Glad Tidings from the Davisfolk

From all of us, to all of you. Blessings on this Christmas Day. 

In a season rightly renowned for good cheer,

we have a bit o’ that very thing here.

We’re healthy, we’re happy, and all of that stuff,

with that being said, it would be enough.

But we can say more, and say more we shall,

so tune in to listen as we tell you how.

 

Mickey, Amanda, and Tallulah (all grown),

now live in Des Moines, the Midwest as their home.

But come a new year they have plans so delightful,

as they move their things and themselves down to Nashville.

[Tallulah’s now four, and she’s ever a treat,

she plays games and favorite songs on repeat.]

 

Luke settled into Provence for a spell,

while stippling and painting and speaking French well.

Chris, Mark, Gail, and Colin got to stay over,

as we flew to see him in mid-October.

[Before we flew in Ms. Jeanette had flown out,

it’s funny how Luke worked that timing out!]

 

Nic and Lindy went to a foreign land,

where he got on one knee and asked for her hand,

She looked down and said, “Yes, I will” to his query,

and now they are happ’ly engaged to marry.

[They, too, were to travel with us into France,

but landed in London and still found romance.]

 

Gail has a new place, an apartment that’s cute,

she’s now a director at her dance institute.

And when she’s not teaching or fantasy footballin’,

she spends her time with the aforementioned Colin.

[Do you know all the things a dance teacher must do?

She sews, hems, and beads dance gowns and tutus!]

 

Chris and Mark do what they’ve always done best,

as they’ve learned to parent from their now empty nest.

Through preaching and teaching and with healing touch,

they long for a world full of goodness and such.

[Our guiding star, when times come at us odd:

“Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.”]

 

So this marks the end of this glance at our tribe,

we hope your response is not “unsubscribe.”

Your friendship is golden and brings us delight,

it’s balm when we’re hurt and in shadows a light.

So, to this world shaken and to many forlorn,

we herald this season with “Christ is born!”

 

Love, The Davisfolk (present and future)

Violence and Advent

 Friends,  

This past weekend we heard the news of several horrible acts of violence. One was a hate crime during a Hannukah celebration, driven by antisemitism. One was a school shooting at Brown University and, as it turns out, the shooter is suspected of having killed a professor in an earlier school shooting. And then we heard the gruesome news of Rob and Michelle Reiner’s murder and the arrest of their son as the prime suspect. While we rightly attend parties, wrap gifts, and tune our hearts to embrace the story of Jesus’ birth, the ugly reality of human brokenness rears its head over and over. 

 

These tragedies have familiar dynamics – religious violence, gun violence, and domestic violence among them – and each one carries its own trajectory of trauma. When there was a school shooting at the University of Iowa, I waited in line to use a pay phone and call Chris to let her know that I was safe. The memory of that dingy little area, surrounded by paneled walls, with caller after caller assuring their families but unable to answer any of their questions has been on my mind this week. Some of you are remembering challenges of drug addiction or the fear of being safe within your own home. If the events of this past week have raked up memories or feelings that are difficult for you to process, please know that you have pastors, elders, deacons, a parish nurse, a parish counselor, and many friends who are ready to lend an ear or hold you in prayer. 

 

It seems that the story of Christ’s birth is ever contextualized in a world of harsh realities. You may remember that five years ago we could not gather for Christmas Eve. Instead, our Worship Commission put together an “Angel Walk” where you could get a photo with some Angel Wings that Carrie Schneider had created for us, then walk through the Fellowship Hall where many of us had shared our Nativity Scenes in a beautiful display. We also had a Prayer Wall for sharing our concerns, a Giving Tree for sharing our blessings, and an Illumination Walk around the labyrinth. Then, we produced a video of readings and music for families to watch together at home. It was a time of intense grief – many of us lost loved ones during the pandemic and were unable to sit with the dying or comfort the living as we wanted. And it was a time of genuine care, with some extraordinary acts of kindness despite the real health dangers.

 

During that time, I shared these words that Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to his fiancée while he was a prisoner in Tegal, which I think are as appropriate this week: “I think we're going to have an exceptionally good Christmas. The very fact that every outward circumstance precludes our making provision for it will show whether we can be content with what is truly essential. I used to be very fond of thinking up and buying presents, but now that we have nothing to give, the gift God gave us in the birth of Christ will seem all the more glorious; the emptier our hands, the better we understand what Luther meant by his dying words: ‘We're beggars; it's true.’ The poorer our quarters, the more clearly we perceive that our hearts should be Christ's home on earth.”

 

The story of Jesus’ birth is embedded in tyranny, forced migration, and violence. And yet it is glorious. As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, may our hearts be Christ’s home on earth.

 

Mark of St. Mark 

Third Weekend of Advent

 Friends, 

There are many “thank you” notes to send today, after last weekend. Thank you to our Synerjazz musicians, with Pastor Hayes, Parish Counselor Gretchen Carrillo, and Parish Nurse Ann Scott, for providing such a moving, healing Blue Christmas service last Saturday. And thanks to Dr. Michael Gass for his presentation on the Holiday Blues following Sunday’s worship service. One thing I love about St. Mark is that we don’t just jump on the popular bandwagons that draw crowds and make headlines. We circle back to ensure that others can be a part of the joy, especially those who are often left out or overlooked. That is a wonderful part of our DNA that was established years before I arrived and which continues to be an important part of who we are. 

 

And what can I say about Sunday’s Christmas Pageant? Wow! The initial kudos go to the kiddos, who did such a marvelous job of standing and delivering. It’s an amazing joy to see so many children, with such a variety of shyness and boldness, working together, taking their parts and doing them so mindfully, then watching it all come together so well. Many thanks to the parents, who were able and willing to work around many other commitments to help the children engage, the stage crew who converted our chancel from a play setting to a communion setting, Jane Reimund who helped each of the characters find an appropriate costume for their part, Pastor Hayes for helping with all of the communication along the way, and especially Laura Mulchay, for blocking, rehearsing, and directing it all. And in the middle of the bold performances and cuteness of it all, the children told the Christmas story in a way that allows all of us to cling to hope, even when we are afraid.

 

If you missed it or had trouble hearing some of the pageant, you can watch it here (the pageant starts at about 14:40). Or, you can read the poem that initiated the play and the script that follows here.

 

This weekend we will continue our Advent theme, “What do you fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent.” Sunday’s service will feature a special by our Handbell Ensemble, under the leadership of Deborah Fetterhoff, and after Saturday’s service we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for food and fun at our Synerjazz Christmas Party. It looks like another double-header weekend! 

 

Now, a word about Christmas Eve. In each of our worship services we will light the Christ candle from the flame of the Advent candles, then share the light of Christ, by taking the flame from the Christ candle and passing it to one another. The symbolism of this act is great. The Advent waiting and longing gives rise to the birth of Christ, just as the flame from the Advent candles lights the Christ candle. Then, each of us get to receive this light and pass it to others. What a beautiful expression of our life as a church. It is one of my favorite moments of the year to see the light spread from row to row as each of us becomes part of sharing the joy. And for the children, we will have glow sticks at each service.  

 

The 4:30pm Family Service will be centered around a question, “Who can God use?” I made a video of our theme song so that families can become familiar with it before the service. You can find it here. As we share the light of Christ, we will offer a way for the children to share their light in a unique way (that’s a teaser, folks!) Thanks to Jeff Elsten for his carpentry skills that will enable us in this service. 

 

The 7:00pm Lessons and Carols service, featuring our choir and a string quartet. Plan to hear and sing a lot of music, as we proclaim the joy of Christmas and share the light of Christ. 

 

The 9:00pm Synerjazz service will feature reflections on GNGJ – how the Good News of Great Joy disrupts our anxiety and brings us hope. We will welcome Rev. Lucy Stafford-Lewis as one of our guest speakers and will share the light of Christ as this service as well. 

 

See you in worship,

Mark of St. Mark

Second Weekend of Advent

 Friends, 

 

There are many things happening this week, next week, and throughout the foreseeable future. It is hard to keep up and can be difficult to make time for everything, even things that we want to be a part of. Let’s give each other the gifts of grace and understanding if we cannot manage to do it all, and let’s begin by offering that grace to ourselves. It helps to remember that nothing we do will make Christmas happen, and nothing that we don’t get done will ruin Christmas, because the good news of great joy is that Christ has come. We don’t make Christmas; we celebrate it as a gift beyond anything we could do. 

 

So, with grace abounding, let’s try to keep an overview of the season around us. 

 

1. Circling back, we are able to update the total of what we raised during the Alternative Christmas Market to north of $31,000. That is an astounding outcome for an event that was joyous in and of itself. 

 

2. Last weekend we began our Advent season surrounded by the beautiful installation from our Worship Commission, Christmas Eve Flowers that many of you are purchasing in honor or memory of someone, and with liturgy that we have purchased from our friends at “A Sanctified Art.” 

 

3. Tomorrow, we have our Blue Christmas service, with opportunities to light a candle in memory of someone whom we miss during this season, receive anointing and prayer for ourselves, and share the bread and wine of communion together. Also on Saturday, following worship, the Youth and Tweens will have a Christmas party in the Fellowship Hall. 

 

4. On Sunday our children will present an original Christmas pageant that Laura Mulchay and I wrote. It’s been the usual madness of trying to find rehearsal times amid holiday seasons, but you will be happy with this presentation of the Christmas story, and you will have an opportunity to be engaged in it personally. 

 

5. Next weekend, December 13^th/14^th, will have two special features, in addition to our ongoing Advent theme. On Saturday, following worship, we will have a “Synerjazz Christmas Party” in the Fellowship Hall. We have A LOT OF LASAGNE coming, so be sure to contact the church office and sign up to come. Then, on Sunday, our Handbell Ensemble will be performing, which is always a treat for us listeners and a lot of hard work for those ringers. 

 

6. December is when we collect the “Christmas Joy Offering,” one of the annual offerings that we gather on behalf of the Presbyterian Church USA. 50% of this offering helps smooth the path for current and retired church workers and their families in their time of need. The other half prepare students to learn and grow in faith at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.

 

7. And I hope you are planning to be part of our Christmas Eve services. We will have an interactive Family Service at 4:30pm, a Lessons and Carols service featuring our choir and a string quartet at 7:00pm, and a service led by Synerjazz at 9:00pm. Each service will feature sharing the light of the Christ Candle with one another. 

 

Add this all together, we are living into our Advent theme of “insisting on hope” even in times of fear. 

 

I’ll see you in worship,

Mark of St. Mark

Christmas in Verse and Pageantry

The following is a poem that I wrote of the Christmas story, which Laura Mulchay and I turned into the Christmas Pageant at St. Mark, which our children performed remarkably well on December 7, 2025. 

Hark, my friends, and you will hear 

 a story of hope for your lis’tning ear. 

It’s a story of darkness, a story of light, 

 a story of weakness, a story of might.

The story begins in a time long ago, 

 with people and critters I think you will know.

 

Once upon a time, lived an old priest named Zech, 

 who, with his wife Liz, was a bit of a wreck. 

They had not one child after long years of trying, 

 and spent many decades both praying and crying.

Then, out of the blue an angel appeared, 

 and Zech was frightened, shaken with fear.

“You’re having a son!” the angel proclaimed, 

 “and you’ll call him ‘John’ when he is named.

He’ll be God’s prophet, he’ll sing a new song! 

 He’ll show the right way to those who are wrong.” 

But Zech said, “We can’t! We’re too tired and old. 

  There’s no way this happens, the thing you just told.” 

And Zech’s tongue was tied, his voice was long gone, 

 until the son came and he did name him John. 

 

Next, we see Mary, who was young and engaged; 

 her heart was wide open, she was coming of age.

Then, out of the blue an angel appeared, 

 and Mary was frightened, shaken with fear.

“You’re having a son!” the angel proclaimed, 

 and you’ll call him Jesus the day he is named.

And Mary asked, “How? I’m not quite yet wed!” 

 The angel replied, “It will be as I said.”

And Mary agreed, she was faithful and fervent. 

 She said, “I am willing and I’ll be God’s servant.”

 

And then there was Joseph, a good enough guy, 

 betrothed to Mary, so young and spry.

It was all prim and proper, with sprinklings of bliss, 

 then he learned that she was carried a child that weren’t his. 

He thought to himself, “What will people say?” 

 He considered his options, how to put her away.

Then, out of the blue an angel appeared, 

 and Joseph was frightened, shaken with fear.

“Do not be afraid, don’t have reservation, 

 this child Mary carries is God’s a gift of salvation.”

 

The night of the birth, some shepherds were keeping 

 a flock of sheep, who mostly were sleeping. 

Then, out of the blue an angel appeared, 

 and the shepherds were frightened, shaken with fear.

“Do not be afraid, but be of good cheer,

 I bring you great news that you want to hear!

The very best news, to bring you delight, 

 a Savior is born, he is born on this night! 

Then, filling the sky, were angels galore, 

 together they offered praises and more.

“Give glory to God, let your songs never cease! 

 This child that is born is God’s gift of peace!” 

 

In lands far away wise people were yearning, 

 as they searched for signs that the world was turning. 

They were thoughtful and smart, gifted and gracious, 

 majestic and solemn and kind and sagacious.

Then, out of the blue a star appeared, 

 and the Magi were humbled, with reverential fear.

“Can this be at last, the one we have sought? 

 Could this be the end of the wars we have fought?” 

The Magi then journeyed as Isaiah foretold, 

 “Kings from the east will arrive bearing gold.” 

 

And that is the story, why these folks were able 

 to gather that night, in that little stable.

Now, many years later, we sing and we pray, 

 and share our own gifts for each Christmas day.

 

© Mark Davis, All Souls Day, 2025

Here is where the play picked up, written with Laura Mulchay

Angel: Okay, but WAIT! There is more: there is more to unfold

                Each one was frightened– those stories are untold.

                We want to ask them, “What were your fears on this day?”

        We can bring the angels, I want to hear what they say.

Narrator: Be my guest, wise sage, send these angels as guide

                Find out what fears these brave souls confide. 

Angel: Tell me Zech, and don’t be shy; 

                You were frightened and I want to know why.

Zech:       I worked so hard to do things right, 

                We’ve had ups and downs, but our end is in sight.

                For us to bring this child, who will then spread the Word,

                That’s the most frightening thing that I’ve heard!

Angel: When something is scary, don’t be a coward. 

                God has called you, so live by this Star Word: “Trust”

Angel: Tell me Elizabeth, and don’t be shy; 

                You were frightened and I want to know why.

Elizabeth: I’ve lived with purpose, with duty, and love

But childless I’ve been until sent from above

Will this promise really come true?

My fear is I’ll hope for something that will never come due.

Angel: When something is scary, don’t be a coward. 

                God has called you, so live by this Star Word: “Patience”

Angel: Tell me Mary, and don’t be shy; 

                You were frightened and I want to know why.

Mary: The honor is great, but think of my age; 

                I’m still very young and I’m only engaged.  

                This child brings hope and someone should bear it, 

                but I’m not so sure that I can actually dare it. 

Angel : When something is scary, don’t be a coward. 

                God has called you, so have this Star Word: “Courage” 

Angel: Tell me Joseph, and don’t be shy;

                You were frightened and I want to know why.

Joseph: I tried to be humble, I wasn’t looking for fame; 

                but if I fail in this journey, it will bring me great shame! 

                This is not the life story I could have foreseen, 

                And I’m not sure I accept it’s the true one for me. 

Angel: When something is scary, don’t be a coward. 

                God has called you, so have this Star Word: “Acceptance” 

Angel: Tell me Shepherds, and don’t be shy; 

                You were frightened; I want to know why.

Shepherd: We serve and protect the sheep in our care, 

                we face wolves and creatures that most would not dare. 

                But when all the darkness is suddenly bright, 

                you’d be scared too hearing “Hark!” in the night. 

Angel: When something is scary, don’t be a coward. 

                God has called you, so have this Star Word: “Wonder” 

Angel: Tell me Magi, and don’t be shy; 

                You were frightened; I want to know why.

Magi: We studied the skies and found a new star, 

                Scared and excited, we traveled so far. 

                Didn’t know if we’d be included, or rather, kicked out

                We were plagued by a deep seated Fear of Missing Out.

Angel: When something is scary, don’t be a coward.

                God has called you, so have this Star Word: “Welcome” 

Narrator: And so we learn from our friends who gathered on this night, 

                that when we are scared, God gives us great might.

                The birth of this child changed the world for eternity;

                Fear is overcome, with love for you and me. 

               

As it is written, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."