KERNVILLE

SERVICES & SERMONS

"I think of a church service as being an island of peace.  A place to come to be renewed and refreshed and inspired.  A place to prepare for life's challenges and struggles, as well as a place  to recommit to carrying out the teachings and the love of Jesus Christ."

-Kathleen Creighton-Fuchs, Author, KUMC Member

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

BLUE CHRISTMAS?

Psalm 30

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,  and you have healed me.

O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go

 down to the pit.  

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

 For his anger is but for a moment,  and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, 

 but joy comes with the morning.

I know that for some Christmas brings the memories of family and dear friends who have passed away and joined the heavenly chorus. The holidays can be a difficult time for those of us who are dealing with loss of some kind. It can feel like the whole world is going on around us, business as usual, and we seem to be on another planet, or “down in the pit,” as the Psalmist describes it. Even if we’ve been living with our loss for a time, grief has a way of showing up and crashing over us like an unexpected wave when a certain song comes on or someone says something that reminds us of our loss. The phrase from the Psalmist, “joy comes in the morning,” or as another translation says, “but by morning, joy!” could also be “by mourning…” comes joy. Joy is not about denying suffering, but rather it is the embracing of the depths of all of life’s emotions that is the very thing that allows us to eventually feel the heights once more. We know what weeping all night is like, and so our empathy for the weeping of the world is deepened. Do not deny your feelings when you are having a Blue Christmas moment, and do not expect an instant healing. Please do not feel alone. Please know that as a church we are ready to listen. If you are in a position to be with a person having a Blue Christmas, acknowledge it, listen to stories about the person or thing they are morning and just be there in the ministry of presence. It is with Love that although I do not know your personal feelings, I say I understand and am always ready to talk and pray with you.

Have a Blessed Christmas,

Pastor Cindy

HOURS

SUNDAY SERVICES

Every Sunday at 9:00am

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ST. SHERRIAN'S EPISCOPAL

Every Sunday at 11:00am

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OFFICE HOURS

Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30am to 12:30pm