On Sunday, December 14, the service began by contemplating the beauty of our sanctuary while Carolyn Shay sang a Wesley carol, “Come, Thou Redeemer,” set to a tune by Cesar Franck. Lighting the candle of Joy was done by Mark and Cathy Riefenhauser, Keri and Zak Lavish, and Adam Riefenhauser and Emmily Quinn.
The sermon “Removing the Cataracts,” based on Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10 and Matthew 11:2-11, addressed how we can remove the cloudy or blurred spiritual vision created by despair to find Christmas joy. Mark Davis was our liturgist.
Photo credit: Carol Galloway
Rynn Naylor was our “Testimony” speaker, and the Advent wreath was lit by Mark and Cathy Riefenhauser, Keri and Zak Lavish, Adam Riefenhauser and Emmily Quinn. On this “Gaudate Sunday,” the joyful Sunday of Advent, our choir sang “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”