Dear Friends,

As with many things over the past 10 months, Christmas Eve at St. John's will look different this year. Rather than four raucous in-person services, we're holding two online liturgies. Though not what any of us would hope for in an ideal world, I believe they will both be very special experiences.

4:00 pm Pageant Service 
Tune in for a 2020 twist on the traditional Christmas story as nearly 70 Sunday School children participate in our Virtual Christmas Pageant, with music by the St. John's Choristers. The Pageant Team has been diligently editing a multitude of videos and we look forward to sharing the fruit of their labor as our children share the joy of the Christmas story. Click to access the Bulletin.

9:00 pm Late Service
This will be our traditional Christmas Eve service with choral music, sermon, celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and the singing of Silent Night by candlelight. The service begins with a beautiful prelude, including harp music, choral music, and O Holy Night. We're grateful to parishioner Dan Fickes for producing this liturgy and to everyone who has worked so hard to put together a stunning service. Click to access the Bulletin.

Despite being online (tune in via our parish website or Facebook page), the essence of our celebration remains the same: love enters the world in the form of Jesus Christ. Whether we receive him at church or in our homes doesn't actually matter. What matters is that we receive him into our hearts. And in this most unusual year, we have an opportunity to remember this anew. I bid you to receive the Christ Child with open arms and open hearts by tuning in and engaging with the Christmas story.

In many ways, we need Christmas more than ever right now. The incredible gift bestowed upon humanity is the gift of the Incarnation.
 
The word itself means "enfleshment" or "to be made flesh." And that's what happens in this moment. In Jesus' birth, God takes on human flesh. Or as John the Evangelist puts it, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." 

And in this moment, everything changes. Because Christmas is ultimately not about presents, but presence. God's presence. The Incarnation means that Jesus is present with us at all times and in all places. Whatever we do or fail to do, Jesus is with us. Loving us, forgiving us, interceding for us. And that is the source of all joy. 

As Advent morphs into Christmas, know that my prayer for everyone is for a holy, meaningful, transformative interaction with the divine. Though the story is familiar, Jesus arrives in our hearts in new ways each year. I look forward to celebrating with you through the magic of technology -- the new technology of the internet and the old technology of prayer and thanksgiving.
 
In Christ's Love,

Tim+  
Comments on any article may be addressed to
the Rector, Fr. Tim Schenck or Jennifer in the Parish Office.
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