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