December 23rd- by: Cindy Moorman

R U Rdy? Well no I am not. It is very hard to be Ready!

I have had a routine for many years (since I have been called to the church) on getting ready for Christmas. It all begins with the weekend of Thanksgiving. I am either cutting wood or at my sewing machine, getting ready for the Advent Intergenerational Event at church; that is usually the first 3 weeks of Advent. Once that is done then there is the Youth Lock-in and shopping trip for our adopt-a-family. We shop and then we come back and wrap the presents and get them ready for the family who will be receiving them. Then while all this is going on there is the Children’s Christmas program that needs to be practiced. Getting the children ready for the program, you know nerves take over and there are costumes to be made and taken in and then the Sunday comes when the children are as ready as they can be and the program is done for the congregation. People ask me if I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders when the children’s program is done and I tell them I have just one more thing before I am ready for Christmas -- there is getting ready for Christmas Eve service. Three services, the first one designed around families with young children there is always something I need to do. Get the lights together (this year someone else did this for me—thank you!) The children’s message, the assembling of the Nativity set, and the lighting of the candles.

When all is said and done I feel exhausted but very blessed to have all these memories and ready to be at home with my family and enjoy the wonder of this time of year. So I guess you can say I am on my way to being ready. I wish you Readiness, for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cindy Moorman

December 22th by: Jennifer Eberhard

There is so much that goes into Christmas preparation, that when someone asks me if I am ready? I want to laugh and cry at the same time. N-o-p-e! I am not ready! Most of the time even on Christmas Eve, I am not ready. And by then I am worn out, frazzled, tired and certifiably down right grumpy! My husband can attest to this and will!

This year has been very different from many previous. This year has been much more hectic and wild, mainly because this is my first year working in a church during Advent. And whew! What a rush it has been. This year, my only saving grace is that personally life has been different as well.

After all, this year was the first time (ever!) that I had my holiday budget ready and even wrapped the presents, that I had been hording in the closet for a year, on December 1st. Now, I don't know if any of you will understand what a task that was for me! :-) *smiley* Remember, this is coming from the girl who for years hasn't wrapped anything until I had to leave for that specific family's house. Wow, I just thought that if anyone was coming to my house, I would probably never get anything wrapped without that last minute pressure, popping on bows and name tags while walking out the door or even while driving.

But like I was saying, this year is different! :-) And after taking the time a few weeks ago, about an hour on the phone and about 15 emails, back and forth between our two families- trying to plan out David and my holiday schedule, I am almost there. Still not quite ready for anything, but I am preparing to try and make this year the best Christmas yet. :-)

I am also trying to prepare in order to really be ready in another way this year, which unfortunately I haven’t always done. If fact, I think the last two or three Christmas's have been the worst, because of this one forgotten item of preparation. This year, with the help of working here with you all at the church, I have again realized how important it is to prepare ourselves, our hearts for the Christmas message that "A Savior is Born" and in turn the Easter message that "Christ has Risen".


I have failed to see that these past few years, and I have personally missed it so much that it hurt physically. If you are there, if you have ever been there, my heart goes out to you, I understand.

I didn't even notice the first year, with everything going on, so busy with this and that- it was just pushed aside and forgotten. Trying to mix family traditions, go to a Christmas Eve service that fits in our schedule, get presents shopped for and wrapped & still be happy and joyful by the time we do actually get to see and visit with family has been a daunting and difficult process. The last few years have only gotten worse; even to the point that it made me want to skip Christmas this year. Now, don't get me wrong, not everything has been bad the last few years, but there have been attitudes thrown around and many harsh words, creating broken hearts and feelings hurt. Even while writing this, I realize how much I have held on & how much I still allow it to hurt me years later.

Now, you might think that I am just ranting and raving, rambling off into nothing, but I think you needed to know that piece of my story before you can come with me for the rest.

It hasn't been what I would call fun. It has been sad, awful, and painful, not what Christmas is supposed to be about. I remember drinking a glass too much of wine, I also remember David asking me what my problem was, I didn't have the right answer. Later that night driving home by myself, I was crying again. The third year in a row, I was crying after leaving family Christmas. It had been building in my head, that it was them. Everyone else was ruining MY Christmas. And how dare they, they don’t even celebrate the real meaning, they don’t get it like I do. It became true in my head, that they were the Christmas enemy. But I was wrong, I was so wrong! In the end, I was the enemy. It was me. I had completely taken MY Christ out of MY Christmas.

I have realized throughout this year, and I am sure I will have to continue to learn and realize this as my years go on, but I am not in control. God is in control; God does let things happen for different reasons, sometimes they don’t make sense for a while and some times they don’t make sense ever. But when things do or don’t happen- God is controlling them. The word “control”, also means manage, organize, in charge of, have power over and calculating. It doesn’t mean that things are forced and pushed into holes where they don’t belong- that is not control.

On the other hand, I need to be in control, of myself that is, my emotions and my actions. I need to manager, organize, be in charge of, and have power over my emotions and reactions to the parts of this world that don’t always seem to match up as I was expecting, and to be calculating on how my emotions and actions will transfer and spread with others. I have Jesus as my buffer, my Savior in life and my friend in this world, I get to decide how I will let things affect me, how and IF I choose to let events or words change my mood, my spirit. Scary, to think that I might be the only witness and only Jesus some people might know, especially when I am acting like I am in control and that I am what matters most. What other time of the year, is more important to show people Christ in our daily actions, and in our family interactions? Share your Christ, the real reason for the season, the only reason for the season, with everyone around you. Share by the actions that you take, the words that you say and sometimes most importantly the re-actions that you don’t take and the words that you don’t say.

The holiday tension has grown through the years, but this year is different, I am different this year! I have the birth of my Savior to celebrate, and I intend on doing just that! I am celebrating MY Christ this Christmas.

Yes, I am sure that things won’t go perfectly, shoot, I will even bet that I will be late for Christmas Eve dinner (again), but I will try to make it on time, maybe even early. I am also planning to come to the 10:30pm Christmas Eve service at First Pres, making sure it won't be skipped this year. Because, my presence is my gift to my God. My very small way of centering in him and saying thanks for sending Jesus, so that we can get ready; this time not for Christmas, but for an eternity spent in Heaven. When we take the opportunity to invite Jesus into our lives and into our hearts, we are getting ready. When we let God’s living word into us, to forever affect our lives, and to be in God’s presence with prayer, we are getting ready. When we share the Christ child’s story, when we share his resurrection, we are getting ready. So no matter what you do to get ready for Christmas, or whether you are ready yet or not- you can still get ready for Christ’s return, and just the same way Christmas comes every year, ready or not someday He will come.

R U RDY?

Jennifer Eberhard

December 19th: by Rev. Lynn Vahle

It started because I couldn’t face Thanksgiving and Christmas with the same set of people. So one year we simply announced to the family that we would be out of town for Thanksgiving. We rented a cabin at the Y-camp in Granby and took the boys and headed for the hills. Soon it became a tradition that we would use the four days of the Thanksgiving weekend to “get away”.

We always went to the mountains. We always rented a cabin or a condo with a fireplace, though it didn’t always have a TV. In the first years the boys always spent much of each day sledding, but before long they were off to the ski slopes. Jerry and I spent the day reading or napping by the fire, sometimes taking a walk, or poking through antique stores in town. I usually wrote our Christmas letter. Meals were simple - sloppy joes instead of a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. And in the evening we played games, talked, and relaxed with one another. There was a lot of laughter and at least for me a lot of time for reflection.

It was a way to get away from “the maddening crowd” for a while, to escape all the hype and tension of the coming Christmas season, and to prepare myself for the month of December. And it worked. I could return refreshed and ready to plunge into all the decorating, cooking, gifting, and partying that are part of Christmas.

For a long time I thought it was getting away, getting into a new environment and a new routine that was refreshing. At other times I felt it was the lack of responsibility and the permission to read all day if I wanted to that was freeing. Some years I just needed the time to rest before all the activity of the holiday season began. But I now realize there was more going on than I realized. It truly was my preparation for Christmas.

It was an opportunity to spend four uninterrupted days and nights with the four men I love the most. All of our various schedules took a back seat to being together. It helped us define in new ways what it was to be a family. For four days we shut the world out and we rediscovered each other. And we had fun doing it. At the heart of the Christmas story is a family that traveled to a new place and drew on each other’s strength. A family that brought love into a crazy and preoccupied world.

Those Thanksgiving weekends provided us with many memories. And I believe they were important to all of us because that is still what we do to prepare for Christmas. Now we don’t rent a cabin- we gather in a mountain home that belongs to one of our sons. And there is no longer five of us but fourteen! We talk, we play games, we work on a puzzle, we read and nap, the kids go sledding, we watch a movie or a video, and we relax and laugh together. We remind ourselves what it means to be family and we go back to our busy lives ready to celebrate the birth of God’s son and our inclusion in God’s family.

Rev. Lynn Vahle

December 18th- by: Nancy Henry

Am I ready for Christmas?

How do you get ready when you cannot do all of the things you are used to doing, want to do, and enjoyed doing that you thought made Christmas?

Going to the mountains to cut down a tree, making a swag or two out of the evergreen, making sure that the older kids made presents for the grandparents, etc. When you have seven children there are lots of school programs to enjoy and attend, shopping was minor. I usually had some help with that. The older kids were treated to the lights and windows on 16th Street in Denver. In later years this mother was treated to dinner at the Brown Palace after a day of shopping a number of times. There were always the cards that had to have a note or letter, and probably the thing I miss and enjoyed the most came out of my kitchen—coffee cakes, cookies, candy and many times dinner.

So how do I get ready for Christmas?
First of all I won’t cry because I cannot do all of these things. Then I sit down to count my blessings. Number 1, LaMar did not grow up celebrating anything, but I had 64 years of teaching him all of these goodies. Number 2, I have seven children who enjoy one another, while they all are not healthy, they are healing and working, and looking after me. Number 3, My sister-in-law is healing and will be home by Christmas. This list could go on and on, but Number 4, and maybe this should be Number 1, I sit at my quiet time and think of all of the things we could have done spiritually and didn’t. It was left up to the church and Sunday School which we attended regularly. My blessing is that we all know that it is God who has watched over us and taken care of us and no one knows the love of God like I do. And I have time for prayer and my Bible.

Yes, I am ready for Christmas.
Nancy Henry

December 17th- by: Betty Stephenson

R-U-READY for Christmas ?

When does one begin to get ready for Christmas? Just what are we getting ready for? Is it planning for parties, entertain co-workers, friends, and family members, a trip or participating in Christmas activities at school or church? Church activities can be as varied as you want, decorations for the sanctuary, music, caroling to the elderly and/or shut-ins or caring friends, making goodies for church activities, supporting the giving tree, ushering and what-ever else needs to be done.

As a child getting ready for Christmas was quite different compared to today with all the glitter, songs, TV, commercials, flyers encouraging you to buy this and that to make your Christmas the best ever.

I’m ready when I have met the challenge of finding a suitable Christmas tree ornament to give to my 88 family members and a few friends. Christmas is the only time of year and occasion when we share gifts unless it is a wedding in the family.

Am I Ready for Christmas in today’s world? I try to keep it simple, as I knew Christmas as a child. Even though each year we prepare for the same event, it seems to take on new meanings as we share in activities with new friends and family members. The highlight of the Christmas season for me is being involved in church activities with friends and my church families. May the real meaning and spirit of Christmas be with each of you this year in whatever manner is fitting for you, your family and friends.

Betty Stephenson, Christmas 2008

December 16th - by: Sheryl Johnson

R*U*RDY?

With all the things the Holidays bring, it seems like you will never get it all done.
The best way to start is to prioritize the “TO DO LIST”. There are the decorations to get up, the baking to be done, the presents to buy and get wrapped, and on. We get so wrapped up in all the things “TO DO” that we sometimes forget the true meaning of the Holidays.

We try to accomplish all of the Holiday things along with our regular activities. Sometimes you just wonder how you are going to have time to get it all accomplished. But in the end, it always seems to come together. The closer we get to Christmas the more we get in the spirit and the adrenalin gets us going to accomplish what we have to get done to get us ready for the Holidays.

May your Holidays be blessed, you lives enriched and the Spirit of Christmas be with you each and every day!

J-TRFTS - Jesus, the Reason for the Season!

Sheryl Johnson

December 15th- by: Mark Weinstein

Are You Ready?

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory? For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Rev 19:7)

Are you ready? No doubt this is a question that Christians have been asking themselves and others for centuries. Now I know that the scope of this question as it pertains to our church’s advent season was certainly a bit smaller than that which I have already alluded to, but I have a difficult time contemplating any given question without looking beyond the here and now. My personality dictates that I must overanalyze almost all ponderings (just ask my wife). So in saying that, I wish to take that question just a little beyond the obvious.

Each year people the world over ready themselves for the coming Christmas season. The myriad of tasks that are commonplace in preparation include: gift lists are made, financial considerations are taken into account, trees trimmed, cookies baked, houses decorated, invitations and cards mailed, family pictures taken, and of course church services and programs are thought out and rehearsed. While these are all wonderful and necessary (hmm) activities, we must think beyond Christ’s birthday and begin to think of Christmas as the “so much more” that it deserves. Let me explain.

Christmas is the day chosen by society on which we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I say “chosen” because that is just what it is. Along about the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. Romans Catholics, in an effort to convert pagans of the time to Christianity, introduced (Christ’s birthday was never honored before this) a holiday to fall concurrently with an already established week of pagan celebration (biblically we know that December 25 is not the actual day of birth of Christ, but that is entirely a different subject). Given this, Christmas was born and has grown to what it is today. But what does Christmas really signify?

I propose this thought: What if we come to celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ (His 1st coming) in conjunction with His impending 2nd coming? Think about it. Each year we will set aside the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate the birth of our Shepherd, and even more, as a time to contemplate and prepare for His glorious return. No longer do we simply celebrate the life that Christ lived, but we look forward to the life we will live with Christ when he returns to bring all believers to His kingdom. Given those statements, we see that this holiday becomes so much richer in rewards, expectations, and responsibilities.

What rewards are we to expect? Right from the lips of Christ we are told “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). No more are we to worry about what is to come. For life, a new life will continue forever. How joyous that occasion will be when the Lamb comes to reclaim His own and with Him brings the promise of life everlasting. But that is not all. We are also promised that this infinite life will be spent in the unrelenting presence of God Almighty Himself. All things old will be made new and clean. Sin will forever be gone from the world. An eternity of worshipping the Lord our God without pain, tears, death, and sorrow, will ensue (Rev 21:3-5). No gift on earth can equal that which the great I Am will impart upon us as we ascend into His bosom.

I mentioned expectations though; so what of them? As with any great reward there is work to be done before the reaping can begin. Our Lord speaks many times of the work we are to do while in this carnal world, yet constantly He reminds us of the rewards that lie in wait as a result. God, through the words of Isaiah says “…my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands” (65:22). Let us now and hence forth do God’s work. We know our tasks; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37), “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39), and finally “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). These are all things that we have committed our life as Christians to and so the work is easy. Each day brings us a promise for tomorrow and with it a knowledge that we must live as Christ would live. To be loved one must love, and to love one must give of themselves. These simple words work in our lives to ensure our entry into a time of never-ending bliss, and an assurance of salvation through the grace of God.

Making these transitions to a God centered Christmas isn’t easy though. Society puts so much pressure on us to be consumer minded. Stimulate the economy, they tell us. Christmas is slowly becoming the holiday season and no more. Many know nothing of the true nature of the promises that are spoken to during this time of year. But we do. The glory that awaits is an occasion for us to celebrate each and every day. Once a year though, we are lucky enough to share with the world the atoning quality of the 1st coming of our Lord, and eagerly anticipate life eternal through His return. All that we do points towards our inevitable future in an unimaginable place. “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Rev 21:21).

“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev 22:21)
Are you ready? I am!

Blessed be those in Christ,

Mark A. Weinstein