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Dear Passing the Peace Readers, 

It is so wonderful to be celebrating Advent with you. This time of year, when we get to reflect on what it truly means for Jesus to have come into this world, teaches us so much. As I get older, I feel less of the desire for December to rush by so Christmas can arrive as soon as possible and feel more and more eager to linger on what we can learn in the dark and quietness of winter. 

If you joined us for worship last week, you would have been delighted with the experience of seeing quilts decorating the sanctuary. These quilts have been brought by community members and I look forward to sharing the stories of the love that stitched them and who they have brought comfort to over the years. If you have a quilt that felt too precious to leave at church, you are still welcome to bring it to church to share over the next several Sundays. 

I thought I would start the sharing process by sharing about a quilt near and dear to my heart. I’ve been told the style is a “crazy quilt” but growing up I was always told it was a Newfie quilt. This quilt, affectionately known as Blankie for most of my life, was gifted to me by my aunt after hearing how devastated I was after my previous blanket had been lost. It was quilted by my great grandmother Julia, who would have used fabric scraps from the clothes she made for her family and the sturdy fabric from Robin Hood flour sacks as the backing. Made in the 1940s, the quilt has been well-loved by three generations in my family. 

Like the care and love stitched into a quilt, may the Peace of Christ bring you warmth and comfort this Advent season, 

 

Peace be with you, 

Rev Michiko