Newsletter
Newsletter
Mike Waller, Senior Warden
Judith Peele, Junior Warden
Sybil Atkinson, Parish Administrator
Office Hours: 9 AM to Noon, Monday through Friday
Phone: 540-980-2413
christpulaski.org christ24301@gmail.com
December 2025
Dear Parish Family,
Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas…and this year it “snuck up” on us!
It started in November (30th)! But it is always the season of anticipation and preparation.
This Advent, I would like to share with everyone the CANDLES OF ADVENT
narrative that we use each Sunday:
THE CANDLES OF ADVENT
One of the ways we prepare for Jesus's coming is by the Advent Wreath, which
mark the four Sundays of Advent as we prepare for Christmas. The Advent
wreath includes many symbols to help us think about Jesus and His gifts.
The wreath itself is in the shape of a circle. A circle has no beginning and no
end. This reminds us that there is no beginning and no end to God and that
God's love is forever.
The light from the candles reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.
The First Candle of Advent is the Candle of HOPE.
The people of Israel hoped in God's promises and were not disappointed. We,
too, have the same kind of hope. We believe in God's promise that Jesus will
come again and we will see Him and know Him as our Lord and Savior forever
and ever.
HOPE is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we
celebrate the HOPE we have in Jesus.
The Second Candle of Advent is PEACE.
Peace is a word that we hear a lot and is one of the things that we hope for.
Jesus brought peace when He first came to us and He will bring everlasting
peace when He comes again.
The prophet Isaiah called Jesus "The Prince of Peace". When Jesus came He
taught people the importance of being peace-makers. He said that those who
work for peace shall be called the children of God. Through Jesus we find
peace in our hearts.
PEACE is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we
celebrate the PEACE we find in Jesus Christ.
The Third Candle of Advent is JOY. (Pink Candle)
When the angel Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be born to her, she
was filled with joy. Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so
His presence in the world gave joy to those around him: He healed the sick and
gave hope and peace to those who believed in Him. From Hope and Peace
grows Joy.
The candle of Joy reminds us that when Jesus is born in us, we have joy, and
that through Him there will be everlasting joy on earth. Joy to the world, the
Lord is come!
JOY is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we
celebrate the JOY we find in Jesus Christ.
The Fourth Candle of Advent is LOVE.
God's love is a perfect love. God's love gives us everything we need to live a
life of hope, peace, and joy. The Bible says that, "God so loved the world that
He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but
have eternal life. Jesus shows us God's perfect love.
Love never ends and the candle of love reminds us that Jesus brings us God's
love and shows us how to love others.
LOVE is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we
celebrate the LOVE we find in Jesus Christ.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
And now as we light the CHRIST CANDLE, we celebrate and rejoice that the
light of the world is born this night.
Sybil Akinson, Parish Administrator
(for December)
(10:00 a.m. for all services except Christmas Eve)
December 7 – Morning Prayer
December 14 – Holy Communion
The Rev. Terrie Sternberg
December 21 – Morning Prayer
December 24 – 4:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
The Rev. Terrie Sternberg
December 28 – Holy Communion
The Rev. Terrie Sternberg
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of our parish will
be held Sunday, December 7, at
11:00 a.m.
(following the 10:00 a.m. Service)
Brunch will be provided!
The Business Meeting will include
the election of two vestry members, the
2026 Budget and Senior and Junior
Warden Reports.
We hope everyone will be able to
participate in our Annual Meeting.
HANGING OF GREENS
Join us Sunday, December 21,
following the 10:00 service, for the
decorating of the sanctuary for
Christmas.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
December 24th
The Rev. Terrie Sternberg will
be our Celebrant for our
Christmas Eve Service
Holy Communion at 4:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS OUTREACH PROJECT
We would like to continue to support the
Women’s Resource Center of the New
River Valley as we have in the past.
We would like to continue our
assistance in providing items that are
ongoing needs at the Center.
The following items have been
suggested by the Center:
-- large bath towels & washcloths
-- canned pasta sauce and soups
-- cleaning supplies
-- paper towels
-- coffee and sugar
Please provide items by December 14th .
Boxes will be provided in the Parish
Hall.
LITERATI
Our next Literati group will be:
Monday, January 19, 6:30 p.m.
The book will be:
West of Santillane
by Brook Allen
Desperate to escape a mundane future as a Virginia planter’s wife, Julia Hancock seizes her chance for adventure when she wins the heart of American hero William Clark. Though her husband is the famed explorer, Julia embarks on her own thrilling and perilous journey of self-discovery. With her gaze ever westward, Julia possesses a hunger for knowledge and a passion for helping others. She falls in love with Will’s strength and generous manner, but, like her parents, he is a slave owner, and Julia harbors strong opinions against slavery. Still, her love for Will wins out, though he remains unaware of her beliefs. Julia finds St. Louis to be a rough town with few of the luxuries to which she is accustomed, harboring scandalous politicians and miscreants of all types. As her husband and his best friend, Meriwether Lewis, work to establish an American government and plan to publish their highly anticipated memoirs, Julia struggles to assume the roles of both wife and mother. She is also drawn into the plight of an Indian family desperate to return to their own lands and becomes an advocate for Will’s enslaved. When political rivals cause trouble, Julia’s clandestine aid to the Indians and enslaved of St. Louis draws unwanted attention, placing her at odds with her
husband. Danger cloaks itself in far too many ways, leading her to embrace the courage to save herself and others through a challenge of forgiveness that will either restore the love she shares with Will or end it forever.
Come join the fellowship and discussion.