Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I hope that you have a meaningful and safe way to celebrate Christmas, even though your celebration will most likely be pared down from years’ past.  Mayo Clinic’s website gives some useful guidance on keeping safe while celebrating this year.  Check it out here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/covid-19-holiday-safety-tips/art-20503363.  For those of you who are feeling a bit blue, try to keep a positive perspective, recognizing that this year is an anomaly.  We have much to hope for in 2021, including getting a vaccine, which could eventually return us to something like normalcy!  If you are feeling lonely, reach out to me, someone at church, a family member, or a friend; phone calls and Zoom can help everyone feel more connected.

 
Speaking of Zoom, watch your email for a link that will connect you to CCOV’s Christmas Eve service.  Sign-on is at 5:15 PM MST.  We will see each other’s faces live and enjoy the music of Larry Loeber and Jean Newman, Christmas messages and prayer, some carol singing, and the Christmas scriptures.  I know that we prefer to meet in person, but it is safest to worship on Zoom this year.  Recently our conference minister, the Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons, informed conference clergy that the virus was recently spread at a local UCC’s outdoor worship service, so he strongly recommends that we do exactly what we have been doing, just to keep everyone safe.

 
Just one more thought to share during this very different Advent and Christmas…You know how we always talk about the busy-ness of the season?  Perhaps we have been less busy than usual without all the concerts and plays and parties.  Maybe, just maybe, we can do some real heart preparation this time around.  Stop to call a friend.  Benefit your favorite charities (hope CCOV rates!).  Put seeds out for the birds, and stop to thank God for the beauty of the desert, the moon, and for this year’s “Christmas star,” formed by the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter.  And as you do so, may you be heartily blessed.

With All Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love,

Co-Pastor Sandi