I hope you all had the chance to celebrate the wonder and beauty of the birht of Jesus the Christ Child with family and friends.  My family and I enjoyed sharing our first Christmas holiday with the community of West Berlin Presbyterian Church!  Each Sunday in Advent we were able to share about the meaning of the Advent wreath as well as touch on some of the meaning concerning our beautiful decorations (thanks to the families that participated in the readings as well as to all who helped in making our church sparkle, literally!). 

I was especially proud of our youth who made this year’s Christmas Party and Pageant spectacular! After preaching each and every Sunday about welcoming and inviting others into our community, we reached a record setting 75 in attendance (thanks again to all who made this year’s Pageant a successful ministry and outreach opportunity!)   Our Christmas Eve Service was well received with over 50 people belting out beloved carols and sharing in the lighting of the Christ Candle.

It all happens in the blink of an eye though…New Year’s Eve has come and gone,   Christmas trees lose their prime real estate in our living and family rooms, ornaments get packed away and store shelves get filled with Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and even Easter merchandise!  As much as we long to linger, the cycle of the church year moves us from Advent and Christmas to Lent and Easter at the speed of light.  Even now with the bitter cold temperatures and snow covered scenery, I am planning Lent, Holy Week and Easter worship.  Though I am enjoying the present by basking in the outdoors and playing in the snow with Frank (husband), Camden and Maggie (two beautiful children 5 and 2 respectively), I long for the time when days grow longer and warmer and buds and birds make their way into our landscape once again. 

My prayer for you all as we move from season to season is that you look hopefully toward the future while simultaneously living in the present moment, realizing that each breath and each heartbeat is a precious gift from God. 

Grace and peace and Happy New Year 2010,

Jennifer Eastman Hinkle