By Pastor Tim White
I came home from church last Sunday and as I drove up to the house where we have lived for the past 33 years, I got really excited. There was Sarai Jacobs’ car parked in front of our house. I knew that meant my grandkids had arrived from Texas. As I rushed from my car, I saw the Christmas lights on and my grandson Elijah Diaz and his little sister Isabela looking out the window. I opened the door and at the top of the stairs was my eldest daughter Elise with my son-in-law Rey standing right next to her smiling. When I opened our door, the bells jingled from the Christmas Wreath complete with bells hanging on our front door. I couldn’t help myself, I had to yell out “Ho - Ho - Ho Merry Christmas.”
Then my phone rang and it was Eva our other granddaughter with her brother Oscar saying they were coming right over with their mommy Becca and daddy Ben. I let out another “Ho - Ho - Ho.” And Isabella cried out--” My GP is Santa Claus.” Sarai, Pastor Rey’s sister, was there carrying baby Cruz, whose birth will give us the best Christmas present of all. The conversations were so fun -- Everyone was talking about going to the new Star Wars movie, and cherubs dancing at the Christmas services. We laughed, we played, we danced, and we prayed. Then we ate and still played. It is the Christmas Season.
Please join our Washington Cathedral family for “Christmas Lights the Night” this Christmas. We invite you to bring your family and friends. (Even if they go to another church, that’s okay, we love them because we are all still a family.) Dare to invite your neighbors and get free tickets on line at http://www.christmaslightsthenight.com/ or www.wacathedral.org . Even better, isn’t it time to download the Washington Cathedral App. Just go to the App Store on your iPhone or Android phone.
Christmas Lights the Night Services are Friday at 7:00 pm, Saturday at 5:00 pm, Sunday at 5:00 pm, and a special candlelight communion service led by Pastor Linda at 11:00 pm.
You will want to see the live manger scene this year. It’s better than ever--the Bethlehem star is new and improved and the live animals are so cute. Of course, you will see the shepherds, angels, Mary and Joseph. The music is beautiful from a band with strings, the choir, the ballet dancer--with the group of sweet baby cherubs. It will be 60 minutes of incredible Christmas inspiration.
I look at my life from the mountain-tops, those moments when God was so close that he changed me. This is going to be one of those moments and I don’t want you to miss it.
This Sunday morning, December 24th, worship at 9:30 and 11:00 am is also going to be a wonderful family service. One of our favorite pastors, Dr. Rey Diaz, will be sharing on the reckless love of God demonstrated at Christmas. And one of our all-time favorite musicians, Dave Irish, will leading us in wonderful songs of Christmas. Pastor David is cooking his down-home, Whidbey Island special breakfast in the Cafe from 10:00-11:30 so, regardless of the services you attend, we can eat together as one big happy church family.
As a reminder, someone donated two passes for a family of four to enjoy a night in a family suite at Great Wolf Lodge, and a fun time in the waterpark. One pass will go to the person who brings the biggest number of new people who fill out a Connect Card and put name of the person who invited them in the comments section of that form. The second pass is for the winner of a drawing on New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31, at 11:00 am. The people who will be eligible for that drawing will be those who have filled out a Connect Card for the very first time at any of our services from now through December 31st.
So “Ho - Ho – Ho Merry Christmas.” We hope to see you.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White