It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas-oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it-overspending ... the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma-the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids-all kids-and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition-one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.

Cookie Decorating: Following next Sunday’s services (Dec. 19th) there will be a cookie decorating party for the children in Trinity Hall, led by Sandi Lawson. So while the Greening of the Church is taking place, plan to let your children stay and make a few Christmas cookies to take home !!

The “Christmas Card Board” is up in Trinity Hall. If you want to send a Christmas wish to your church “family” or friends, just drop a card in the mail and it will be posted !

If you didn’t know what a “Whiffenpoof” was before you went to last Saturday’s Supper Club, you learned a whole new word there ! Ask Dick Mason!! Much fun was had by all, and our thanks go to the hosts for sharing their home and hospitality at this busy time.

Trinity Christmas Cards: The note cards and Christmas cards depicting “Trinity Church under a rainbow” are still available for you to purchase. We are now storing them at the church. This will make it easier for you to contact someone during the week. If you would like any of the cards, give Betty Matthews a call. She knows where they are stored and you can pick them up at the church or we can get them for you.

A Short Message from the Standing Committee….

Dear Fellow West Virginia Episcopalian,

We are one month into our transition period, and all seems to be going well.

Many thanks to Shirley Lawrence-Berrey and the ECW for the wonderful catered dinner we all shared last Wednesday. Following a delicious dinner provided by the Dils’ Center we enjoyed a wonderful concert given by the PSHS Chamber Ensemble and PC Elementary Choirs . Many thanks to all who participated and who worked so hard to make the evening such a success !!!

Christmas Flowers !!!! It is time to get your requests in if you are wanting to give Christmas Flowers or Greenery in memory or in thanksgiving of a loved one or love ones. Please makes checks payable to Trinity Episcopal Church and send to Linda Brantner, Rt. 2 Box 221, Washington, WV 26181 as soon as possible. Please include who the flowers are in memory of or the person or circumstance for which they are being given in thanksgiving.

The Fourth Sunday in Advent:
Lighting of the Shepherd Candle

There are many who lead us to Bethlehem — the prophets, most notably, Isaiah; John the Baptizer proclaiming a message in the wilderness; Mary and Joseph on the road to an ancestral home.

The fourth candle calls to mind the shepherds. People, often young, who lived on the land and risked their lives to care for the lives of the animals in their trust. Far from an easy or romantic job, the shepherds’ job was hard and dangerous.

Yet, it was to the shepherds, devoted to caring for living beings not their own, that the angels in heavenly host appeared. May the shepherds lead us to Bethlehem where we may see the Christ Child and by him care of all living beings.

O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might

O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succor us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen 

Book of Common Prayer

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