Merry Christmas,
Even though the big day has passed and the celebrations are in the rear view mirror (muted as they were), we don’t necessarily rush back into our routines. The Sunday after Christmas tends to be a quiet, low-keyed service just as the week after Christmas is quiet and low-keyed as well. Our scripture passage is Luke 2:22-40. It is the scene in the temple as Mary and Joseph offer a sacrifice to God for their firstborn son, a seemingly mundane event for new parents. Then a surprising encounter with Simeon offers some insight into what the future will bring for them as well as for Jesus.
The service opens with Chris Davis delivering a holiday favorite from Vince Guaraldi “Linus and Lucy.” Erin McKibben and Konrad Kono present the hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent.” For the next two hymns you may notice our new friend Tim Accurso on the piano. Tim performed our Christmas Eve prelude and will become a regular part of our worship service for the next few weeks. He and Erin perform “From All Who Dwell Below the Skies” and continue our Christmas theme with “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Our liturgist is Nancy Russo. Finally, Erin and Tim close with a piano/flute duet performance of the traditional Czechoslovakian carol “Rocking Carol.”
I hope that the quiet, reflective tone of today’s service offers food for thought to carry you through the week ahead.
Peace,
Jen
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