Dear Church Family,
Christmas is upon us, ready or not—just a week away.  I thought I’d just remind you of the celebratory nature of the season by giving you the Ann Weems poem I used in last Sunday’s sermon.  I read this ever year and perhaps it will become part of your tradition too, a reminder to keep looking for the sacred even in the secular. 
Each year about this time I try to be sophisticated
            And pretend I understand the bored expressions
            Relating to the "Christmas spirit."
I nod when they say "put Christ back into Christmas."
I say yes yes, when they shout "commercial and 
            "hectic, hectic, hectic."
After all I'm getting older,
            And I've heard it said, "Christmas is for children."
But somehow a fa-la-la keeps creeping out…
So I'll say it:
I love Christmas tinsel
            And angel voices that come from the beds upstairs.
And I say three cheers for Santa Claus
            And the salvation army bucket 
            And all the wrappings and festivities and special warm feelings.
I say it is good,
            Giving,
              Praising,
               Celebrating.
So hooray for Christmas trees and candlelight
            And the good old church pageant.
Hooray for shepherd boys who forget their lines
            And Wise Men whose beards fall off
            And a Mary who giggles.
O Lord, you were born!
 
O Lord, you were born!
And that breaks in upon my ordered life like bugles blaring,
            And I sing "Hark, the Herald Angels"
            In the most unlikely places.
You were born
            And I will celebrate!
 
I rejoice for the carnival of Christmas!
I clap for the pajama-clad cherubs
            And the Christmas cards jammed in the mail slot.
I o-o-o-oh for the turkey 
            And ah-h-h-h for the Christmas pudding
            And thank God for the alleluias I see in the faces of people
            I don't know
                        And yet know very well.
 
O Lord, there just aren't enough choirboys to sing what I feel.
There aren't enough trumpets to blow.
O Lord, I want bells to peal!
I want to dance in the streets of Bethlehem!
I want to sing with the heavenly host!
For unto us a Son was given
            And he was called "God with us"
For those of us who believe,
            The whole world is decorated in love.!
 
Several of  you also  asked about the Pieter Bruegel painting “ The Numbering At Bethlehem,” so I’ve attached that.   Be sure to look for Mary and Joseph, finding their way in the most ordinary of circumstances, finding their way to fulfill God’s plan. 
The sermon for this 4th Sunday in Advent is “The Name We Give Him.” The texts are Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25.  Christmas Eve service will be at 7:30 p.m.  
See you in church. 
Rich 
To livestream FVCC's service, or view an archived service, click here: https://thefvcc.cc/online-worship