Grace Waves

Friends:

By your Light we see the light.
The Psalms

Our 3^rd Pure Delight Concert will be presented this Saturday, Dec. 19 at 5:00 pm – a delightful experience of Christmas!  Come appreciate and encourage our own Elizabeth Hunter Ashley and Hyunjung Choi in their artistic passion to provide us with an exquisite Christmas Concert.  This will benefit our Interfaith ‘Welcoming the Stranger’ commitment by providing ongoing hospitality for the Refugees living at San Damiano.  Please invite friends to join you for this joyous celebration of Newborn Life – and strengthen support for the Classical Arts at Peace by encouraging the Pure Delight Foundation.
The Family Service was a joyous experience of light and a blessing for all present.
On this 4^th Sunday of Advent/Mary Sunday,  Dylan Odne will be baptized.  Please keep Dylan in your prayers as we prepared for her baptism. Those of you who remember the Tomamichael Family may begin to be happy.  We will get to see Kathy and Jim because it is their granddaughter who is being baptized.
Giving Tree Gifts can be presented at worship this Sunday, December 20.  We ask that your gifts are wrapped and each gift is marked with the name of the child or parent and Room number.  This ensures easy delivery of your gifts to the appropriate families.  Thank you!
Christmas Eve Children’s Service at 5:00 pm:  Would your kids enjoy participating – with music, dance, role playing the Christmas Story, as narrators?  We have 10 kids already involved – the more the merrier!  We will have 1 Rehearsal on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 5 pm.  Please let me know soon – it’s always lots of fun!
An Early Communion Class will be offered for 2^nd – 5^th Graders and their parents starting in January (the 17th?).  There are a total of 5 Classes ( 4 Sunday afternoons and 1 Saturday morning) ) and the participating families will decide the schedule together at our first meeting.  This is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about Communion with child appropriate material.  1 family is already committed. Talk with me for details.
Our thanks to the Youth Group for initiating the call for Socks for Homeless Friends and for the generous response of so many people.  In addition the total has grown to 21 Backpacks contributed for those who sleep on the streets of Walnut Creek.
Chanukah  at Blackhawk Plaza was a marvelous celebration.  Our thanks to  Beth Chaim Congregation for inviting us.  This was the 19^th year for this Interfaith Celebration!
Christmas Eve Interfaith Special on CBS at 11:30 pm!  CBS in New York asked URI (the United Religions Initiative, the largest grass roots organization on the planet, now in 85 countries) to prepare a TV Special – to be aired on all national CBS Affiliates on Christmas Eve.  After weighing this first of a kind request, URI accepted the request and asked Pr. Steve to join their Creative Design Committee in creating this unique and exciting venture.  The Special will replace Stephen Colbert that evening  – he normally takes the night off.  Tune in or Tivo it!  Hopefully this will advance dialogue with all our interfaith friends.
Thanks to John and Jack for getting the Lights on our Christmas Tree!
Margaret brought members of her Quilting Guild to Peace and they thoroughly enjoyed the Quilt Exhibit.  Aren’t we fortunate!
World Music Dancing!  On Saturday, January 9  there will be dancing at Peace – for the joy of it!  All the families of Peace are invited to participate in this New Year’s Celebration.  Plenty of munchies too.  “What you have danced can never be taken from you!”  Ancient African Wisdom
Joyous Advent,
Pr. Steve