by Tamilyn Moore
Welcome to the winter holiday season! Wishing everyone joyous and healthy holiday celebrations!
As December starts, Rev. Bill will be resuming his sabbatical. The Worship Committee has lots of great services lined up. Leslie will also be spending her last month with us before her retirement on December 31. Join us on December 13 for Leslie’s last service. I look forward to continuing to “see” everyone through Zoom. Maybe we will even get a glimpse of some holiday decorations as people zoom in for service.
The holidays this year will look a little different for many of us. While we don’t generally do large family gathers, my family was going to travel to northern Michigan to see my Dad and Stepmom, but we have all decided that would not be a good idea and have cancelled the trip. Instead, we will video chat sometime over the long weekend. I will miss spending the time with them, but by staying apart for the holiday, we can help ensure we will get to see each other in the future.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is about presence rather than presents. It is about being with family and friends. It is about delicious foods. That makes it even harder to be alone this holiday, which many of us will be doing. Be sure to reach out to family and friends and connect virtually and by phone this year. If you have family that will be spending the holiday alone, reach out to them. If you need someone to reach out to, send me an email and I will get back to you. Send your email to:
As the dark evenings sometimes make staying safe at home hard, my family plans to light the house up this year. Lots of holiday lights inside and out. Lots of holiday cheer around the house. And, of course, lots of holiday music starting the day after Thanksgiving. How long the tree and lights stay up depends on how long the cats allow them to. Make sure to bring some light and joy into your home this month. Maybe drive around to see lights others have put out to share with the community. Maybe create some luminaria for Christmas Eve as we would have done at Heritage for the Christmas Eve service.
Be sure to connect with others and find light through these times. Hold your family and friends close in your heart if you cannot hold them in your arms. Keep the faith that staying safe at home is worth it to see each other again when we safely can.
Wishing you the best and virtual hugs to all!
Tamilyn
December 2020.
