Christmas Eve, Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, 8 p.m., December 24, 2008, Worship for Sunday, December 28, 2008, Christmas Poem, Staff Greetings

Christmas Eve, 8 p.m., December 24, 2008 (doors open 7:15 p.m.)
Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols
Chancel Choir, Instruments & Soloists
Walter Huff – Choirmaster/Organist
Meditation: “The Christmas Story According to John” – Joanna Adams
Text: John 1:1-18
Key Verse:  "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Worship for Sunday, December 28, 2008
Preaching - Joanna Adams
Sermon: "Much Is Taken, Much Abides"
Text: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Luke 2:22-40
Key Verse: Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God... Luke 2:27-28a

It is the Glad Season.

Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.
Floodwaters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us
As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children.
It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.
Hope spreads around the earth, brightening all things,
Even hate, which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We clap our hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.

     -Maya Angelou
        From Amazing Peace

Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas to all Morningsiders, with appreciation from the Morningside Presbyterian Church staff (not pictured: Walter Huff & Melinda Sandkam; special guest: David York) The office will be closed Dec. 25 & 26.