Dear First Church family,
In German, one word describes the feeling of consciousness and being so content that it brings comfort and relaxation: Gemütlichkeit. There is no direct translation to English, and even the words “cozy” or “comfortable” does not give it justice.
For example, one of my favorite things to do when the weather gets colder is to snuggle up on my couch with a book. That is cozy and very comfortable. But me sitting on that same couch surrounded by loved ones and a cup of hot chocolate while the fireplace is burning and laughter and stories fill the air – this is gemütlich.
The Advent and Christmas season perhaps prompt more moments of gemütlichkeit. Maybe it is part of your tradition to go to church on Christmas Eve, but that feeling of being surrounded by the church community in candlelight while singing Silent Night – that is at its essence gemütlich.
During the next couple of weeks, our hope at First Church is to help cultivate opportunities for gemütlichkeit as we move through the season of Advent into Christmas.
Join us for Worship on Sundays at 10:30 am in person and online. Our theme for Advent is “Close to Home,” which will focus on the “already but not yet” tension of our faith: Emmanuel is with us, and yet, God’s promised day – our everlasting home – is not fully realized. For each Sunday in Advent, we invite you to celebrate with us:
- Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, November 28 @ 10:30 am
- “Music of Advent: Rejoicing, even as we wait” on Sunday, December 12 @ 10:30 am
- Las Posadas Children’s Program on Sunday, December 19 at 10:30 am
- Longest Night Service on Monday, December 20 @ 7 pm
- Family Christmas Eve (online only) on Friday, December 24 @ 5 pm
- Christmas Eve (in-person & online) on Friday, December 24 @ 11 pm
- First Sunday of Christmas on Sunday, December 26 @ 10:30 am
Friends, may you find moments of hope, peace, joy, love, and perhaps even gemütlichkeit as we journey through Advent in this season of expanding and re-imagining our idea of home and sanctuary.
In Peace,
Pastor Yvonne