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Last Sunday was a difficult Sunday with the snowfall causing us to have just the 10:30 worship. I am thankful for those that braved the elements to be in worship and for those who watched online. A big thank you to Pastor Rita and her cousin Shawn for providing the music for the service. The cold is giving way to rain today as we get closer to our celebration of Christmas.

On Wednesday this week, I was blessed to join with about 15 others for caroling at the Presbyterian home for our members who reside there - Anna Jane Glisson, Charles and Edna Wagner - who are unable to join us in worship. A special thank you to Lori Holzhauer for arranging this opportunity to bless some of our faithful church members.

After the Roots meal on Wednesday, three groups of about a dozen each headed out for Christmas caroling. The youth constituted a fourth group as they went to see the lights at Herr’s before caroling. Our group was warmly received at the homes we caroled, and it was good to have members of every generation in our caroling group. This is a great Advent tradition and a big thank you to Lori Holzhauer for coordinating and to all our drivers and carolers.

Ruth will not be here this Sunday as our daughter Molly is singing in a Christmas cantata so Ruth will be in Harrisburg to support her. Molly loves singing in the choir and has sung in many cantatas over the years, and Ruth never misses. We are very proud of our daughters and the ways in which they use their gifts and abilities to serve the Lord.

I have been getting my last visits in before the end of the year. I will be taking a good bit of time off the next two weeks so there will be no Friday column next week as we will all still be celebrating Christmas. It has been a busy stretch since Thanksgiving, and I told my staff at the staff meeting on Tuesday that I am struggling with “Advent” fatigue. Not sure there is such a thing, but it has hit me hard this year and kept me from being here last Saturday for the Journey to the Nativity. 

This week I was reading the Advent passages from Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, and John 1 from the King James Version. In doing so, I was taken back to my childhood/youth days at Providence Church. I remember well every Christmas season hearing Earl Toms (Pastor Dwight Lefever’s grandfather) read the Christmas passage from Luke 2 and always in the King James. I love hearing those unique King James phrases like “sore afraid” and “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” Reading those passages again this week brought back great memories of Christmases past.

One of the ministries I am looking forward to in 2026 is the return of our Monday prayer group. We are starting it again on the first Monday of each month with our first time being Monday, January 5th at 7:00 pm.  This is a zoom meeting which enables us to use technology to be together while still in our homes and pray. You are invited to be a part of this ministry, and you don’t need to pray aloud as we pray prayers of praise and adoration as well as praying for needs in our church, community and world. We anticipate it being no more than one hour and you can look for the link in the Sunday bulletin or in Janae’s Monday email. Questions? Talk to Pastor Mary Etta Reinhart.

I am a few days ahead in my read through the bible in a year reading plan with only the Book of Revelation to go for 2025. If you have never read through the bible in a year and would like a challenge for the New Year, we will put out a reading plan that if you follow will enable you to read through the Bible in one year. Let us strive to saturate our lives with Scripture in 2026.

This weekend we have our worship services for the fourth Sunday of Advent as well as Sunday School at our normal times. In addition, Sunday evening at 7:00 pm will be our Candlelight Communion Service. Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm our Christmas Eve activities begin with the picture backdrop and Christmas carols before our Christmas Eve candlelight service begins at 6:30 pm. I encourage you to come as we gather one last time to celebrate the good news of great joy that is for all people. Once Upon a Christmas is our program and concludes with candle lighting. Looking forward to a very special Christmas Eve service with you.

Since this is the last column for 2025, let me say thank you for your faithfulness in reading this every week. I hope that what I have shared week after week encourages you in your faith journey. Ruth and I are blessed to be a part of such a loving, supportive and generous church family. From our heart to yours, we wish you a blessed Christmas celebration.

For one last time this year, it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin