To My Brothers and Sisters at St. Matthew's,

Grace and peace to you! Wasn't it a great but swiftly passing month? The worldly enticements of the Christmas season often make it difficult to step back and see the bigger picture and find some time to prepare and make way for Christ in our lives. I was reflecting on the Christmas story in Luke which begins with an historical setting. Caesar Augustus is in power with the world at his hands, there must be a census, people are on the move. There's no time for any preparations for a baby: no shower, no gift list, no special outfits, baby beepers, rattles, knitted blankets, sleepers, car seat. . . . No Santa Claus. No travel agent's advice, no prepaid package deals. Just two people making an untimely fifty mile journey with one donkey. Two ordinary people, a carpenter and his very young, very pregnant wife who are completely operating on faith. And what do they find? A town bustling with people having to do this and having to do that, having to accommodate lots and lots of extra people. It's a great time for merchants and innkeepers but not for a humble little couple who are bearing God's gift to the world. There's no room anywhere. No room anywhere for Jesus .. Wait a minute, was this a story 2000 years ago or is it an allegory about our own lives and our own world? How much room did we make this Christmas season? Fortunately for most of us, we didn't complelely turn the couple away. We were at least like the innkeeper and gave the holy family at least a little space, somewhere out of the way. And hopefully some of us were like the shepherds who were so astounded by the fabulous news of the coming of the Savior, that they immediately left their work and went to go praise Him, returning to tell the world the great news? (I'm sure the visitation of the angel and the host of heaven singing was quite a catalyst) Yet though we have not experienced such an elaborate celestial awakening, many of us have at one time or another been in darkness and had the revelating light of God light our direction.

Probably during the past Christmas season we may not have been out on the streets proclaiming the good news. (I'm not really sure that's very effective anyway) but we tried in our own humble way to point to Christ and tell others our joy. The gifts that were put together for the students in my school were truly a blessing to them and their families. Whether or not they realized that you went out of your way in a hectic and busy season to think about someone you didn't even know to provide them with beautiful clothing and gifts is not the important thing. It's that you put a little light into the world in the name of Christ. You proclaimed the joy of His grace and love by unselfishly giving without looking for a thank you. "And then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; and I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"

Stacy and her grandmother stand behind their gifts given to them by St. Matthew's	Ellie hugs Kari, one of a family of five children who received gifts from St. St. Matthew's.
Many students mistake Kari for Winter.	Look at all the gifts from all of us at St. Matthew's

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On behalf of the students from my school, thank you, St. Matthew's and Merry Christmas!
Other exciting things that happened during this month include the election of new vestry members. Congratulations to Dawn Sullivan, Cecil Shipley, Eileen Carter, and Joseph Hooper who were newly elected. They replaced Wendy Williams and Jacy Rojas who were rotation off and we added two new seats on the council to have a wider range of representation. A huge thank you belong to both Wendy and Jacy for their service. Wendy was a true trooper for us when we were in a down time. She served above and beyond the responsibilities of treasurer to keep us from sinking. Thank you! Thank you! And may God bless you Wendy. We love you!

As you know, the rain and ice thwarted our participation in the parade. I know many of us were sorely disappointed by the weather and afraid of getting sick. Kathy Griffin missed us there. She said that in answer to her prayers, by three o'clock it miraculously stopped raining and the parade actually went on. Hopefully next year we will participate again.

The Annual Christmas Tree Ornament exchange party was held at Dawn's house. As usual we had a great feast and a great time. Thanks for being a wonderful hostess. Also thanks for our internet connection that is up and running. You did an awesome job! Wow!

I'd like to thank Gay and Cecil for opening up their house to us for a wonderful Christmas party. The hospitality was great and the food was awesome.

We added a few more services this December. The evening Advent Lessons and Carols service was so beautiful. Our only disappointment was that though many were invited, no one outside our congregation was present. Almost every church in Dayton had a special service that same evening. Next year we may do it earlier in the season.

We also did our first annual Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve service. Everyone present agreed that we need to make it a tradition. I know that for me it made it a real Christmas.

Here are a few pictures of the greening of the church. Thank you St. Matthew's for being who you are, a true family of God!
May God bless you and keep you always!
In Christ,
Love always, Ellie

Danny and Jay appear to be receiving Divine help as the put up the lights.	Cindy fastens the candles.
Deloras prepares the Lectionary readings.	St. Matthew's before the Advent Lessons and Carols service.