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Dear Friends, 

You may remember that our April Messenger began with the out-of-season words from Dr. Seuss', How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Certain he had stolen their Christmas joy, the Grinch is stunned by the sounds of Christmas morning; “Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, was singing! Without any presents at all!  He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming! It came! Somehow or other, it came just the same!” The Grinch then puzzles “till his puzzler was sore” and comes to a startling realization; “Maybe Christmas he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more!” 

In April I shared these words as a reminder that Easter could not be stolen, canceled or postponed by Covid-19. I had no idea that eight months later I would be using these words about the holiday for which they were first written. While plans change, travels postponed and losses recognized, we must remember that Covid-19 can’t steal Christmas! The “reason for the season” remains constant and true; in the person of Jesus, God came to be one of us, God with us, Emmanuel.

Throughout Advent we will continue to worship Sunday mornings at 9am, in person, on Armstrong 23 and 100, and on our website and Facebook page, stoneumc.org. Because of significant concerns raised by Covid-19, we will not be worshipping in person on Christmas Eve, but rather will be providing a beautiful Christmas Eve service broadcast on Armstrong at 7pm and 11pm. We encourage you to invite others to worship with you, even if you can’t physically be in the same place.

As we move into this season of Advent, hold on to the words of the angels on the night of Jesus’ birth; “Behold, I bring you good news that shall be for all people. Born today in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. (Luke 8:10). This Good News can never be taken from you!

In the Name of the Christ Child…Pastor Sarah