December 2021

Happy Boxing Day!

Today a few of us gathered together to watch the Christmas Eve video that Jess and Janell made with Hayden Wiebe’s help and with musicians young and old. Afterwards, we discussed ideas that we liked in the video and people shared thoughts and feelings in a beautiful way. If you haven’t seen the video yet, here is a link to it.

“We gathered a few readings, reflections and some of our community’s beloved musicians to bring a glimmer of Christmas joy to you and yours at home this year. We hope you enjoy a moment of pause with this Christmas Eve Collective.
Blessings and Merry Christmas from St.Croix Church.”

We gathered a few readings, reflections and some of our community’s beloved musicians to bring a glimmer of Christmas joy to you and yours at home this year. We hope you enjoy a moment of pause with this Christmas Eve Collective.
Blessings and Merry Christmas from St.Croix Church.

Today’s service began with instrumental music by Michael Leung and Advent readings by Renate Gritter. Then, after prayers, we watched part of David Moore’s talk from last week in Santa Barbara. It was called, “Mary, You did Know!” and can be found at this link. It would be good if everyone in the world could hear this talk. After that, Peter Fitch led in a conversation about Christmas presents God gave to the world in the Christian Gospel. At the end, Peter sang Stephen Foster’s song, “Hard Times, Come Again No More.”

Peter Fitch shares some thoughts about a subtle distinction that divides Christians, as well as others, into completely opposing attitudes toward social issues. Behind the obvious differences that come with being Orthodox, or Catholic, or Protestant, there are very different attitudes and practices in relation to power. Some individuals and groups have chosen coercion over a form of self-emptying, co-suffering love. Many have flipped and flopped from one kind of power to the other, at times looking like Jesus and at other times looking like His opposite. Understanding this may help us avoid manipulation and the temptation to oppress others in various ways.

Walter Thiessen was reminded of the importance of memory – both because of the positive memories of Advent
and because of the lingering memory of those with dementia. This encouraged him to share about making peace with our history so that we feel ok about re-visiting all the parts of our past – even while we reinterpret the traditions and understandings that were problematic.