WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – December 23rd – Fr. Thomas
In the December 1995 issue of Guideposts, Elizabeth King English tells of a very special Christmas that she once experienced. The year was 1949. She and her husband Herman owned an appliance store that sold a variety of items, including toys. That particular Christmas, they had practically sold out of their toys. Elizabeth had been uneasy about leaving the shop that Christmas Eve because one package on layaway had not been claimed yet. It might not have been anything important, but on the other hand, it might be some child’s only gift. So Elizabeth and Herman stayed open as long as they could, but finally they decided to close the store and head home.
The next day, Elizabeth couldn’t seem to get into the Christmas spirit. She cleaned a little around the house, but she felt restless. Strangely enough, she began to get the urge to go to the store that morning. Now Herman and Elizabeth never opened the store on Christmas, and the weather outside was a freezing mix of snow and sleet, but still Elizabeth felt drawn to go to the store. After an hour, Elizabeth gave up fighting the urge and told Herman she was going down to the store. He wasn’t very encouraging, but she had made up her mind. As Elizabeth slid along the snowy sidewalks to the store, her numb body mocked the urgent sensation she had about that day. But as she got to the store, she noticed two small boys, about six and nine years old, standing in front of the store. The little fellows got very excited when they saw Elizabeth coming. They were almost frozen. The younger one was crying, but he stopped when he saw Elizabeth. When Elizabeth scolded them for being out in the cold, they explained that they had been waiting for her.
The older boy explained to Elizabeth that his younger brother didn’t get anything for Christmas, and so they had come there to get the little boy, Jimmy, some skates. He pulled out three dollars and placed them in front of her. Sadly, Elizabeth explained to them that she had sold almost all the toys in the store, and they were out of skates. But as she glanced around the store, she noticed the lone package on the layaway shelf. She walked over and ripped off the wrapping to find that it contained a pair of child’s skates! Jimmy reached for them and tried them on. They fit perfectly. When the boys tried to pay Elizabeth for the skates, she told them to use their money for a couple of pairs of good gloves instead. The boys grinned in amazement at this gift of free skates.
After the children were all warm, Elizabeth began to close up the shop again. She remarked to the boys that it was so lucky they had not frozen out there that morning. She asked, “. . . how did you boys know I would come?” The older boy answered, “I knew you would come. I asked Jesus to send you.” Elizabeth went home to her family, but now she was in the Christmas spirit.
From time to time we hear someone say, “Wouldn’t it be great if it could be Christmas all year long.” Surprise! That was God’s intent. That is why God visited our planet and gave us the gift of His Son. The world is waiting for the people of God to live out what we say we believe: That Jesus Christ is the hope of the world; that living the Christ life of love and sacrifice and self-giving is the only ultimate way that humanity can be saved. When Christmas lives in our hearts, then we will have at least made a beginning to spreading the spirit of Christmas to the entire world and not just at one time of the year, but all through the year, and every year.
NOTICES:
THERE WILL BE OPENINGS FOR FIVE NEW VESTRY MEMBERS FOR 2023. INTERESTED PARISHIONERS CAN CONTACT FATHER THOMAS OR ANY VESTRY MEMBER.
Facebook Page. Please join our St. David’s social media community by scanning the QR code below. This will take you to our Facebook page where you can begin to follow us if you have not done so in the past.”
Christmas Concert Reception. A great big thank you to the following for all their hard work in putting together an absolutely wonderful reception after the Christmas concert last Sunday: Stuart Cohen, Eric Cohen, Mia Eubanks, Jackson Eubanks, Barbara Hastings-Griffin, Aidan Imbimbo, Lucabella Imbimbo, Nick Webber, Lucas Webber, Ava Wolliston, Justin Valderrama, Laurie Cohen, Erin Thomas.
Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Church cleaning. Men are needed to put decorations and trees in attic on Saturday, January 14th at 9 a.m. Please contact Linda McKeown at 561-254-3902
Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
No Sunday School this week.
No Women’s Bible Study meeting this week.
Tuesday, December 27: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.
Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass. There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel. See the links listed below.
Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.
PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Diana, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Elston, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Robin, Ron, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Woody. For birthday celebrations: Megan Jacques, Austin Ward, Marianne Davidson, Chris Erickson, Thomas Ward, Jeffrey Femenia. For anniversary celebrations: Francis and Joanna Morlu, Evelyn and Tom Medcalf, Glenn and Helena Bresnahan. For our expectant mothers: Rebecca and Alexandra.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
