG-13) at 6.
Next week continues with a new offering: “Blue Christmas” on Tuesday (Dec. 15) at 7 P.M. The December monthly Crucifer contains a fuller description of this service, and today’s Daily Independent includes a lovely article by Mark Maynard inviting the public (found online here). Consider coming yourself, and bring with you those in your life who need a quiet celebration of Jesus’ birth in the midst of grief, loss, or stress.
Also next week, Jerri Rupert will coordinate our annual Greening of the Church on Wednesday beginning at 5 P.M. Come and be part of this preparation of our beautiful church for our Christmas celebrations!
For a church of our size to offer so much to so many is remarkable! I am grateful for the many in our congregation who give of their time and personal gifts to making Calvary an ever-stronger presence in the life of our town and to increasing the offerings for worship, spiritual growth, learning, and fellowship for our members. If you have not yet involved yourself in these other parts of our common life, I invite you to sample them and to offer your own time and gifts as our little church continues to blossom with new life!
Wishing you every blessing,
Mtr. TJ