A Very Blessed Saint Nicholas' Day! December 6, 2008

Tonight we welcomed nearly 70 people - and more than 25 children - to our annual Saint Nicholas' Day Family Service and Potluck Supper. There was lots of singing, a rowdy call and response reading of Psalm 145 ("God is good, all the time!") and a homily about the humble generosity of Saint Nicholas - with bags of "gold" (foil wrapped chocolates) for all the kids.

Moments after the blessing and dismissal, Saint Nicholas - in his more familiar guise as Father Christmas - burst through the doors and handed out gifts to an excited crowd before leading the whole assembly to the undercroft for supper. What a feast it was, and the undercroft has never felt so bright and festive!!!

One of many heartwarming moments: In all the activity during the homily, some big clumps of foil confetti had fallen on the floor. I was going to move on with the service and clean it up later. But two of our youngest worshipers just weren't going to be happy as long as there was a mess in front of the altar. So, while the rest of us said the Prayers, they dutifully gathered up every strand with great care and placed it all in a neat pile next to the lectern. It was a touching example of heartfelt reverence for God's house.

And what a joy it is for God's house to be full of children like these!

Special thanks to Mary Ellen Blizzard, Don and Margie Fraser, David and Valerie Horvath, Karen Martin and Jimmy Tolfree for making this year's celebration a night to remember.

Faithfully,
Father Chris+