Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC
No matter who you are. No matter where you are on life's journey. You are welcome here!
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December 18th, 2025
Beloveds in Christ, I’ve been feeling behind the eight ball most of Advent. It seems to have snuck up on me with the late November start (even though the calendar had the note “first Sunday in Advent” for months and months). Tasha and I don’t even have all of our decorations out yet, and it’s almost the fourth Sunday of the Season! That being said, we have taken time to put up our tree. Tasha and I have collected quite a few Christmas ornaments in our nearly 20 years together. There is a tiny kente cloth Christmas stocking with Tasha’s name written in goopy glitter glue and a wreath made out of a French horn cleaning snake. We have a pressed tin alien we purchased in New Mexico and Santa riding an alligator from Louisiana. There’s a glass pickle from Amanda and a cut-paper Christmas tree from Sarah and most of a candy cane that Casey and Royce crafted from something that is a cross between gingerbread dough and modeling clay. The end broke off, but I like to hang it up anyway. |
Our tree, with a very well-behaved senior cat attendant
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There is also a yellow glass ornament Lynn Reed gave me the first time we led a “Lighting the Way through the Holidays” service together. A felt chickadee that I bought from Martha two or three church fairs ago graces one branch. Joan’s pinecone and corn husk angels sing Emmanuel from upper branches of the tree, hopefully beyond the reach of curious and slightly naughty kittens. A couple days ago, I traded pictures of our tree with a ministerial colleague in Connecticut, describing these ornaments and more to her. Upon hearing these names, she said, “the saints among us.” Our tree is full of memories of people we care about, some of whom are no longer with us. If you have one up in your home, I imagine it is, too.
We’ll add new ornaments this year, I’m sure (don’t tell Tasha, but I have it on good authority that Santa is bringing her some). And, we’ve already felt it important to change how we display some of our most delicate ornaments in order to keep them safe. Changes in our tree reflect changes in our lives. Healthy traditions, like the one our house has developed around collecting and displaying ornaments, make space for adaptations and innovations based on human needs and the inspiration of the Spirit. Early in Advent, I talked about the ways that traditional practices can bolster us during challenging eras like the one in which we currently live. Traditions connect us to each other and to other times and places. This moment requires connection fare more than sentimentality.
Fights for justice are often rooted in love- love of neighbor, love of the vulnerable, love for ourselves as humans created in the image of God. I am finding that it is important for me to see these ornaments and remember the people I love and places we’ve been, not simply for nostalgia’s sake, but to ground me in the community they represent. In our Advent devotional What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent, Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee invites us to consider the question, “How might our love- fragile, imperfect, but real- become ground where God’s promise takes root?” In this holy Advent Season, I hope you are able to take part in traditions that remind you of your deepest loves. May those loves offer you comfort on trying days and inspire you when you are unsteady. And, may you feel The Greatest Love always with you, journeying alongside you on the road to justice.
With Advent blessings as we await Emanuel,
Pastor Chrissy
We’ll add new ornaments this year, I’m sure (don’t tell Tasha, but I have it on good authority that Santa is bringing her some). And, we’ve already felt it important to change how we display some of our most delicate ornaments in order to keep them safe. Changes in our tree reflect changes in our lives. Healthy traditions, like the one our house has developed around collecting and displaying ornaments, make space for adaptations and innovations based on human needs and the inspiration of the Spirit. Early in Advent, I talked about the ways that traditional practices can bolster us during challenging eras like the one in which we currently live. Traditions connect us to each other and to other times and places. This moment requires connection fare more than sentimentality.
Fights for justice are often rooted in love- love of neighbor, love of the vulnerable, love for ourselves as humans created in the image of God. I am finding that it is important for me to see these ornaments and remember the people I love and places we’ve been, not simply for nostalgia’s sake, but to ground me in the community they represent. In our Advent devotional What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent, Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee invites us to consider the question, “How might our love- fragile, imperfect, but real- become ground where God’s promise takes root?” In this holy Advent Season, I hope you are able to take part in traditions that remind you of your deepest loves. May those loves offer you comfort on trying days and inspire you when you are unsteady. And, may you feel The Greatest Love always with you, journeying alongside you on the road to justice.
With Advent blessings as we await Emanuel,
Pastor Chrissy
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Support Our Ministry! As we often say, no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. Since its founding in 1776, our Winthrop Church has borne witness to the belief that God's love is a gift for all people and for all times. In January of 2017, the church took a step of faith and committed to raise the funds to help us live into our next steps as a place of welcome for all people. With our neighbors' help and the commitment of our church members, we were able to fulfill the promises we made. |
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Our church community endeavors to accept and embrace all who enter here. We welcome individuals of every race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, marital standing, socio-economic status, age, physical and mental ability to join us in the ministry of our church. All are invited to participate in worship, fellowship, and leadership.
If you value having us as a faith community and faith partner in our town, please donate today.
If you value having us as a faith community and faith partner in our town, please donate today.
