December 2004 Worship Services

Ministerial Cognitions

Christmas is not an external event at all, but a piece of one`s home that one carries in one`s heart; like a nursery story, its validity rests on exact repetition, so that it comes around every time as the evocation of one`s whole life and particularly of the most distant bits of it in childhood. --- By Freya Stark in The Wise Men

Christmas is my favorite time of year. Memories of my childhood flood my brain--toys, candy; extended family and friends celebrating together. And midnight Mass at St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church was incredible--beautiful music, high church, priests dressed in their best regalia, candles everywhere, and everyone dressed to the teeth. The only downside of the Christmas season was giving up my room to grandma and Kiki (my aunt).

I have tried to share the many wonderful childhood rituals of the season with my kids. Each year, we start my attending church, then we gather together to read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke, The Night Before Christmas and A Cajun Night Before Christmas-- "'Twas the night before Christmas, An' all t'ru de house, Dey don't a t'ing pass, Not even a mouse. De chirren been nezzle, Good snug on de flo', An' Mama pass de pepper T'ru de crack on de do'" and of course, "dere on de by-you...Dere's eight alligator a pullin' de skiff. An' a little fat drover wit' long pole-ing stick, I know r'at away got to be ole St. Nick...He whistle an' holler an' call them by name: Ha, Gaston! Ha, Tiboy! Ha, Pierre an' Alcee'! Gee, Ninette! Gee, Suzette! Celeste an' Renee'!"

Lately my sons have been playing their guitars for us on Christmas Even?their idea. This may not sound like a lot, but they receive guitar lessons all year long, and we only get to hear them play at Christmas.

Finally, we open one little present each. The boys are chomping at the bit to open this gift, just as I was when I was a child. Christmas is such a gift we give one another.

This year, Spindletop Unitarian Church, has the opportunity to help create memories for children who otherwise would not have a Christmas. We will never meet these children, but we will get to know them a little. We will have the opportunity to help a family less fortunate than ourselves.

The family is: mother--Stacey; 12 year old--Janeka; and 17 year old--Shaneka. Shaneka wears a size 5 pants, medium shirt and a 5 ? shoe. She states that she would really like a pair of high top black and pink Fila tennis shoes. She likes to read poems and loves music. She likes music artists Little John and Ciara Goode. She would like a portable headset CD player. She also likes perfumes and lotions; her favorite scent is called Sweat Pea.

Janeka wears a size 3 junior pants, medium shirt and 7 ? shoe. She states that she would like a pair of Fat Farm White and Blue Tennis Shoes. She too likes music--Amanda Perez and Ciara Goode. She also is wanting a portable headset CD player.

To whatever extent we choose, we can create memories for this family. We could provide a tree, stockings, decorations and/or a Christmas dinner. We could buy something for Stacey as well. Though she will not be expecting anything, I hope we can provide some gifts for her.

Casa helped us find this family, and will bring whatever we provide to them two days before Christmas. I want to thank Ria for getting in touch with CASA to help organize this wonderful opportunity for us.

Be thinking about what you would like to give to this family. We will be gathering Wednesday, December 1st at the church at 7 p. m. to decorate the church for the season, and we will begin making decisions on what we can share with this family. Please come, bring snacks, bring some decorations for the church, and let?s have an joyful holiday gathering, while also creating memories for ourselves and others this holiday season.

Rev. Tom

Worship Services:

December 5

Services of Catholic Charities by Bonnie Loidici

December 12

Children of War during these winter holidays by Rev. Tom Capo

Can we even image children, little ones, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Can we image what it must be like to face the winter, knowing that you might even survive the next day? How can children celebrate their various religious and secular holidays living in a war zone? How can they find hope that spring will come to the earth and hope that peace will come to their countries?

December 19

Christmas Sermon & Christmas Breakfast by Rev. Tom Capo

Each year, we celebrate Christmas together the Sunday before Christmas. We bring breakfast foods to share, as we join together in this intergenerational service; we sing Christmas carols, and we revisit the origins of the Christmas Season, and its influence on our lives today.

Friday, December 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Vespers by Rev. Tom Capo

This is our annual intergenerational Christmas Vespers service. Come join us before you open those packages or head off to grandma's house.

December 26

Presented by Meredith Bahl, member