Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas! May good health and happiness be yours in the coming year.

Still, still, still,One can hear the falling snow.For all is hushed,The world is sleeping,Holy Star its vigil keeping.Still, still, still,One can hear the falling snow. Sleep, sleep, sleep,‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.The night is peaceful all around you,Close your eyes,Let sleep surround you.Sleep, sleep, sleep,‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth. Dream, dream, … Continued

O come, O come, Emmanuel,and ransom captive Israel,that mourns in lonely exile here,until the Son of God appear.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to you, O Israel.

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,The Savior promised long;Let every heart prepare a throneAnd every voice a song. Lyrics – Philip Doddridge

Prepare the Royal Highway; the King of kings is near!  Let ev’ry hill and valley a level road appear!Then greet the King of glory, foretold in sacred story:O blest is He who camein God the Father’s name! Lyrics – Franz Mikael Franzen

The advent of our KingOur prayers must now employ,And we must hymns of welcome singIn strains of holy joy.Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice give thanks and sing. “The Advent of Our King” – lyrics by Charles Coffin

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday. I also want to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all of you who have stood by The Christian Gift during this difficult year. It is deeply appreciated. With gratitude,Rebecca

It’s October, which means it’s Pastor Appreciation Month. This year, perhaps more than ever, clergy and other members of the ministry team deserve our thanks. They’ve had to figure out alternative methods to offer worship opportunities, Bible study, and other types of learning (such as confirmation instruction). Even for congregations who were able to resume … Continued

“I have no duty to be anyone’s friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”~C.S. Lewis … Continued

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ~John Lubbock Set the phone aside. Leave the devices in the house. Go outside and … Continued

My zinnias are in full summer form! I’ve had some fun photographing them with a new lens. You never know…one of the images may end up being incorporated into a new product design. Gift for Godmother? Gift for Mother? Anniversary? Other? What do you think?

Perhaps a confirmation in your family was postponed this spring due to the fact that your congregation has been unable to gather for worship. Now that the restrictions have been eased for many, it’s nice to see the celebration of spiritual milestones such as confirmation rescheduled and moving ahead. If you’re looking for a little … Continued