By Another Way

By Another Way

Amecourt, age 11 Amecourt,

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Harper d Harper Manger, Molly McGilvray, age 11 11 age Star, McGilvray, Manger, Molly A Devotional Guide For Advent 2020 2020 Advent Season Calendar

All events during Advent, including worship, are subject to change or cancellation due to public health concerns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sunday, November 29—First Sunday of Advent 11:00 am Worship & Baptism, Sanctuary The Rev. Andrew Esqueda preaching. Virtual Christmas Market, Online Ongoing from November 15 through December 6.

Sunday, December 6 — Second Sunday of Advent 9:00 am Worship & Communion, Loft 11:00 am Worship & Communion, Sanctuary The Rev. Dr. Richard Floyd preaching at both services. 6:00 pm Service of Lament & Hope, Sanctuary Virtual Christmas Market, Online, closes today. Agape Giving Tree & Gifts for Good, last day.

Tuesday, December 8 Candlelight Advent Worship Service for Women

Henry Edmunds, ageHenry 11

Sunday, December 13 — Third Sunday of Advent 9 am Worship, Loft 11 am Worship, Sanctuary The Rev. Dr. Kim Clayton preaching at both services. Christmas Pageant, Drive-Thru

Sunday, December 20 — Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:00 am Worship & Christmas Joy Offering, Loft 11:00 am Worship & Christmas Joy Offering, Sanctuary The Rev. Dr. Kim Clayton preaching at both services. Congregational Carol Sing Youth Christmas Parties

Thursday, December 24 — Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary 6:00 pm Family Service of Lessons & Carols, Sanctuary 9:00 pm Christmas Eve Service of Lesson & Carols, Sanctuary 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Magnolia Circle

Friday, December 25 — Christmas Day

Sunday, December 27 — First Sunday after Christmas 11:00 am Worship, Sanctuary The Rev. Lucy Strong preaching.

Please consult the church website at www.trinityatlanta.org and our emailed newsletter This Week At Trinity for up to date detailed information on these and other events. Additionally, the pastoral and administrative staff will make every effort to announce

schedule changes from the Pulpit or via congregation-wide emails.

SamuelRoss, age6

MaxPowers, age 10 Introduction

The word Advent derives from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” As Christians, we typically view Advent as the season of waiting. We spend the weeks leading up to Christmas waiting for the arrival of the Christ child, and in that time, we are filled with hope and wonder as we tell stories, sing hymns, and spend precious time together. This year, the season of waiting has taken on a different tone. After all, we have been waiting all year – waiting for justice and equality for all, waiting for the healing of our world, waiting for hugs from those we love, and waiting to gather once again as a church family at Trinity.

It is a gift and a joy to bring you this year’s edition of the Trinity Advent Devotional Guidebook. We hope that this edition touches every reader and reminds each of us that, though we are apart, we are bound together as a family of faith. In the following pages, you will find reflections from Trinity members and staff. Some tell how they have navigated this time of Covid-19, others write tales of lessons learned or heartfelt stories of Christmases gone by. The book opens with a devotion from our Interim Senior Pastor Kim Clayton. Our call to Kim did not include being an on-line preacher, and we are so grateful for her resilience and willingness to adapt to meet the needs of our congregation in 2020. We want to express our thanks to Kim for her leadership through our interim period and through the many challenges of this unexpected time.

As you read the following devotionals each day, please take a moment to note the names of the authors and young artists who have made this collection possible. If you feel so called, reach out to them by text, letter, email, or phone to let them know how much you appreciate them sharing their time, thoughts, and talents.

Nancy Parson & Miranda Emery Segrest Co-Editors

Sunday, November 29, 2020

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2:11-12 (NRSV)

his year’s Advent theme, Home By Another Way, comes from a line in the Gospel of Matthew. In the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, we T were trying to imagine what Advent and Christmas 2020 might be like in the midst of a global pandemic, and Home By Another Way was the phrase that kept surfacing in my mind and heart. Will people be able to travel at all by December? Will we be back together in worship by December? What is Christmas Eve without choirs, carols, and candlelight, and without a bustling Nativity service filled with excited, wonder-filled children?

This Christmas, we will all have to find our way home to the Christ Child, in manger or house (depending on the Gospel you read), by another way.

The star-led magi realized that ruthless King Herod was a threat to the God-given child born to be a true king. A dream had come to each of the magi, and whether the dream had come to them awake or asleep, we do not know. But the dream was the same to each of them—because of what you have seen, and because of what you now know, you must go home by another way. Barbara Brown Taylor wrote a sermon with our Advent theme’s title. In it, she writes:

There is another way home. You just listen to the story. You let it come to life inside of you, and then you decide on the basis of your own tears or laughter whether the story is true. If you are in any doubt, it is always a good idea to watch other people who have listened to the story—just pay attention to how the story affects them over time. Does it make them more or less human? Does it open them up or shut them down? Does it increase their capacity for joy?

Then, Taylor says this about the magi, “… they would not be going back through Jerusalem. Besides, none of their old maps worked anymore. They would find a new way home.” The wise men picked up their packs, which were lighter than before, having given out all their gifts. They thanked the baby for the gifts he had given them—for his home and the love therein, for the precious smell of baby flesh and the hope that wafted through them, for the great adventure of it all and a story to tell for the rest of their lives.

Advent and Christmas 2020 will be its own peculiar story we will be telling for a long time. Those who travel this season are likely to find it challenging. For us, as a congregation, things will be very different. Our old maps don’t work in 2020. Along with all we have lost, might we also consider what this different kind of Christmas gives us as well? How might it even increase our capacity for joy?

Advent is always about waiting, and this Advent, we have much for which we wait indeed. Yet, Christmas will come nevertheless, and when we behold Him – who is our true home – we can thank Him for the gifts He has given us, even in this year of years. Then, we will continue to make our way home, though we will have gotten there, yes, by another way.

God-With-Us, Emmanuel, This Advent we wait, Hoping for healing for those who are ill; For peace of mind for all who are ill at ease; and

For justice for those enduring systems and acts of oppression. SamuelRoss, age6 As we journey together, increase our capacity for joy and guide our steps In a world transformed by your presence. Amen.

Rev. Kim Clayton Interim Senior Pastor

Monday, November 30, 2020 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

wenty-twenty has challenged us with an unseen virus raging through the world, the seeming collapse of the economy, social unrest, political turmoil, T and a sense of despair that came with the isolation from friends and family. And at the very time we needed the comfort of Trinity most, we were forbidden to gather. It seemed that our world had truly been turned upside down. Yet, in the midst of the darkness, the hand of God was moving to provide hope, and challenging us to reaffirm our faith and our commitment.

Day by day, relying on our faith and with God’s help, we readjusted and began the hard work that was necessary. We improvised and attended church and Bible study via our computers, we reached out to those in need as best as we could, we reconnected with friends and family from a safe distance, and we quietly mourned our losses. We watched in awe as medical personnel, at great personal risk, went about their work every day with determination and a devotion to their calling. We saw businesses do their best to take care of their workers and keep going, even when there was almost no hope that they could succeed. We opened our eyes to the social injustice that affects so many, and we witnessed congregations staying together and working for the day when they could once again come home and gather in one place.

Twenty-twenty has been a year that tested our faith and courage, but God has been there, walking with us, and helping us to see that there is a path forward. There is still much to do, and not all of the challenges can be overcome, but with faith, hope, and belief, we can begin again.

Dear God, thank you for your presence and your peace through these trying times. In the midst of despair and discouragement, you gave us strength to keep going and the blessing of hope. May we always remember you are there.

Michael Davis Tuesday, December 1, 2020 "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NRSV)

ow excited can one eleven-year-old be? Our family’s summer vacation was to drive from Georgia to New York for the World’s Fair. Another H surprise for our family – a baby is on the way. My always annoying fourteen-year-old sister was somewhat embarrassed, and my nine-year-old brother elated. I just longed for my adventures in New York to begin. Finally, the day for our departure arrived, and with bags packed, our family of five started the long journey in our new Oldsmobile 88. My imagination swirled as I awaited the sights, tall buildings, and bustling streets. The World’s Fair took my breath away, and I never wanted to return to my sleepy hamlet in north Georgia.

That fabulous fun was marred mid-trip. Our morning drive through the sleepy Pennsylvania town that was our nightly abode was interrupted when a neglectful and obviously disheveled teenager rear-ended our new car, with us in it. Our vacation plans did not include a detour to the emergency room of a tiny hospital, but that’s where we went, and it was unsettling to witness. My expecting mom was finally cleared for travel, and my ever-calm father with bruised ego stared in anguish at the massive dent in our car.

The drive home to Georgia was full of constant chatter as we relived every detail of that amazing summer, including the car wreck. Our days were soon filled with the routine of returning to school and in a few months, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays were upon us. And all was well when our baby sister arrived in December.

As we approach this Advent season and celebrate its love, passion, and splendor, I long to return to the normalcy of life. I hold dear my memories of that strong- spirited child in awe of life itself.

May you and your family hold Christ near as we enter this beautiful Advent season. Amen. Anne Snyder Wednesday, December 2, 2020

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” John 13:34 (NRSV)

hristmastime with my family when my daughters were young was a special time, with much anticipation, joy, and love. We loved the C traditions we established. Right after Thanksgiving we went to the farmers market to select our tree and then trimmed it not too long thereafter. This was a new tradition for me, because in my childhood, our family waited until Christmas Eve to trim the tree.

A few days before Christmas, Mema would make the trip down from Asheville to be with us. Christmas Eve would start out at a leisurely pace as we prepared for the evening. We would attend the early evening Worship service and get goosebumps when the youth choir members would sing “Once in Royal David’s City.” We listened with great attention to all of the fabulous hymns that were sung, ending with “Silent Night.”

After that, we would drive around to see the neighborhood Christmas lights and usually end up at Charthouse, which Mema loved. We would make our way home and open one present, and only one. Before bed, we put out milk and cookies for Santa, and we would read T’was the Night before Christmas in great anticipation for the next day. After the girls finally got to bed, there was the mad rush by Mom and Dad to prepare for the next day, taking time to watch the midnight mass at St. Phillips.

The next day would come too early for Mom and Dad, but never soon enough for Cami and Elizabeth. Dad would stall by saying, “Well, let me see if he came” and draw things out, pushing anticipation to the boiling point. After Dad got the video camera operational, there would be a mad dash down the stairs.

Working first on the stockings, which had been hung by the fireplace with care the night before, and then making a slow progression through the other presents, we savored every moment of this lengthy and festive occasion. Cam made her famous egg casserole, and we enjoyed each other's company and the love that we shared.

Now, as my daughters are older, they are starting to build their own traditions and connections, with us a part of it. While I think fondly of the old days, we are thankful that we are all part of each other’s lives and traditions.

Lord, We thank you for the loving connections that we have, with our family, with our church and your church friends. In your heavenly name we pray, Amen.

John Fenton

Thursday, December 3, 2020

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16 (NRSV)

ome is a tricky subject for a college student. As an on campus student, is my dorm my home, or is my home at my parents’ house? This H question becomes more complex and confusing amidst a pandemic. Living on campus as a freshman for seven months, followed by a swift and unexpected return to Atlanta for five months, and then another planned start at school again for fall semester, at the same, but now very different college, made defining home difficult.

Covid-19 left me unsure of where my home was; I genuinely felt as if I did not have a place to belong. However, this time of uncertainty has made me realize that, no matter where or what I consider my physical home, I will always have an eternal home in Christ. While the location may change, I am rooted in the Lord’s everlasting love and warmth. We may not know when we will have relief from the grief of this virus, but we can rely on and feel safe in the home that is Christ’s love for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us an eternal home in your Son so that we may find comfort in a time of confusion and grief. In this season of Advent, help us to remember that in strife, you are a constant foundation of hope and purpose. Amen.

Lucy Stewart Sophomore at University of Georgia

Friday, December 4, 2020

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV)

oluntary in D, Toccata in D, Greensleeves – thus begins Trinity’s marvelous Service of Lessons and Carols. This service is such a sacred V family ritual that we build all of our holiday schedules around it. Visits to friends, incoming flights for out-of-town family, dinner invitations – all are arranged around the Christmas Eve service.

As we take our seats in the balcony, I look along our row at the wonderful women in my life and am reminded of how blessed I have been. I am transported back to earlier years, remembering the days when I placed myself between our girls to dampen the giggling they just could not contain. I am transported back to my own childhood, sitting in wonder next to my own siblings and parents. I think of the saints of my family who we’ve lost over the years and feel their spirits beside me. I feel the Holy Spirit with us too, filling me with wonder at the Christmas miracle.

My faith is not a constant. It rises and falls and changes course like a river, but it is always moving forward. One thing I am certain of, though, is that there is a reality that transcends our everyday lives. There are times when that reality intrudes into our everyday world, shakes us up, and reminds us to believe in miracles. Christmas Eve at Trinity is always one of those times. The music, the poetry of the story, the love of all those sitting beside me - it’s all a miracle.

Heavenly Father, thank you for my family, thank you for my Trinity family, and thank you for my abundant blessings. Frank Fuerst

Saturday, December 5, 2020

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

his Advent season, more than any other holiday season in my lifetime, I truly understand how great God’s gift to us is: For God so loved the T world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV).

For each of us, this year has been extremely challenging, and for each of us those challenges have been different. As I personally navigate the worries that come with the concern of my loved one’s health, virtual learning, the loss of in-person worship, work or lack thereof, politics, and social distancing, I stop to realize there is Hope. I know this because of God’s gift to us that one morning in Bethlehem. It is the greatest gift we could ever receive and the true meaning of Christmas. The best part is, regardless of how old we grow, whether weary or anxious, isolated or with friends and family, through the highs and lows, when the season of Advent arrives, we are reminded of this gift and why, no matter what, there is Hope.

Along with the knowledge of God’s gift of Jesus Christ to save His believers, there is another gift that gives me Hope that these challenging days will only make us stronger. This is not a present one finds under a tree, but rather the gift of perspective, as given by loved ones who have gone on before us.

My grandmother, Edna Hitchins, was a member of Trinity from the Morris Brandon days. Just four years ago, she shared a Christmas devotional that I often refer to throughout a given year. She reminisced on the Christmas of 1929.

She and her siblings had been orphaned just a few years prior, and her grandfather had died earlier that year. The Great Depression was hammering the country, and despite all this suffering, she looked back on that Christmas as one of her most memorable and most cherished. She remembered it for her grandmother’s strength and kindness to others, for the book and fruit she received in her stocking, for the love she felt and knowledge that “the tiny baby born in a stable” was the greatest gift of all.

Grandmother has since passed on, but her gift of sharing the story of Christmas of 1929 stays with us, just as God’s word does. That Christmas helped her grow in her faith and helped her become a matriarch who would influence so many generations of our family. I hope when my children look back on the Christmas of 2020, they will recall it not as the Christmas of the pandemic, but as one surrounded by love and the understanding that God gives them strength to soar, no matter what challenges confront them.

Heavenly Father, We ache for the day when all is restored, when the whole of Creation is healed from the consequences of our actions. Strengthen us as we work towards that restoration. Show us how to be a part of your healing work in the world. Thank you for the hope of what is to come. Amen.

John Hitchins

Sunday, December 6, 2020

“My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.” Job 23:11 (NIV)

he spring semester for the class of 2020 was not without strife. For many of the members of my graduating class, thirteen years of striding T on the path towards Lovett graduation ended on a mellow Friday afternoon in March. We left campus believing we would be back in two weeks, but, as hindsight is always 2020, that was exceedingly optimistic.

Months passed, and senior tradition after senior tradition was canceled. My final semester in high school was not turning out to be the euphoric experience I had always imagined. Three and half months later, as the straight path towards graduation had proved to hold many twists and turns, we graduated in late July — 165 seniors equipped with masks and practicing social-distancing. No, it did not feel right, but it was done. That seems to be the sentiment of this entire year: It didn’t feel right, but we did it.

Amecourt,11 age ’

Harperd

One thing that is always normal in the French household is the Christmas festivities, specifically Christmas Eve, which is my sister Virginia’s and my birthday. Every year, we start the day with a special breakfast, followed by a nice lunch, which leads to performing with the youth choir in the six o’clock service, and ending with a birthday celebration and dinner. For our family, this day holds a special place in our hearts. In this time of Advent, Christmas Eve is the representation of normalcy for our family, a rare occurrence in the Covid-19 world.

Job 23:11 describes the path of God, one that Job follows closely, keeping away from the angers of life. As we approach Christmas Eve, I will look back at the path on which we have all walked this year, one that has caused toil and strife. It is likely a path in which many of us strayed away from God more than we are willing to admit as we battled the ongoing daily struggles with a global pandemic. It has been a path that, at times, has seemed vacant from God; however, the path has still led us here to the Advent season, where we get a glimpse of normalcy once again. We have walked a long road this year, but it is important to notice that the lessons we have learned in this unprecedented time have held the love of God, and they have made us into a stronger, more equipped community to fight unpredictable challenges. We have finally made it further down this winding road, trying to follow in the footsteps of God. I say to myself, “It didn’t feel right, but we did it.”

Dear God, Keep us on your path, even when we face unbelievable and unpredictable boundaries. Allow us to continually and unconditionally hold you in our hearts, even when it doesn’t feel right. Amen.

Colin French Freshman at Wake Forest University

Monday, December 7, 2020

Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

Matthew 2:1-2 (NRSV)

ur theme for this collection of Advent devotionals also happens to be the title of a children’s 2018 picture book written by one of my favorite O preachers and writers, Barbara Brown Taylor. Her book Home By Another Way is a fresh retelling of the story of the wise men, written with wisdom, humor, and a fair amount of irreverence.

In her version of the familiar story, the three wise men live in three different countries and each thinks he is the only one “with a star in his eye.” When they meet on the road, however, each understands they see the same star, so despite their differences, they are united by a common purpose. They move forward together, as brothers.

Those familiar with Barbara Brown Taylor know that she finds the sacred, the holy, in the everyday world that we experience through our five senses. She builds this story on concrete physical details — outside the modest dwelling place of Jesus, a dog sniffs in the woodpile, the notes of a lute are heard, and the air is filled with the dinner smells of wheat cakes, lentils, and rice. And in her story, after the wise men present the traditional gifts, Mary surprises them by handing baby Jesus, “that damp, soft, living weight,” to them to hold. This encounter with Jesus is of course the most precious gift in this story.

Lord, In this complex time, may we understand that we are all one family of God’s children, and may your gift of the baby Jesus inspire us to love one another.

Junith Koon Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV)

ight you have been tempted to zip through the entire year of 2020, if you had known in early winter what you know now, and if you could M fast forward time? This year of nothing, and of so much, has given us terms such as “shelter in place,” “social distancing,” and “virtual” everything, and has brought to center stage an ongoing struggle to deal with a global pandemic, social injustice, and divisive politics. Where is God in all of this, and how can we navigate this Advent season with hope and faith?

Make time for God. God is with us, and His Word is more important now than ever. Make time to read the Gospels. Take time to pray. Remember that God loves you. Make time for family. View your time at home as a gift. Work a puzzle together. Play a board game together. Find a show you can enjoy together. All too soon, we will be back to our hectic lifestyles. Make time for others. Stay connected with your friends, your church, and your community. Social distance does not have to mean social isolation.

Be grateful. Focus on the good. There is still so much good in the world if we just try to see it. Life will always have its challenges, but remember that God is always with you. Trust in Him! Put your faith in Him!

Heavenly Father, we pray that you will help us feel your guiding hand upon us in our time of need. Help us to love you and honor and glorify your name in all that way do. Amen.

John Jamieson Wednesday, December 9, 2020

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)

hen I read Walter Brueggemann’s books, I start by wading through dense, theologian-speak. However, once I get into his writing, his W brilliant, zinger ideas make my brain light up. His book Materiality As Resistance closes with a section titled “Place,” where he describes a lack of place as being homeless in mind or body.

Homeless in mind means lack of a sense of belonging or roots, such as when you do not have a community that calls you by name. Homeless in body means lack of physical shelter, or lack of a safe place of living, such as when you do not have a viable means for rightful living.

Who is longing for community and a place to call home? Who is not safe and needs a sustainable place for working, schooling, and daily living? How do we welcome those we don’t know and those who feel they might not belong? How do we build communities where all neighbors may live with dignity?

Perhaps we should be thinking of the words “place” and “home” less as static nouns and more as verbs – actions that create a sense of safety and belonging, actions that bring us home through Christ. Jesus dwelled among us and showed us how to be a home for each other and a home for those who have no place. Jesus’ birth brought us home by another way.

Creator God, Give us the strength, courage, compassion, and drive to offer others radical hospitality. Guide us to welcome others the way you have welcomed us. May we be a home for each other. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Sarah Wikle Director of Engagement Thursday, December 10, 2020

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

n the United States, the coronavirus has caused many hundreds of deaths per day, and millions have contracted the virus. This is a tragedy for the families I of all of these people and for our country.

The pandemic has laid bare so many of the inequities in our society. Black and Latinx people have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19 in terms of deaths, hospitalizations, and total cases. This is true among children and seniors, as well as adults. Front-line workers in hospitals, restaurants, and grocery stores cannot “work from home,” and a large number of those workers are Black and Latinx. They may be further at risk if they rely on public transportation to their employment. They often live in cramped apartments or multi-generational homes with many people crowded into small spaces. Black businesses and majority-Black nursing homes have been hardest hit by the virus.

Racism has for so many years caused high levels of stress in the Black community. In this Advent season, it is time for us as white people to react with empathy and humility. Concern about racial injustice led to Trinity's Racial Justice project and to a series of discussion groups at Trinity about “recognizing whiteness and dismantling racism,” which provide the basis for Trinity’s ongoing work in this area.

As for me, I plan to be much more aware of my contributions to racism and of the ways in which I can try to change them.

Dear Lord, help us to react with empathy and humility in our support of our Black and Latinx friends. Amen.

Jim Stokes

Friday, December 11, 2020

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31 (RSV)

hange is a fact of life. It is how we react to changes that determines whether they bring turmoil or peace, despair or hope, unhappiness or joy. C The angel’s message to Mary brought a change to Mary’s life, and the result was Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy. The early death of my husband, Erskine, resulted in major changes in my life. As children married and established their own homes, I learned to live alone – another change.

Christmas of 1997 was a new experience for me. After almost forty years of spending the holiday at home, this was the first time that none of my family would be with me on Christmas morning. It was difficult to break a forty-year tradition, but I accepted my daughter’s invitation to go to Richmond. I discovered I could be very content and happy away from home. After all, it’s not where you are, but being surrounded by loved ones that’s important.

I missed Trinity’s Christmas Eve Carol Service, but I enjoyed the Richmond church’s Christmas story performed by children. We did the traditional things – delivering gifts to a needy family, last-minute shopping, and gift wrapping. We were awakened early by excited grandchildren. My daughter’s family has established a tradition of inviting friends and their families and visiting relatives, including children of all ages, for a delightful evening of carol singing around the fireplace.

In spite of being away from my own home and my other children, I felt that I was surrounded by Peace, Love, and Joy. I knew that the Christ child was with us, and I was truly blessed.

Our Father God, I pray that whatever changes come into our lives, you will show us how to experience your Peace, Love, and Joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Gay Love (1929-2020) Originally presented December 1998 Saturday, December 12, 2020

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV)

ears ago, I found myself facing an overwhelming abundance. My cup did runneth over, and I felt both grateful for the problem and desperate Y to redesign my life in a way that allowed a bit of space. My children were small, my home in disarray, and my calendar a totem to the fears of saying no or missing out. Googling my way through life, I found minimalism. As Christmas approached, I channeled this new curiosity into an Adult Education class meant to engender reflection on how we risk hiding the beauty and truth of the season behind decorations, events, and long December to-do lists.

This year, we don’t need Sunday School to remind us to simplify. Minimalist or not, we are all entering an Advent season with less of what might overshadow the miraculous birth of Jesus. The shopping, the caroling, the travel, and the parties, which all added that holiday sparkle to our Christmases Past, will be desperately missed this season.

Yet, much of what occupies us also serves to distract us. We may hide hard but important truths behind a busy life, just as Christ’s presence may be buried beneath the usual anxieties of an overfilled December. We are invited every Advent to prepare and make space for Him. May we find the courage to let go of what is in the way, and to notice, clear-eyed, what may be revealed in its place.

Heavenly Father, May we bravely release our desire for more so that we may feel your presence, listen for your guidance, and witness your miracles all around.

Krysia Waldron

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Isaiah 55:1-3 (RSV)

ong ago, in my childhood, when Christmas rolled around, it was my mother who was totally in charge. We children, even in our teenage L years, were happy to have her play Santa. She dearly loved to shop, and Christmas was a great opportunity to splurge on marvelous surprises for all. My mother had a large cupboard in her bedroom where she gathered the Christmas surprises all year long. The problem came when she began to show signs of forgetfulness, which progressed and became a serious problem. Some purchases did not make it to the cupboard. They might turn up almost anywhere, or not turn up at all. There was no list, just spontaneous generous surprises. This sometimes meant she assembled a very uneven shelf of treats and would need to scurry to equalize toward the end of her preparation time.

As teenagers, my sister Margaret and I usually showed up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve day offering to help with the wrapping of these gifts, before they were placed under the tree, to be opened after dinner. But more and more often we had to try at the last minute to fill in gaps where the giving was flat-out inequitable. One person might have one small gift and the next had six major ones, and it was way too late to compensate carefully. Mom was acutely aware of the problem and tried to assemble some cash gifts to smooth out the differences, claiming to have planned to compensate for the difference all along. She truly wanted to be fair to her children, but the holiday traditions were more than she could manage. Her Alzheimer’s became worse over time, and she struggled to do the best she could.

My childhood memory of gifts given at Christmas time has always, since those early days, stayed in my mind as a matter that requires careful thought. I flat out refuse to write a stack of checks for my children and grandchildren and forget about it. I want to scout about until I find something perfect for each, especially for the grandchildren. But then, while the gift might be something just right, sadly the price might be out of kilter with a gift selected for another grandchild.

I now budget an equal allotment to each grandchild, and buy each a gift, within my budget, wrap it with love, and then slip inside the box the rest of the cash budgeted but not used. My loved one now gets both a personal gift from me and also a bit of cash to save or spend as he wishes. Of course, I level a condition on what each buys himself using the Christmas cash: each has to call and say, “Grandma, guess what I bought myself today with my Christmas money from you!” I do enjoy that call! And who knows, it may help give me a new insight for one of next year’s “surprise” gifts!

Heavenly Father, Be with us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and His coming into our lives. May we devote ourselves to understanding and following His ways all the days of our lives. With love and gratitude, Amen.

Nancy Purdon

Margaret Justice, Margaret age 12 Monday, December 14, 2020

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)

dvent is a time both to think about the future and reflect on the past. A variety of thoughts and emotions rush through one’s mind this time A of year. It is a time to reconnect with friends and family, to share a good story or a favorite memory.

As I recently relocated my mother, Helen, to an assisted living facility, I stumbled across an amazing scrapbook of Christmas cards to my grandmother that spanned three decades, starting in the 1940s. One of my grandmother’s dear friends, Grace Tack, composed a Christmas poem every year as part of her annual Christmas card. This one is from 1959:

Soft as the sound of an angel’s wings, Sweet as an angel’s tear Is the feeling of peace that comes to us as Christmas Time draws near, More to be treasured than silver and gold, or diamonds or rare lace, Is the inner light that shines thru the eyes and illuminates the face!

My wife Caroline and I were both attracted to this poem, which seems to capture the moment. Despite the uncertainty with the pandemic, we know God is with us. In our interaction with the outside world, the light blue safety mask accentuates the sparkle of one’s eyes and reminds us that we do not walk alone in darkness, but rather we are enveloped in God’s heavenly light. We must not forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Lord, thank you for being the light that radiates Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy into our lives. May we follow your example and share your light with the rest of the world. Amen.

David A. Caldwell Tuesday, December 15, 2020

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NRSV)

hristmas has always been, and still is, my favorite time of the year. Helping Mom decorate the tree was just the start of my fun. After I had C helped put lights on the shrubbery, I would pretend to ice skate or dance on the hardwood floors while listening to the Christmas music playing in the den. I thought I was a NYC Rockette.

That inner child still comes out when Christmastime is upon us, especially on Christmas Eve. Our children help lead the four o’clock Family Service, and we return to the sanctuary for Trinity’s Lessons and Carols service, and linger afterward greeting friends we have not seen in years who come home for the holidays. In between, we gather at a friends’ annual Christmas Eve party, where everyone catches up and shares memories with family and longtime friends.

This year, there is a lot of uncertainty. Will we all be together again for the holidays? Will those family traditions continue? Will we be able to come to Trinity and attend our Christmas Eve services? For all of these questions, we don’t have answers yet. Maybe this will be the year we start new traditions with our loved ones. Let us enjoy and celebrate the holidays in new ways.

Dear Lord, As we are all distracted by these uncertain times, remind us to remember the

true meaning of Christmas, which is a celebration of birth of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Becky McGilvray

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. Job 19:13-15 (KJV)

ovid-19 and racism are this year’s most pervasive phenomena. Each is a plague which has impacted all of us dramatically in ways too numerous C to recount. Perhaps, during some point in the year, each of us could identify with Job’s lament.

As we celebrate and anticipate Christ’s arrival, we pray the joy of Emmanuel will dispel much of the disquietude generated by these two extraordinary forms of pestilence. Our sins in failing to acknowledge that others lack the blessings and opportunities we enjoy and that they deserve, but have too often been denied, can be forgiven if we strive to treat others with the charity cited by Paul in his admonition to the Corinthians: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV).

Lord, we pray for understanding coupled with the grace and wisdom to embrace the example of Christ manifest in these verses and in our dealings with those we differ from, whether it be in our color, our learning, our status, our culture, or our experience. Lord, grant us a joyful Christmas season. May we commit to be exemplars of Christ’s love for all diverse beings that are part of His kingdom in the days, months, and years to come.

Bill Montgomery Thursday, December 17, 2020

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

hen my oldest daughter turned one, several family members remarked on how quickly the year had passed and how her birth had seemed W “like just yesterday.” That sentiment did not resonate with me at the time. Having just survived my daughter’s first year in this world, the longest, hardest, most beautiful year of my life, I could barely even remember my life before motherhood. Everything had changed. Who was that woman who used to live without a schedule, who worked late at a moment’s notice, and who slept in on weekends? I could not even relate to that person anymore.

Over the course of a lifetime, we all experience a few events that cleave our existence into two distinct categories: before and after. These events, whether joyful or painful, force us to adapt and evolve because our old ways of living, coping, and surviving are no longer adequate. In these times of change and uncertainty, God calls us to “forget the former things” and “focus on the new” paths He is creating for us. As we head into this very unusual Advent season, let us focus on the future rather than the past, recognize our blessings even in the midst of sorrow, and offer empathy and compassion to those in pain whose plights we might have previously overlooked. Like the Magi whose lives were forever changed after meeting the Christ child, let us all find a new way forward, a new way home.

Dear Lord, thank you for our blessings. Give us strength in the days ahead, and help us to comfort each other in times of change. Remind us that your love is constant in an ever-changing world. Amen.

Lea Holliday Friday, December 18, 2020

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NRSV)

favorite painter of mine once wrote that there is something infinite in the eyes of a newborn child. As I first held my niece soon after her birth A in August of 2019, I stared into her eyes of dark marble and recalled those words. More than what I saw in her eyes, I wondered about what she saw through them. Everything she saw—every object, every perspective, every tone—she was seeing for the first time with literally new eyes. Occasionally, her gaze would fall onto me, and I have never felt smaller in my entire life. To this day, when she and I are face-to-face, I become undone.

The Corinthians scripture correlates childhood with the partial and adulthood with the complete, and is surely a fitting analogy. The described prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will be put to an end just as a child’s way of thinking, speaking, and reasoning is put to an end in adulthood. I get it, but it seems to be descriptive rather than prescriptive for, at least in my experience, adulthood itself is not synonymous with completeness—the teleion to which Paul refers.

Elaine agePoindexter, 8

Moreover, as an adult, I know that what I know is a partial view, and that I see dimly in a mirror, because I put an end to my childish ways of seeing when I became an adult. But my niece sees without obstructions, since she cannot help but see things as they appear to her.

As an adult, how often do I see in part—not because of ignorance, but of dim apathy, walking past a sunflower that knows better than me to take the time to face the sun? More dangerously, how often do I see in partitions reflected by what I think, especially in faces? Do I see a person’s occupation, skin tone, and other constituent parts more than, if not before, I see a face? When my niece looks at me, she does not see and know me, and does not judge me, as an adult might, based on my appearance, character, or other attributes. Rather, she sees none of those things, and so sees me, not partially but impartially.

Perhaps not all childish ways should be put to an end. May we put an end to adult-ish ways of seeing, and re-vision the world in every miraculous appearance as through the eyes of a child.

God of beauty and grace, remove the mirrors that distort our vision and partition us off from the beauty of others. God of light, brighten the dim hollows of our eyes so that we can clearly see our neighbor, the world, and You in order to bring about that day of hope where we can all see each other, truly, face-to-face. May it be so. Amen.

Kevin Lacson Worship Coordinator & Administrative Assistant for Adult Ministries

Saturday, December 19, 2020

But Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Matthew 19:14 (NRSV)

often think about how my grandparents would have handled quarantine. Nana and Poppa were devout Baptists. He was a deacon and she taught I Sunday School. They rarely missed a church service and seemed to always have a Bible at the ready. We learned quickly not to dare take a bite of our meal without first giving thanks to the Lord.

One weekend, I went to stay with Nana and Poppa with plans for my parents to pick me up late Sunday afternoon. I packed a nice Sunday dress knowing that we would attend Sunday School and church in Griffin, Georgia, where they lived. What I did not expect was a lengthy morning ride in the large rickety church bus, driven by my Poppa, going around town picking up children.

My grandfather had started this bus ministry where he and a parishioner would drive around town and pick up children in impoverished neighborhoods so they could attend worship and Sunday School services. He explained that their parents either did not have the ability to get the children to church, or it simply was not a priority for that family. Believing that every child should be able to attend church no matter what their circumstances, he started the church bus program.

So, there we went, rumbling down the broken roads, me looking over my grandfather’s shoulder with wide eyes bewildered by the different world I was seeing. We would stop in front of run-down houses where children of all ages would be waiting for the bus. If they weren’t, Poppa would go knock on the door.

Reflecting on these memories makes me think about how Trinity’s children and youth leaders have worked to keep our children and youth connected to God and our church - even during this time of pandemic. They have spent endless hours reading stories on Instagram, holding Zoom calls with different age groups, organizing virtual scavenger hunts and family trivia nights, and planning “staycation” activities. We even had a hand-delivered bag of goodies for our graduating 8th-graders. The music leaders sent out songs that our children could practice and record at home. Each Sunday morning, families have been invited to attend the church service in their own homes and sing hymns. Everyone has been making sure that the children and youth in our church are getting access to church. It’s not a perfect situation. We definitely miss the donuts in the youth lounge, the cookies and lemonade in Williams Hall, and Mr. Music.

This Advent season, I have no doubt that our Trinity church leaders will be driving the “virtual church bus,” bumping down roads, knocking on our doors, and getting us the right supplies, if we need them. Sometimes, my own family needs someone to come collect us and remind us that, no matter what our circumstances are, God always welcomes us.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the miracles of my children’s lives. You are wonderful!

Whitney Farr

OwenSpeer, age 8

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1-2 (KJV)

ith the approach of the hallowed and gracious season of Advent, I feel deep gratitude for the blessings in my life, and especially the W blessing of a large and loving family. My parents raised my four siblings and me at Trinity, and in turn, their eight grandchildren and soon-to- be nine great-grandchildren have all been a part of Trinity.

This year, we are grateful for the happiness celebrated in June of my parents’ seventy-year marriage, the legacy of family, and the memories of time spent together. Their farm was the Reeves central gathering place for weekends and holidays for decades and decades. The communal experience of being together at the farm with so much love, togetherness, and fun gave meaning to our family. In time, my mother came to be called Gigo by her grandchildren. And as she would tuck her eight grandchildren into bed at the farm, they always begged her to tell just one more story of her own childhood or of her five children’s growing up years.

Adelaide Kendall, age 6

Gigo’s storytelling inspired a family tradition of writing stories as our Christmas gift and sharing the stories after Christmas dinner. For many, many years we took turns across the generations sharing stories of deep delight–the adventures that shaped us, fun escapades, lessons learned, and love stories. My brother Quillian wrote one of my favorite stories, The Spanish Dancer, as he imagined what went through Dad’s mind when he first cast eyes on Mother, dressed as a Spanish dancer at a Halloween party. He ended his story with these lines: This large family is the legacy of that first, brief encounter in the fall of 1948 that led to marriage in ’50. The joy of that moment is immeasurable.

Every Christmas, as we hold hands around the table for the blessing, Dad prays and recites from Act I, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet:

Dear God, Continue to bless us all, your children, and now we offer this prayer.

Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long And then they say no spirit dare stir abroad, The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallowed, and so gracious, is that time.

Amen. Nancy Reeves Mansfield

Monday, December 21, 2020

When I am afraid, I put my trust in thee. Psalm 56:3 (RSV)

hen I was a child on a farm in Wisconsin, I had a book with 365 stories in it, and at the side of each page was

W a small box containing a short Bible verse.

Our nearest neighbors lived up a long driveway next to our field, and my brother and I would often go up after supper to play baseball with the several boys in their family. One night, we played until it was very dark, and the trip home seemed KnoxWillingham unusually dark and ominous. That is when I recalled one of the Bible verses and started saying it out loud, “Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee,” reciting it over and over until we reached the side of our barn and were home safe.

This simple verse has comforted me throughout my life during strange and uncomfortable circumstances. I realize now, as I am writing, that this verse has been an undercurrent throughout my life and has caused me to cast out fear as a way of responding to life, helping me to return home time and time again.

Dear God, Help us as we face the unseen and unknown future, to live lives of confidence and joy, casting out fear as our response to life and to others. Help us to trust more completely in your Word and your example and live with love and joy and expectation, particularly during this Christmas season, and throughout our lives. Amen.

Karen Peters Tuesday, December 22, 2020

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:25 (NIV)

his year has been “unprecedented” to say the least. The news channels have exploded with one disaster after another. First, there was Covid-19 T and quarantining. Then came the Black Lives Matter protests, which were not as peaceful as everyone intended, and an uptick in crime within the city. The Saharan dust cloud of 2020 somehow reached Atlanta, and in September, a large portion of the West was on fire with a controversial election looming in November. Seriously? What can anyone do to hold onto their sanity except turn to God?

I’ve always believed that “home” is where my family is, no matter where that is located. Our family has leaned into our time at home during the quarantine. We have used this time to refocus on what is important in our lives. We have welcomed the slower pace that distance learning, teleworking, and a summer of cancelled camps and sports provided. We have tried to be present and appreciate the many blessing that we have. We have worked on the foundation of our home to make sure it is strong enough for what the future holds, and we brought home a puppy to remind us to find joy in the simple things in life.

Lord, thank you for the guidance that your word provides during difficult times. Please help us all create strong homes on the rock that is our faith in you and strengthen that faith to withstand the storms of life. Amen.

Mary Agnes Reynolds

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 (RSV)

rowing up in St. Petersburg, Florida, our Advent season was probably different from many of yours. One of my church’s traditions was to G put on a live Nativity spanning three nights on the front lawn for our members and city neighbors to enjoy. Typically, Florida is still pretty warm during December, which meant the congregation enjoyed the outdoor event in the comfortable temperature.

Every child was honored to be in the Nativity, and we waited patiently to be old enough to participate. The only drawback was that the costumes for the shepherds and wise men, and the special robes worn by Mary and Joseph, were made out of heavy burlap materials, which meant we would be hot. In addition to the heavy costumes, we also had to tend to the animals, including sheep, goats and a donkey, which could be a little unruly. Despite these challenges, we all wanted to be a part of the show. I was lucky enough to participate for two years, and as I think back, I realize those live nativity scenes were far from perfect, but so was the setting for the birth of Jesus.

This year’s Advent season is not perfect. It is different. It is simple, with just the basics.

As I reflect on my childhood Christmas memories, they were pretty simple too and not always perfect. I cherished the candlelight services with my grandparents, eating my grandmother’s homemade lasagna dinner on Christmas Eve, riding around town looking at Christmas lights, decorating our tree, and baking cookies.

Of course, we sometimes overcooked the lasagna, accidentally singed the cookies, and squabbled in the car as we looked at Christmas lights. If you ask my boys about their memories of Christmas, they will probably say many of the same things!

Even though this Advent season will look different from the outside, with many of our traditions being changed, it will still be the same on the inside. God loves us and God is sending us his son, Jesus.

Dear God, Thank you for this Advent season and for sending us your son, Jesus. Help us to be thankful for simple things in life and to have faith that you are keeping watch over us during these challenging and uncertain times. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Jennifer Kahn

Manger, Emma Justice, age 7 Wise Men, Kinsley Powers, age 8 Thursday, December 24, 2020

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NRSV)

hristmas Eve 1975, we were stopped at a traffic light in the small town of Rockingham, N.C. We had been to Maw Maw’s in Clover, S.C. and C were traveling home, a little later than usual, to Elizabethtown, N.C. I was in the backseat of our Buick station wagon with my little brother and sister, looking for signs of Santa. The light turned green. Our Buick did not budge. There was not a soul in sight.

My family walked a block to a still-open, but closing soon, filling station, where Mother and we kids waited while Daddy and the mechanic left in the tow truck. Soon they were back with our broken down station wagon. It was 9 o’clock on Christmas Eve.

Daddy, never one to inconvenience anyone, especially on Christmas Eve, said it was too late to call relatives back in Clover or Elizabethtown to drive the four- hour round trip to get us. The mechanic drove us two blocks to the Holiday Inn.

Normally, I would have been thrilled to stay in a hotel, a treat my family did not often enjoy, but not this night. My sister and brother, ages eight and six, had been anticipating Christmas for months, with letters to Santa and long wish lists. I was 15, and felt like another mother to them, and was worried sick that their Christmas would be ruined. I whispered my anxious concerns to Mother after she put Bonnie and John to bed. They were still giggling about Santa’s pending arrival. Mother encouraged me to stop worrying and go to sleep. Still, I tossed and turned for what seemed like hours fretting about lost Christmas magic.

I woke to a phone ringing. Mother answered and passed it to me. A woman told me to bring John and Bonnie to the lobby. In our pajamas, we went down to the small lobby, where all the toys that had been carefully circled in the Penney’s and Sears catalogs surrounded a skinny silver tree. There were also things for me, though I have no memory of them. I remember only how excited my siblings were and how relieved I was that Christmas had indeed come.

Later Christmas Day, Uncle Jimmy came to drive us home. Daddy would return later that week for the car. I never asked how the elves found us. I just remember the feeling of gratitude. The story spread among family and friends, all joking “There was room in the inn for the Britts – the Holiday Inn.” Now, 45 years later, this remains the Christmas my siblings and I remember more than any other. It was not our traditional Christmas, not anyone’s dream Christmas. It was so much better.

This year has been a year like no other – a worldwide pandemic bringing sickness, death, and economic devastation, mass protests over racial injustice, hard political divisions that refuse to soften to any middle ground, natural disasters, and no end in sight from these plagues. Still, I have faith that Christmas will come and – to paraphrase MLK, Jr – that God will wring good out of the bad.

Dear God, during Advent and in all seasons, keep our eyes fixed on your yet unseen kingdom. Embolden us to heal suffering, work for justice, and reach across divides. Amen.

Paulette Slawson

Friday, December 25, 2020

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17: 22 (NIV)

wenty years ago, my mother had recently died, and my dad - known as Grandpa - was especially feeling the loss. Christmas of 2000 was just T days away, and Grandpa was coming into town for a visit. I desperately wanted to lift our spirits and thought that observing our usual holiday traditions might be the perfect solution for our sadness. I would prepare my mom’s classic Christmas Day roast turkey with the usual side dishes. After dinner, we would gather around the piano and sing carols. Grandpa phoned to remind me to bake gingerbread cookies from Mom’s special recipe.

Three days before Christmas, as I reviewed the final grocery list, my husband Dirk returned home and asked, “You remember Charlie? I saw him in the office today and invited him here for Christmas dinner. I couldn’t let him eat alone at Waffle House.” Yes, I did remember Charlie, originally Dirk’s patient and now well known by the whole family. Charlie was a motorcycle-riding character who could have been the inspiration for a sad country song … third wife left him for her high school sweetheart, recently estranged from his son, and only his beloved hunting dog remained at home. Dirk and our pre-teen children, Alex and Sarah, were fond of Charlie, who had guided them on several treks to his favorite north Georgia fishing spots.

At 5 o’clock, on Christmas Day, our dinner guest arrived. As Dirk and Charlie entered the dining room, Dirk raised his eyebrows and mouthed a silent warning to the children, “Don’t say a word!” I tried not to stare. However, perched atop Charlie’s previously bald head rested an extraordinary, shaggy reddish-brown toupee. Oh dear, this might not be the traditional Christmas dinner I had planned.

Cannon Adams, age 10

During dinner, Alex and Sarah attempted to stifle giggles, and I averted my gaze from Charlie’s amazing headpiece. As the Christmas cookies were being passed around the table, Charlie cleared his throat and asked, “Did you notice any- thing different about me?”… complete silence … “I’m wearing a toupee. I thought it might make me look younger, but now I’m not so sure. What do you think?”

Grandpa, who had rather poor eyesight, tilted his head, squinted at Charlie and the toupee, and then declared, “Looks like a squirrel sitting on your head.”

Charlie removed the furry hairpiece, set it down on the table, and began laughing. Dirk nearly choked on his gingerbread man, while I laughed so hard that tears flowed down my cheeks. Alex and Sarah began mimicking squirrel chatter. Grandpa doubled over, convulsing with laughter. When we finally regained composure, Grandpa shared childhood memories of squirrel hunting with his cousins at his grandparents’ farm, followed by dinners of delicious fried squirrel. Charlie agreed with Grandpa that nothing could compare to the taste of fried squirrel. More squirrel stories, fishing tall tales, and shared laughter rounded out that wonderful evening. In the end, it wasn’t our cherished family traditions that mattered that Christmas Day. Rather, it was Charlie and his fantastic toupee that led us on a different path to experience joy in spite of our grieving.

Heavenly Father, We know You are here with us in these troubled times. Guide us along unfamiliar paths. We thank You for the gift of Jesus. Help us celebrate his birth with joy. Amen.

Barbara Robertson

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE COMMITTEE

Produced with the assistance of the Congregational Activities & Events Committee, Chaired by Mary-Elizabeth Jackson

Co-Editors Nancy Parson & Miranda Emery Segrest

Assistant Editors George Parson & Carlton Segrest

Devotional Recruiting Mary-Elizabeth Jackson, Chair Chris Betts, George Parson, Nancy Parson, Kay Summers

Children’s Art Recruiting Susan Iwanicki & Mary-Elizabeth Jackson

Amecourt,11 age Production ’ Nancy Parson

Harperd Many thanks to the Trinity staff for their support and time.

Printed on post-consumer recycled paper by Collins Digital Imaging, Inc. Mableton, Georgia

©Trinity Presbyterian Church 2020, All rights reserved

Available in electronic form online: www.trinityatlanta.org