A thought for New Year's Eve

Time for New Beginnings

Taylor Addison, Blue Mountain Arts, 1989

"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.

As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life, remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained.

Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.  Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought. Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears. And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life."

Last Sunday in 2012

On a decidely chilly Sunday, the last Sunday in 2012, we set off for worship at Jefferson UMC. This is a very friendly, engaging small congregation and we were made to feel most welcomed by one and all!

Wesley's Saturday

Wesley has been busy this weekend, finding new places to play hide 'n seek! 

An Aguinaldos in San Antonio

 
Charles went to San Antonio's southside this afternoon for a special concert at Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña (better known now as Mission Concepción), one of the five historic Spanish colonial missions in this area.

Los Inocentes, a trio of guitarists, offered a free concert, an "Aguinaldos," or Christmas songs, in the Mission Concepción.  This church, built in the mid-1700's, is an active congregation, and hearing traditional Christmas music in a space such as this was really special.

DOD Casualty List for December 20-27

American Military Cemetery - Anzio, Italy

+ Cdr. Job W. Price (Navy), 42, of Pottstown, Pa., died Dec. 22 of a non-combat related injury while supporting stability operations in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Price was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit in Virginia Beach, Va.

+ Sgt. Enrique Mondragon (Army), 23, of The Colony, Texas, died Dec. 24, in Baraki Barak, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when his unit was attacked by small arms fire while on dismounted patrol. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 173rd Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Bamberg, Germany. 

Prayer of Saint Stephen Martyr

Collect of the Day: Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked uo to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Happy Boxing Day!

Christmas Day (part 2)

Christmas also has an added meaning in the Alkula family, the birthday of Charles!  After worship this morning we returned home for lunch (Cincinatti chili of course!) and to open presents.  Wesley got into the act, somewhat impatiently being fitted with a Santa hat (once worn by Nick).

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this Christmas & birthday so much fun!

Christmas Day (part 1)

After the excitement (and exhaustion) of four Christmas Eve services, we'd have been excused if we stayed in bed most of Christmas Day!  But we didn't want to pass up the opportunity to worship on the Lord's birthday!

So, on a rather blustery morning, we set out for worship at St. George Episcopal Church.  This was a simple service in comparison to those of the previous evening, though with two baptisms and communion it made for a most welcome gathering.

Christmas Eve (part 4)

We concluded our Christmas Eve pilgrimage at Northern Hills UMC (we had been there the day before).  This was a beautiful setting and had a much larger attendance than we had anticipated.  It was very special to end the evening with communion, a fitting way to celebrate the birth of the Messiah!

While four services in one evening may strike some as a tad unusual, for us, it was a chance-of-a-lifetime.  Who knows when we'll have such a bounty to enjoy again!

Christmas Eve (part 3)

The third service of our evening was at Coker UMC. They had an amazing orchestra, complete with two harps and a wonderful choir. It was a special place to celebrate our second communion of the night!

Christmas Eve (part 2)

Our second service of the evening was downtown at Travis Park UMC.  We had a bit of an adventure getting there but it was well-worth the effort!  There was a Nativity tableau with children from the church, communion, and wonderful music!

Christmas Eve (part 1)

 

We had an amazing Christmas Eve here in San Antonio!  Charles spent the day at the VA Hospital and Belinda joined him in the afternoon, volunteering in the Chaplain Service office.

We started our evening at 5:00 at the University UMC with the first of four Christmas Eve services.  What a amazing service!  We can't remember the last time we were at a Christmas that was standing room only!  University had NINE Christmas Eve services, we just know the staff is worn out today!

Christmas Eve Prayer

Christmas Eve Prayer

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Our Sunday in San Antonio [part 3]

After church today, we came home to spend a restful Sunday afternoon with Wesley!

Our Sunday in San Antonio [part 2]

After worshipping at St. Andrew, we drove to the northside of San Antonio and Northern Hills UMC.  This church has so much going on!  On Christmas Eve, Northern Hills has six services, something for everyone!

We enjoyed the traditional service in the sanctuary and afterwards caught the end of the contemporary service taking place in the worship center.