In many ways, Christmas is a time of celebration and joy. However, it can
also be a difficult season of the year. The realities of grief, loss,
depression, anxiety, financial stress and illness can weigh especially
heavily on us. And the absence of a loved one who’s no longer with us can
make these days especially hard.

That’s why it can be comforting to take time to remember and give thanks for those who have touched our lives with love and grace. So I encourage you to attend the special “Service of Lights, Lessons, Carols and Christmas Memories” that will be held this coming Sunday, Dec 1, at 7 pm at St. Mark’s. We’ll gather to remember the lives of those whose memories we still cherish, to give thanks for those loved ones who once brightened our days and lit up our lives, and to cherish the love that we still hold dear. A special Christmas light will be lit for each person whose name is read, and the Memory Tree will remain lit during the Advent season. In all our living may we never lose the memory of our most cherished relationships, and may we know that God’s grace, mercy and peace is with us always.