[Magdalen] Merry Christmas

[Scott Knitter]

We've been attending the 10 a.m. Christmas Day High Mass at the Church of
the Ascension the past several years, instead of the late-night Christmas
Eve Mass.

The Christmas morning Mass has grown in popularity...it used to be rather
minimalist but now the full choir sings for it. We had lots of visitors
there yesterday...the family in front of us looked just thrilled to be
there...looking back often to see the organ and choir; fully participating
using the comprehensive leaflet; very enthusiastic at the Peace. I hope
we've made some new friends of the parish this Christmas and that they'll
all return for other occasions!

We've been growing this autumn in general...we're over the long-elusive
goal of 100 attending the three Sunday Masses, and that's been happening
even on "ordinary" green Sundays. New volunteers for acolyting, vestry, and
other roles as well. TBTG!

On Thu, Dec 26, 2019 at 8:09 AM Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com> wrote:

> We had a packed house at St. Paul's in Muskegon.  I believe that the
> congregation was more than 1/2 strangersto me.  I am there every Sunday. 2
> lovely young ladies, maybe 10 and 12 and beautifully dressed,  came to the
> usher who was distributing candles and said, "We are a party of 10."  I
> guess they go to restaurants more often than church.
>
> On Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 10:51 PM Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu>
> wrote:
>
> > Merry Christmas to all. My little parish had 2 Christmas Eve services,
> and
> > at 4:30 we had four (count ‘em!) girls as acolytes! What a blessing our
> > kids are! This morning we had a spoken service, and I’m home alone, with
> > chicken, biscuits, and gravy for dinner, and homemade (gift) treats for
> > dessert. I must admit, I’m glad the main event is over; I’m sure the
> > remaining 11 days of Christmas will be better.
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Dec 24, 2019 at 11:30 PM Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Merry Christmas to all those here  I have just returned from Mass at
> St.
> > > Paul's Muskegon.  We were packed tonight with more than half the
> > > congregation people I has never seen and many of whom I did not know.
> We
> > > are all aging and I am especially aware of the burden that can be.
> Bill
> > > has macular degeneration and member loss.  Some days it is hard for him
> > to
> > > type passwords correctly. We continue to be happy in our smallish condo
> > > where we can walk to almost everything we need. And we look forward to
> > > 2020. and an election! my love to all of you.
> > > .
> > >
> > > --
> > > Judy Fleener, ObJN,SSH
> > > Western Michigan
> > >
> > --
> > Ann
> >
> > The Rev. Ann Markle
> > Buffalo, NY
> > www.onewildandpreciouslife.typepad.com
> >
>
>
> --
> Judy Fleener, ObJN,SSH
> Western Michigan
>


-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA