Donate Flowers or Music
for The Christmas Services
 

The Altar Guild and the Choir need the help of your donation in the form of a memorial in thanksgiving for your own blessings of the season.  If you would like to donate this year, please click here for a printable form that you can fill out and leave in the offering plate or hand to an usher/altar guild member at the service.       

NOTE:  If you receive the Witness via regular mail, please pick up a form in the church office.  

Deadline:  December 15

ALTAR FLOWERS FOR 2012:  Altar flowers may be given on a particular Sunday in thankfulness for blessings and/or in remembrance of loved ones. The cost is $25 per sign-up. Robin Trader, or any member of the Altar Guild, will be ready to reserve your special dates on all the Sundays of Advent in the Narthex. Be sure to tell them how the dedication in the bulletin should read. Keep in mind that no flowers are used in Lent or Advent.   

I grew up in southern California and Dallas, Texas until 1964, when we moved to Denver following my father's death. Consequently, I remember seeing snow only once before the age of eleven. It happened when a freak blizzard hit the Dallas metropolitan area and left 18 inches of snow. Suddenly, school was cancelled and no one could drive anywhere. Snowball fights broke out all across the neighborhood and the novelty of the day became so invigorating it was difficult to sleep that night. We built snow forts in the front yard and spent the day throwing snowballs and drinking hot chocolate in the house. It's an exhilarating memory that reminds me of community, family and Christmas.

When we moved to Colorado snow storms and snowball battles became common place. The novelty quickly wore off and what was once a reason to celebrate became common place. Advent can get lost in the deluge of Christmas and we can begin to think that God is not present in our common everyday activities. It gets to be old hat or not even noteworthy. I love to watch the snow fall, you know the snow with the really big flakes that stick together and drift down from the sky above. I find it so calming and beautiful on a night with a full moon when they float down and lightly land on outstretched tree branches. I know we've all heard it before but, really we do need to slow down and look for God during Advent. Take a breath, look around and see what is God is doing in our midst. Enjoy the moment.

As Edward Hays said, "Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ's birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present. 

St. Cecilia's Guild 

Thank you to everyone who brought items for Operation Shoe Box.  The Guild, with the help of the Girl Scouts who meet at St. Stephen's, packed 52 boxes to be shipped to children all over the world. They would still accept donations to pay for shipping.   

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Rotary Club   

Thanks to all who donated to the Rotary Winter Warmth Coat Drive. St. Stephen's donated about 50 items.