Christmas Celebration

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Friday Amy and I rode our bikes to Del Mar, then walked on the beach. The sky was clear, the tide was out, and people were walking along as if it were the fourth of July. 


As we walked we saw our long shadows on the sand. As if were on stilts, our images were stretched in front of us.


It's a great picture of Christmas time: sometimes we are stretched too thin, not enough of us to go around. But our worship celebrations were awesome; worship band, children's choirs, candle readers, chancel choir, carol singing, and messages in song and word of Jesus' birth. I love this time of year. It's worth the effort to provide a time of celebration for the church family, their friends and family and our community. 



It's also a great picture of the New Year: thinking of how our lives reach into 2012, anticipating the birth of our grandchild, having two married sons, continuing to grow and experience ministry and life here in Solana Beach. 

This prayer from Northumbria ties together both Christmas and the New Year.

A Prayer for the New Year
This day is a new day
that has never been before.
This year is a new year,
The opening door.
Enter, Lord Christ –
We have joy in Your coming.
You have given us life;
And we welcome Your coming.
I turn now to face You,
I lift up my eyes.
Be blessing my face, Lord:
Be blessing my eyes.
May all my eye looks on
Be blessed and be bright,
My neighbors, my loved ones
Be blessed in Your sight.
You have given us life

And we welcome Your coming.

Be with us, Lord,
We have joy, we have joy.
This year is a new year,
The opening door.
Be with us, Lord,
We have joy, we have joy.







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