Having joyfully attended 2 of the 3 holiday parties scheduled for this week, I realized that as the calendar year passes by, I forget how much I love these gatherings.  As I wrote last week about the busyness and the specialness of this time of the year, I want to take a second to parse out the festiveness of this season's gatherings.  We at Holy Spirit have a lot of ways we gather in fellowship throughout the year, but the concentration and traditions of our December events have a special spirit. To gather for a few hours to eat, chat, and sometimes exchange gifts creates a pocket of holy intentional interaction.  I loved gathering with our vestry on Tuesday night in the home of Melissa and Kevin Peter. Last night, I walked out onto a joyfully noisy patio at Union Kitchen for our school's faculty and staff holiday party.  Tomorrow night, Sarah and I will be guests in Bishop Doyle's home for the clergy holiday gathering. 

I love being with these groups gathered with no other agenda than enjoying each other's company.  I soak up the smiles that arrive, the laughter that surrounds, and the relationships that are deepened.  I believe this is the nature of God's desire for us.  To be joyfully gathered and even if it is only remotely implied, to be doing so in anticipation of God's son and our savior.  We will have several chances for you to enjoy such company in the weeks ahead at Holy Spirit and I hope you will join us for events like Lessons and Carols (with reception and child care), our children's pageant, the "Wine and Wrap Party", SREN outing, DOK gathering, Altar Guild party, youth group outing, Christmas Eve services, and of course, our weekly worship services.  God rejoices in our shared joy and he promises to continue being present amongst us.  May we anticipate this promised holy joy and celebrate the fellowship of God's people in anticipation of God's arrival!