Christmas is coming, and our friends at St. Luke's are very busy in preparation. Church members have been bringing in poinsettias all through the month of December to decorate the church so beautifully for Advent and Christmas.

They recently gathered to make fresh Christmas wreaths at the church. The greenery was donated by Delores and Pete Montross, and the wreaths were then sold to parishioners for only $10, as a fundraiser for the church.

There are also two special Christmas trees decorating St. Luke's this year.

One is a Christmas Card tree so that folks can bring in a card and place it on the tree for everyone to enjoy, rather than mailing many individual cards to fellow members. A new card isn't even needed; members can use one from a previous year, cut off the back, sign it and decorate the tree with it.

The other is a “Mitten Tree” where they have been collecting new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves which will be distributed through the Calvary Food Pantry and the Salvation Army. Special thanks to Linda Wills, Cathy Bogart and Judy Weiman for organizing this thoughtful project.

In addition to their regular weekly visits, St. Luke's has also been caroling at the nursing homes here in Auburn. Many spirits were lifted as they brought the Christmas spirit to our neighbors who are not able to get out on their own. They also brought thoughtful and useful gifts such as lotions, cards, pens and paper and tissues. Afterwards, everyone gathered at Pete and Judy Kilbornes for refreshments and fellowship.

We can all join St. Luke's this holiday season in helping to lift the spirits of one of our wounded American soldiers by sending a Christmas Card and heartfelt message to: A Recovering American soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20307-5001. Special thanks to Linda Ward for sharing this wonderful idea.

The annual Christmas pageant and buffet will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Deb Rose has an all new pageant planned for this year that promises to be meaningful and fun.

Afterwards, everyone will gather in the fellowship hall for a buffet catered by Amanda Eldridge, which includes roast beef, chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, vegetable, salad, bread and butter. In addition, the fellowship committee will serve punch, coffee and tea and have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake and ice cream. The Women's Guild will also have Christmas cookie trays available on this day for $8 a tray. Many thanks go out to Carleen Curran, Kathy Cuthbert, Judy Kilborne and all of the fellowship committee for this special event.

The St. Luke's Christmas Eve service begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24. Pastor Dave promises that this will be a service of lights, merriment, anticipation and love. It sounds absolutely beautiful with luminaries lighting the paths to the church and Silent Night being sung in German.

To ring in the new year, all members and friends of St. Luke's, 12 and older, will gather in the Fellowship Hall on New Years Eve at 8 p.m. for a party.

Everyone is invited, and they would like no one to sit home alone as we enter 2009. Please bring a snack, appetizer or dessert to share, and drinks will be provided. Roy and Barb Wilson will be providing music for entertainment and dancing. A Goodwill Offering will be taken.

They will end the party, and 2008, with a simple and spiritual service of candlelight and prayers for 2009, in the sanctuary. St. Luke's would like everyone to come and join them and celebrate as a church, the wonders of this life God has given us past, present and future.

Thanks to the ever present generosity of this community, through our churches, schools, social clubs, workplaces, the Christmas Elf, the Salvation Army and the CSCAP, I hope all of our local children will have a little something special to make them smile this Christmas.

Can you remember the excitement of Christmas Eve when you were a child? I can remember hearing a noise outside and my parents told us it was the reindeer on the roof so we had better get to sleep, or Santa won't come in. I can remember sitting on the stairs with my sister and brothers just waiting for my parents to wake up and tell us it was OK to go downstairs. The anticipation was wonderful.

I hope you have a beautiful Christmas, filled with happiness and surrounded by everyone you love, especially the Christ Child, who is always with you.

“If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, extraordinary things begin to happen.”

- Loretta Giorzartis

Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com