Beth and I were recalling that this Sunday would have been our open house for the parish at the rectory. We so enjoy welcoming you into our home especially as part of our Christmas celebrations. We look forward to doing so again hopefully in 2021!!

We're certainly in the midst of the preparations for the upcoming celebrations of Christmas here at St. Paul's. Despite Covid 19, although different from years past and hopefully from years to come, it promises to be a joy filled celebration that stirs our hearts and souls with the gift of the Christ Child. Check out the videos that will be released over the next couple of weeks for the Online video "Old Tyme Carol Sing", the Online video "Lessons and Carols Service" in partnership with Trinity United, the online "Family Christmas" video and the Online "Longest Night" worship video.

And of course ... we are preparing for Christmas Eve with in person Communion services at 4 and 7 that will be live streamed and available following through a video posted on our YouTube channel. 

I pray that you will find ways that are meaningful for you to enter this holy season and experience a sacred encounter of faith with God.

"The Grinch" is an entertaining Christmas movie that is often enjoyed by adults as much as by children. Dr. Seuss tells a story that reaches to the heart of what Christmas is about, especially when Grinch tries to silence the bells and steal all the presents. In Whoville the Whos are full of excitement about celebrating Christmas. The only one who is not into the spirit is the cantankerous green furred Grinch. He does everything to ruin Christmas and take away the spirit that galvanized this town in their joy as they went about their various traditions. Of course, he didn't succeed. The Whos still gathered and sang with delight "Welcome Christmas". Even the Grinch couldn't steal the spirit of Christmas and ruin their celebrations.

Some might think that Covid 19 has the potential to steal Christmas for us. And in some ways it might feel like that could be a reality. We can't sing our favorite carols; for some they don't feel safe coming out to church; families can't gather for the turkey dinner; parties are on hold for this year. All in all, it may feel like the spirit of Christmas is lost; it may feel like Covid 19 has stolen Christmas 2020.

And yet, the truth is that December 25 will come as it always does; Christmas will happen. The question is, "how will we celebrate it" this year; how will we maintain that sense of joy; how can we embrace what we can do rather than focus on what we can't do? From a faith perspective, how can we still go to Bethlehem and encounter they mystery and miracle of God with us, Emmanuel in the baby lying in a bed of straw.

How can we faithfully engage in these days leading up to Christmas so that we feel able and ready to celebrate however we can.

The truth is, Covid 19 can steal Christmas and our spirit along with it. However, we can and need to ask ourselves if that's what we'd really like this year. Or, perhaps we need Christmas and the Spirit of Christmas all the more in the midst of Covid 19. If so, then we need to take responsibility for doing what we can to make this the best Christmas it can be. 

In all of that, what's important to remember is that this is but one Christmas. And generations before us have had Christmases compromised by a pandemic, world wars, a depression and a recession. And yet Christmas still happens and their resilience is a witness to us of how we can embrace these days holding on to the hope that there will be "normal" celebrations of Christmas to come.

Most importantly, remember and embrace the faith of this season ... Christ will be born; God will again be Incarnate among us; and Christmas will will mean as much if not more than it usually does.

Can Covid 19 steal Christmas ... sure. But I hope it won't for any of us.