Dear Edgeboro Family & Friends,

The calendar has now turned. We’ve left the costumes and skeletons behind (the pumpkins can stay), and now we are squarely in the month of thanksgiving, counting blessings, and peeking ahead to Christmas.

At Edgeboro, November is usually a time of preparation. The materials for the Christmas putz are gathered and put together; items are collected and made and then prepared to be sold in the Christmas Room (or an Outdoor Christmas Extravaganza); and candles, mints, sugar cakes, and pumpkin rolls are made. Even though not all of those things are happening this year, preparing for the Advent/Christmas season makes for a busy few weeks.

As we do this work of preparation for the holidays – at Edgeboro, or at home as some of us make plans to be with loved ones over the holidays once again after not being able to do so last year –  let us do it with purpose.

Ora et labora is a phrase that derives from the Benedictine monastic tradition. It means “pray and work.” For monks in that tradition, very simply put, work can be a form of prayer. Work that is done selflessly with the needs of others and the qualities of God’s love in mind can be a physical embodiment of prayer and one’s devotion to God. In other words, the work is not a means to an end!

So as you set the table for your loved ones,

As you prepare food to share with one another,

As you wrap gifts to share with loved ones and/or with other community members,

As you prepare rooms at home or rooms at church for the season,

As you prepare the putz,

As you set up tables at the Christmas Extravaganza,

Whatever preparing work you do for the holidays at church or at home, may it be done with God’s love and the needs of others in mind. May your work be a prayer, a reason why God’s blessings will be recognized and the light of Christ may shine bright for all to see during the holidays and beyond.

Working & Praying with you,

Pastor Dan