Thank You and Stuff...
On Christmas Eve a package arrived at my door from Quilly and Thom! It was my prize from their Mele Kalikimaka 12 Days of Christmas Hawaiian Style contest! I thought that was perfect timing!
I'll tell ya - those DARK chocolate coveredmacadamia nuts only lasted long enough for
me to include them in the picture!
Macadamias are my favorite nut - and dark
is my favorite chocolate! Mmmmmm!
MUCH thanks to Quilly & Thom ...
and Thom & Quilly too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Lutheran's Live Nativity
They followed the star...
To the stable...(we had two LIVE alpaccas!)
Where they found the Baby...
wrapped in swaddling clothes and
lying in the manger...
Christmas Eve was THE best Christmas eve I've had in years!!! Although I did greatly enjoy Christmas eves past, with my small children, and all the excitement and eyes all aglow and preparing for Santa's arrival and all... those times were GREAT! But since the kids have been grown and Santa was no longer the Big Deal he once was.... THIS was the BEST! I was up at church from 6:00 pm to Midnight! At 6:00 we had the children's service - which I THOUGHT I had signed up to usher... but apparently I signed up to usher before I ever even knew about the "play" during the cantata... because I don't know for sure - we couldn't find the list... but I MUST have signed up for the 8 o'clock service --- which there was NO WAY I could usher! It was fine... we had enough ushers... so until I talk to Carl I really don't know what happened! So I almost got to enjoy the children's service, but then Debbie came in carrying stuff to decorate the fellowship hall for inbetween the services, and I went down to help set up. We were chattin' and laughin' and having a good ol' time!
Then the 8 o'clock service -- our cantata and play! It went BEAUTIFULLY!!! NO one made a mistake! Our lines weren't always "perfect" - but they rarely are -- they WERE correct. In other words, they maybe came out more natural than they were written! It really was great -- and the choir was (and always is) FABULOUS!!! It really was a show that glorified God! We were all SO happy with it! And a few people that came up to thank me (US - they just happened to be speaking to me) afterward said HOW MUCH they enjoy receiving the message in a lively and humorous manor. The point gets across - but it's FUN! And it IS nice to have that from time to time! I'm so grateful that God has given me a heart for this type of worship! If I can't SING, at least He didn't leave me totally out in left field!!! I get to be a part of it all! And I just LOVE it!
So, after that we had fellowship and snacks until it was time for the late service. I always ALWAYS forget that the midnight service is a candlelight service... and it's alway ALWAYS such a sweet surprise! I absolutely LOVE basking in the glow of candles during worship! I wish every service could be candlelight! But then... it wouldn't be special!
Then the 8 o'clock service -- our cantata and play! It went BEAUTIFULLY!!! NO one made a mistake! Our lines weren't always "perfect" - but they rarely are -- they WERE correct. In other words, they maybe came out more natural than they were written! It really was great -- and the choir was (and always is) FABULOUS!!! It really was a show that glorified God! We were all SO happy with it! And a few people that came up to thank me (US - they just happened to be speaking to me) afterward said HOW MUCH they enjoy receiving the message in a lively and humorous manor. The point gets across - but it's FUN! And it IS nice to have that from time to time! I'm so grateful that God has given me a heart for this type of worship! If I can't SING, at least He didn't leave me totally out in left field!!! I get to be a part of it all! And I just LOVE it!
So, after that we had fellowship and snacks until it was time for the late service. I always ALWAYS forget that the midnight service is a candlelight service... and it's alway ALWAYS such a sweet surprise! I absolutely LOVE basking in the glow of candles during worship! I wish every service could be candlelight! But then... it wouldn't be special!
posted by Melli at
12:58 PM
9 comment(s):
Congrats on the Hawaiian winnings!!
The services sound great. I am glad you got to be a part of them in so many different aspects, even being in the right place to help. Sometimes a cheerful available helper is a tremendous blessing! The cantata and play sound great.
Did any of your family go? I know they don't generally but wondered if they might to see you. Of course, someone has to stay with Mom, I imagine.
I also imagine everyone was exhausted afterward!
By
Barbara H., at
12/26/2009 3:03 PM
Your Christmas Eve at church sounds just as busy as ours, but with less coming and going... I have a tale to tell, but I have to wait a little longer for it to actually be humorous. Silent Night by candlelight put me back in the moment of Christmas Awe, away from the craziness of the previous hours.
By
Karen (formerly kcinnova), at
12/26/2009 3:37 PM
Wow -- you're package arrived late! I am glad that made the timing perfect!
I am glad your Christmas play was so perfect. We loved our Christmas Eve services, too -- both of which were candle light services.
Our church janitor wouldn't allow us to have the candle light services more often. He says it is going to take him months to get the melted wax off everything. People like tipping the candles and watching the wax run and they don't seem to much care where it runs to.
By
quilly, at
12/26/2009 3:41 PM
Perfect timing for the package, congratulations to the happy winner!
No mistakes were made in the play? ! I knew you could do it!
By
Jientje, at
12/26/2009 4:12 PM
WOOT...the package takes top honors in the post. I'm glad it got there on time. Come close my darlin' let me tell you a secret...but shhhh don't tell Quilly...she mailed the package late!!! pffft Your church service sounds wonderful I'm glad it went so well :)
By
Anonymous, at
12/26/2009 5:25 PM
Merry Christmas
By
Maribeth, at
12/26/2009 6:21 PM
Our services were also great. the Cantata was the week before. It is on St Marks web site. I am glad yours were so nice.We have candle lite services for all services. I know that at United the wax was a problem.
By
bettygram, at
12/26/2009 10:25 PM
Church services had to be cancelled her because of the snow and really slick streets. It was quite the mess here. We were going to our son's, but the girls called to tell us it would be better if we stayed home. They had already seen two really bad wrecks. They were with their guys in a 4 wheel drive pickup and the driver was familiar with ya'll snow from when he was working up there where you live. Anyway, the streets cleared late on Christmas day and everyone got home for Christmas dinner and gifts.
Candlelight services are so dramatic and beautiful. Once when I was working one of our officers had died in the line of duty and we were setting up for the funeral while the church elders were trying to get it together for the candle light service. One of them said it was really hard to try to read without light before the candles were lit. That just stuck with me as something that took the tension away during a terrible time.
By
Amber Star, at
12/27/2009 12:11 AM
I too had the nicest Christmas since ages ! At least 1O years ! Very cosy, very nice, even a white Christmas and great harmony too !
By
Ingrid, at
12/27/2009 5:14 AM
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