The bulletins are printed, the musicians, liturgists, shepherds, angels, inn keeper, wise men, Mary and Joseph are all ready. O Come, All Ye Faithful! Christmas Eve worship at Park will be wonderful!

Our 7:00 p.m. service will feature the children of the church in a traditional presentation of the story of the Nativity. Plus a Susan Grimm solo, brass, organ, carols, and candle lighting. It will be family friendly and a joy for all ages.

The 11:00 p.m. service features choir anthems, bells, brass, piano and organ, plus lessons and carols, candle light and the Word proclaimed. Deep and solemn joy will mark this service as we usher in the day of rejoicing.

Which service to attend? Some have said both! Family or friends visiting for the holiday? Bring them along!

There’s a Christmas Day Service, as well. Unlike some of the mega-churches, Park will provide Lord’s Day worship this week. We’ll gather at 10:55, so enjoy your family time early and then re-center on the cause of all our joy as we sing carols and share reflections on the best story ever told!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Our prayers for God’s comfort go to the family of Blanche Orr who died Wednesday. Our service in Witness to the Resurrection will be tomorrow morning at 11:00. Sam Orr told me that Blanche was married the day after Christmas. Her funeral comes the day before Christmas. Just happenstance, perhaps, but I remember the line from the carol, “ He hath opened heaven’s door, and we are blessed for every more. Christ was born for this!”

I told the children last Sunday that it’s the best story they’ll ever hear. And it is:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Becky and I are especially appreciative of the cards, notes and kind remembrances many of you have sent.

See you tomorrow and see you Sunday!