The season of Advent is in full swing here at Christ Church in Bradenton. We have even had visits from St. Nicholas and St. Lucia during our Christian Education hour from 10:00 to 11:00. My wife, Barbara, and I really enjoyed learning about the lives of these two great saints of the Church. Next Sunday (December 16) we will learn about the Jesse Tree. The Sunday after that (December 23) we will have a Christmas Wassail and Caroling Party.

We hope you are planning to join us here at Christ Church for Christmas 2007. This year our Christmas services will begin on Monday, December 24. Our Christmas Eve services will begin at 5:00 PM. The 5:00 PM service will feature our Christmas Pageant and Holy Communion, Rite II. This is a glorious service and a grand family tradition. At 7:30 PM we will have a Holy Communion, Rite I service for those who want an earlier evening service. The 11:00 PM service will be a full Festival Christmas Holy Communion, Rite II. This will have a half hour prelude of music beginning at 10:30 PM. On Christmas Day we will have Holy Communion at 4:00 PM. We are trying a later service in hopes that families will find it to be more convenient. Merry Christmas!