From the Study

December 2024

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Community Service on Tuesday night, November 26, with Providence hosting. I am taking this opportunity to thank Sue Fehrer, Alice Wyatt, Wanda McKeever and Joanne Masters for their wonderful goodies and for Nancy Pilat Renner for providing the paper products and the CDC for letting us borrow their table cloths and center piece from their delicious Thanksgiving dinner that church staff shared with them this past week.

We hosted with Brookland United Methodist, Trinity United Methodist and our parent church, Congaree Pres. There were also members from All Saints Episcopal who joined our fantastic choir. It was a beautiful service.

The Men of the Church bought and put up a beautiful lighted Christmas tree. The tree was decorated with the Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, December 1, which was the beginning of Advent. Advent means “coming.” For Christians it is the coming of the Messiah. It used to be a solemn holiday but over the years it has become festive. More importantly, it is a time of expectation and anticipation for a world of hope, peace, love and joy through the coming of the Messiah. In scripture for this Sunday, we are warned to be prepared for we do not know when the Son of Man will come. Luke 21:34 says be on guard so that your hearts are not caught off guard. Psalm 25 says we must wait and trust in God. But while we wait we can put aside our fears, our hurts, our discomforts and focus on what the Advent Season really means and that is filling your hearts with hope, peace, love and joy. Have a wonderful Advent Season and come to church to be on the journey to Bethlehem together. The music is terrific, God’s presence is with us, and all are welcome.

Pastor Alice