Mid-Week Message - December 10

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be always with you!

The countdown to Christmas is on - two weeks today is Christmas Eve!  If Mary and Joseph were traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem by foot, they would probably be getting ready to set out in the next couple of days.  (My best guess is that they likely walked for 10-ish days on that journey.)  The shepherds are out in their fields, watching their flocks, unaware that in two short weeks, a choir of angels will be proclaiming good news of great joy for all people, and that they will be the first ones to hear that good news.  The magi, in their "land to the east" are studying the stars and how the movement of the stars mirror what is happening here on earth.  They are, as yet, unaware that their lives are about to be turned upside down; unaware that soon a new star is going to appear in the sky.

Meanwhile, Mary is in the heavy final weeks of her pregnancy, ankles swollen and back aching.  She is watching little fists and little feet deforming the surface of her belly as her baby stretches his muscles getting ready for the freedom of air.  Joseph is an anxious first-time father, wanting Mary to be as comfortable as possible, worried about the journey to Bethlehem that they have in front of them, and worried about how he is going to be the best father possible to this miraculous baby.

And here in 2025, families are fussing about, getting the tree decorated, getting gifts purchased and wrapped, planning out the Christmas feast, worrying about anyone who may be travelling over the holidays.  We may think that we know exactly how these last three weeks of 2025 are going to unfold - who will have the craziest Christmas sweater, who will tell the off-colour joke around the Christmas table, how late you will stay up on December 31.

But like those shepherds, like those magi, I encourage you to leave some space for wonder in your Christmas celebration - leave some space for awe to seep in.  The story of God choosing to become human, the story of the Creator of the Universe choosing to become a vulnerable newborn baby - this is a story that can take our breath away, should we leave some space for it to happen.

And so whether you catch a glimpse of the mystery of God as you gaze up at the star-filled sky on a cold and clear night, whether you sense the Divine Presence singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" or "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve, or whether you hear God's voice ringing out in the laughter of your family members as you gather, my prayer for you (yes, YOU, the person reading this!) is that the wonder and awe of Christmas might find it's way into your heart, and that you might sense the presence of God in this season of the birth of Emmanuel (literally "God-With-Us").

In terms of announcements this week:

• Worship on Sunday will be at 9:15 at Summerville and 11:15 at Westfield and on Facebook Live.  This week, we will continue to hear the perspectives of people who journeyed to the manger when we'll hear a Shepherd tell their story.  (Our matching scripture will be Luke 2:8-20.)  And this week, we'll be lighting our third Advent candle for JOY!

• UCW Christmas Communion Service - this well be this evening (Wednesday December 10) at 7pm at Westfield.  Our UCW host this service every year for anyone who would like to attend, to begin the transition from Advent into Christmas. You don't need to be a UCW member to attend!

• Looking Ahead at the Calendar, here are the remaining dates and times of worship in December:

  Wednesday December 10 (UCW Christmas Communion) - 7pm at Westfield

  Sunday December 14 - 9:15 at Summerville; 11:15 at Westfield

  Sunday December 21 - 9:15 at Long Reach; 11:15 at Westfield

  Sunday December 21 (Blue Christmas) - 7pm at Westfield

  Wednesday December 24 (Christmas Eve) - 4pm at Summerville, 6pm at Long Reach, 8pm at Westfield

  Thursday December 25 (Christmas Day) - 10am at Westfield

  Sunday December 28 - 9:15 at Summerville; 11:15 at Westfield

• Choir Christmas Concert - did anyone else hear Cindy on CBC radio this morning, just before the 8:30 news, announcing the Christmas Concert at Westfield? The concert, titled "What Did the Star See?" will be on Thursday December 18 (next week!) at 7pm at Westfield United.  Tickets are $30 and available at the door (cash please!); unless you purchased a season subscription, in which case you just have to show your ticket to get in. This is always a special concert, but Bertis has outdone himself this year, putting together a programme that weaves together story and song to present the Christmas message. You won't want to miss it! You can see the poster by clicking here.

• Carols Around the Bonfire - this year, our gathering to sing carols around a bonfire has moved to Westfield! It will be on Saturday December 20 at 7pm (either in the parking lot or in the clearing behind the church).

• Christmas Families - As in previous years, we are supporting local families to provide a Christmas meal - Westfield, in partnership with Christmas Exchange, and Long Reach and Summerville supporting families identified by MCS.  At Summerville, you can give gift cards to Bette, at Long Reach you can give gift cards to Anne, and at Westfield there is a box at the back of the church where you can place your gift cards.

• White Gift Sundays:  As I mentioned last week, our Church in the World committee has decided to divide the 3 organizations that we support between our three churches.  There is a box at the back of each church where you can place your gifts.

  Summerville:  Hestia House. Wish List:  Shampoo, socks, deodorant, hand cream, gift cards, lip balm, children of all ages, games, books.colouring books,crayons, gloves, hats,socks.

  Long Reach:  Coverdale.  Wish List:  Women’s personnel products, Shampoo, razors, deodorant, hand cream, lip balm, gift cards (Giant Tiger, Dollar Store, Tim Hortons), gloves, hats, socks

  Westfield:  Avenue B Harm Reduction. Wish List:  Men’s underwear, deodorant, socks, gloves, gift cards of any kind, Ensure drink, lip balm, hats

• Upcoming Concerts - In addition to the Westfield Choir Concert next week, I'm going to put in a plug for a couple of other Christmas concerts that Two Rivers members will be singing in.

  On Saturday evening (December 13), the Saint John Chorale will be presenting their Christmas Concert at Trinity Anglican Church (uptown), alongside the Saint John High School Choir, the Forest Hills School Choir, and the 3rd Field Regiment Military Band. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students at the door. To see the poster, click here.

  Next Wednesday evening (December 17), the Symphony Chorus will be presenting Handel's Messiah, with soloists and an orchestra, again at 7pm at Trinity Anglican Church (uptown). Advance tickets are $40 for adults / $15 for students and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets at the door will be $45 for adults / $20 for students. To see the poster, click here.
  

Thank You Corner - this week's "thank you" has to go out to everyone who made our Christmas Pageants on Sunday such a success!  Thank you to Gwen Quigley who coordinated the pageant at Long Reach, thank you to all of the youth and children who participated, and thank you to all of the parents and grandparents who made sure that they got to church on time and were there to cheer them on.  And at Westfield, thank you to everyone who took part in the pageant, which would be the whole congregation, in-person and on-line.  (I've spoken to a couple of people this week who were part of the on-line congregation who told me that they had fun playing the Good News - "YES!!!")

For a closing thought this week, I'm going to share another clip from the Festival of Carols held in Halifax last week.  (Yes, I know that I shared a clip from the same source last week, but this week they posted another clip that took my breath away.) This is a reading of the poem "Magnificat" by poet and Unitarian Universalist minister Lynn Ungar. You can watch / listen to it by clicking here.

Blessings to you and yours, today and always!

Kate.

Rev. Kate Jones

Two Rivers Pastoral Charge

(506) 757-2201 (office)

(506) 343-1307 (mobile)

www.tworiverspastoralcharge.com

Pronouns:  she/her/hers

"Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?"

Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: "You must love your neighbour as you love yourself."

(Matthew 22:36-39)