December 08th, 2021

​On Saturday, a group of twenty-two Coastside Lutheran members, friends, neighbors and friends of friends gathered in the West Wing and the Sanctuary for the Advent Tree Trimming Party. With music playing in the background, everyone had a ball making ornaments, decorating cookies, stuffing and addressing envelopes and stuffing ourselves with goodies. In the Sanctuary, wreathes were hung, pine roping strung and CLC’s beautiful Chrismons were put on the tree. It was so wonderful to get together, to catch up and to work side by side preparing the church for Christmas Eve when we celebrate the birth of the Savior. Thank you Kathy and Suzanne for organizing this event and to everyone who helped.
Placing all the Chrismons on the tree in just the right spots took some time and as we worked, folks shared with me memories about the people who had made the original ones and about Christmas celebrations from years ago. This year, we also added to the tree two new gold Chrismons made by Kathy and several other items made by our ornament crafters and we also heard the stories of new friends to community. This year we added both new ornaments and new experiences to our communal memory.
Our ever-growing collection of Chrismons reminded me that it is our shared experiences and the weaving together of our lives which brings us together as a community and that’s how we become part of each other’s stories. The Spirit is at work knitting us together into a community every time we gather together to worship, study, sing, serve or just visit with one another; a community shaped by God’s ongoing story of redemption. 
Come at 7:30pm on Christmas Eve as we worship together to celebrate the birth of the Christ child and be shaped by God’s amazing story of love.
May the Spirit of God fill your days with hope and joy as we await the arrival of Emmanuel, God with us.
Advent Blessings, Pastor Sue