Christmas Masses 2000

... a summary

Where are the stars that grace the decor for Christmas celebration year after year? Those silver glistening objects that hover above us? Story has it, they are lost...they disappeared...vanished! Storage rooms were searched, basement caverns checked, attics crawled through. No stars.... Nowhere! How can this be? How can the ancient rituals of rituals begin without the christening of the setting? What will fill its place? Who will notice? What can make up the difference?

All and all, aside from missing stars, the staff and volunteers behind the makings of the Christmas celebrations went about their usual and extraordinary holiday business. Echo Thoren, Dick Voss, Ron Joki, John Palmer, Nancy Wright, Cindy White, Anna Vagle and The SJA Musicians and Choir, Joanne Potts and the computer team… All brought together, along with many others, what we see every Sunday yet, THIS week was EXTRA special. This was the "put up the ribboned swags, bring out the fine crystal, shine up the goblet, and lay out the crisp linen." It's Christmas and an added glaze of "créme de la créme" is on. Yes, the usual was in order, but included was the altar draped plentiful with a red row of poinsettias. Clusters of candles aglow. The music was full staged complete with horns and bells. Special masses were staggered to accommodate the crowds, which went smoothly. Very few stood and many were comfortable. Parking was manageable and the sermons were significant. Jim Cassidy employed the presence of a young child parishioner to the altar to pronounce our need to teach the lesson of hope in their lives.

Even if the stars were missing, everywhere eyes were on the lights and trees, candles glowing with the mood of mystery. Tender and sweet off to the side lay the nativity scene... especially reminding us of the special message heard by all. Now this week , this eve and day we celebrated together the "blessing " of Christmas. The glorious birth of Baby Jesus. Our special gift.

Those stars that were missing....they were amongst us all the time. Those stars were in ALL the eyes of children who cooed and cried or were showing their bug-eyed stare at this sacred occasion. Those stars were sparkling in ALL the smiles of the young dancing down the aisles in their holiday best with ribbons and sequins and smart combed parts. The stars were in ALL the faces greeting each other with added warmth in their holiest hearts. Those stars were in ALL the choral voices blending together to give their best in singing their hearts out and ringing their bells. Those stately stars, glittering, gleaming, and glorious...... they were with us all the time.

Peg LaSota is interested in the biographies of parishioners... any suggestions?? She also loves studying piano, recorder, Spanish, and of course...singing in the choir!

WebPhotographer and Mom, Becka Watry, supplied the following pictures from the Children's Mass of 4 pm on Christmas Eve.

Becka Watry stumbled across SJA in late 1996 4 blocks from her new home. Becka says, "I had been displeased with our church experience, stuck around awhile in hope to be part of change, and then left it for the Methodist faith vowing to return when my kids drew near the teen years. With SJA so close, we gave it a try, and found Saturday evening Mass to be everything we had hoped for! It was so family friendly. In the fall of 1998 we were ready to join the church, and I became a Sunday School Teacher. We found Sunday Mass to be even more dynamic. I continue to teach Sunday School, and help out with Camp StJoans, 1st Communion, and Family Camp. Thanks SJA!"