Whew, what a wonderful week! Last week, Live Oak celebrated the holidays in all its diversity and complexity.

Last Thursday was our annual Blue Christmas Vespers service. It’s a time for slowing down, and being real about the sorrows or challenges we are carrying at this time. We always have music, including a piece that brings in the sadness we sometimes have this time of year. We share with each other the griefs or struggles we have. I have different readings each year, but one, I believe, is something so basic and important, I always include it: The Griever’s Holiday Bill of Rights. This year, I had simple little blue bracelets to remind those having a difficult time that they are not alone, they are part of a community. (If you couldn’t make to the vespers service and you’re having a hard time, ask me for one when you see me Sunday.)

Saturday started off with what is now not just “Selfies with Santa” but the “Selfies with Santa festival.” We have now been doing this since 2017 and we have families in our parish who have been bringing their children every year – some of them, since they were babies! This year, we expanded the festival with a bake sale, silent auction, and book fair. Special thank-you’s go to Dianne Sylvan, Cindy LaGreca, and Krystle Gervais for their coordination of those different parts of the festival.

That evening, we moved into the celebration of both Hanukkah and Christmas, as Rabbi Rebecca Reice and I brought members of Shir-Ami and Live Oak together for our Interfaith PJ Holiday Storytime, complete with menorah lighting, milk, and cookies. And the story we always end with, “The Latke That Couldn’t Stop Screaming.”

Sunday, it was Pageant Time! Our always creative, always calm (seriously, I don’t know how she does it), Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Chris Jarman led a hilarious and meaningful “pop-up” pageant with much participation by our members, children, and the choir.

And after that came the annual December congregational meeting with both a look back at this past year (such a big year!) and looking ahead to the next.

Whew!

The joy isn’t over, of course. This Sunday, join us for “Holiday for Heretics” at our normal worship time of 10:00 am. The Sunday after that is December 24. Since it’s Christmas Eve, there will be no service that morning. Sleep in and/or get your last minute holiday tasks done so that you can join us that evening at 6:00 pm for our Candlelight Christmas Eve service. There will be timeless readings, beautiful music and carols, and the glow of hundreds of candles.