Dear St. Luke’s,

Christmas is coming at us like a freight train, and it is coming on time whether or not we are ready for it. I shouldn’t be that stressed. Like anyone else, I worry about getting shopping done and all of that. In addition to normal Christmas stress, there is the whole Church thing, but at this stage of the holiday, it is the rest of your staff that is pulling the extra weight. Sue and Victoria have been on top of getting the word out and making sure the bulletins are done well in advance. Kate has not only been planning and practicing music for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but she also wrote and produced her own unique Christmas Pageant!!! If you are wondering, this is not normal, and we are remarkably lucky to have her talent and dedication.

Whether it is the staff, the day school, Church leadership, or just people in the pews I am struck and surprised at how thankful I am for the people at St. Luke’s. The people at St. Luke’s seem to care and are driven to action more than any other Church that I have seen. If every Church had a superpower, this would be ours. I am tempted to list off a long list of people and projects that exemplify this unique spirit that is within our Church. When you do stuff like that, you always leave someone out that should have been at the top of the list, and sometimes you just have to sin boldly, so here we go:

Our boiler is working consistently. Thank you for making that happen.
Sue and Lisa, thank you for the quilt.
Kate, thank you for the music and for turning on the sound system when I forget.
Cecil, your work is beyond good. Your laugh is even better.
Healys your generosity is unmatched.
Anne, you and Zelensky are the only ones I would want to be president of earth.
Tom, you actually fix some of the world’s problems. I’m in awe.
Geoff, Hilary, and Chris, I didn’t realize anyone could be that thoughtful in getting Sunday lessons together.
We have a new parish hall, and there is a decent chance the outdoor lighting done by Christmas. That took a small army of people who care.
Dozens of workers are in our steeple every week to make sure we have good coverage, and they pay us. Whose idea was that, because it’s genius.
I never ever thought I’d be in a church that would have a decent broadcast that I could count on to simply happen. Y’all are awesome.
Sue, it’s good to be friends with people you work with, especially when they share my taste in sparkling water.
Skip, there are too many things to list. Since Richard shaved, you have the best mustache by far.
Susan, Marjy, Anne, and Marge, you all are a great way to start the week.
Genn, I can’t imagine trusting my children with anyone else.
Victoria, I’ve only seen you in person twice but I can feel your dedication to your ministry.
Peggy, I think of you every time I’m reminded of the cameras on Sunday morning.
Harts, Hanks, Healys, Hills, and Holders, have you noticed we’re all relatively new and our last names all start with H?
The boiler is working.
Mary Grace, Kristen, and Luca, you are caretakers of a sacred thing. Thank you.
Carol, more than pretty much anyone else, you make things happen.
Poppy, your reviews of my sermons are the most productive I’ve known.
Richard and Amy, when my head starts spinning, I know I can call you, and that means a lot to me.
Helen, whether it’s Church or Star Trek, I can count on learning something from you about something I care about.
John and Jennifer, seeing you sit in the snow and watching Church in January of 2021 gave me hope in the Church.
Alan, Paul, Jennifer, Sue, Lee, and Amy, I am so thankful you know more about money than I do.
Jo and Sue, between the two of you, you have the fire and the patience to make anything happen.
Melissa and Kim, when the perfect storm of people not knowing what they didn’t know hit, you made sure our signature ministry happened.
Having coffee and homemade cookies outside when we were still wearing masks was one of the first times I mingled since the pandemic, and I don’t think I am the only one.
This Saturday those with the muscle memory to green the Church will arrive and magically transform this place.
Blessed are those who walk to the other side of the Church during the peace to make sure that one person gets the peace they need.
God bless the Blueys and when they open their worship rhythm to Bandy.
Jack, thank you for sharing your trucks.
Did I mention the boiler is working?
That reminds me, God bless you, Tom Stallman.
Marge, your knitting makes people feel like they belong.
Rileys, Tuesday would not have been the same without you.
Alyce, I will always remember being surprised by that firetruck.
Judy and Jonathan, when I grow up, I want to be just like you.
Fionn and Molly, you always dial up the thoughtfulness to 11.
J2A pilgrimage folks, y’all are fun.
The Celebration of New Ministry that was on November 11 was one of the most humbling evenings of my life. Thank you.
Matt, the first day you came to Church, you spent an hour moving furniture. Bravo.
Maples, the parish retreat is something I find myself craving because it is so good.
Alex and Joel, I am so glad chicken is now a thing at the BBQ.
Megan, thanks for letting me hang out when I need a break.
George, Rob, and Carlo, thank you for being more engaged at the diocese than I currently have the ability to be.
Mark, we are glad you are the new Bishop.
BBQ ministry, I have no doubt the smell of your pork butt pleases the lord.
Tim and Carol, can you start sitting next to each other at 8:00? Then it would be like we have a choir at that service!
Rosenia’s egg salad has saved many Wednesdays.
The boiler is working.
Vashti, thank you for bringing in your family.
All of those baptisms.
All of those who came before us and paved the way.
All of us that are here.
All of those for whom we are preparing the way.

My stressful time is going to be when the big services arrive, so I have nine days to try to just breathe and be thankful for the good that is around me. In the busyness of life, it is hard to see the good that is happening, because we can be so focused on what we are doing that we forget to be. Remember, God did not make you do anything. God made you because you are good. We are preparing the way for a baby that did not do anything when he was born. He simply was, and the fabric of creation shifted.

Blessings,

Nick