The most wonderful time!
Dear Bethesda Family,
The season of Advent consists of four weeks of preparation for the coming of Jesus. In the shops, it’s been going for about four months. But it’s here!
Now is the time for each of us to do our part in inviting someone to Bethesda to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. There is something for everyone, and many of us revel in doing it all!
On Christmas Eve, join us for the 4:00 p.m. Pageant and Eucharist. Children are invited to come to the rehearsal in the church, and costume fitting, at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22. During the service, Fr Tim will sit with the children to recite The Night before Christmas at Bethesda, and we’ll have an octet from the Bethesda Choir to help lead the music. At 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., we will celebrate a Festal Eucharist, with sermon, brass, percussion, and the full Bethesda Choir. Prelude music (choral and organ) will begin 25 minutes before start time. There will be valet parking available; rideshare and carpooling make traffic and parking even easier. We will have overflow seating available with huge screens in the air-conditioned Parish Hall and under the stars in the Garth. Anticipate a little incense at the 10:00 p.m. service.
On Christmas morning, we’ll celebrate Holy Eucharist again with sermon and the full Bethesda Choir at 11:00 a.m.
On the Sunday after Christmas, December 28, the 8:00 a.m. spoken service will celebrate the Eucharist, as always. We will celebrate Holy Baptism & Eucharist at 9:00 a.m., and then the Christmas version of the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols at 11:00 a.m.
And, to continue through the twelve days of Christmas into the Epiphany, we will enjoy three performances of the beloved Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival on the weekend of January 4–5. The massive preparations are underway, and tickets are available now from our website here.
Who are you inviting to celebrate Christmas and Epiphany at Bethesda? You know the Flower Guild will knock us over with spectacular beauty, and dozens of volunteers have signed up to greet, guide, and serve. We will all be there, smiling, praying, singing, listening, and welcoming.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning…
Merry Christmas,
Stuart.