Reverend Ref +

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas around here was pretty much like Christmas for every other clergy person, I would imagine, except maybe it was a little less frantic.

We only do one service on Christmas Eve between the two parishes, and that one is an 8 pm service up in VC. Then we do one Christmas Day service at Christ Church. Even so, I had forgotten how much the whole thing wears me out. This is why I'm on vacation now. With all of the Christmas visitors, requirements to mix and mingle, service prep, etc etc etc, no wonder I'm worn out. And if you're wondering, my Meyers-Briggs score was IIII.

We had about 40 people for the Christmas Eve service, which I thought was surprisingly low. After being here a year I would've thought that more people would've turned out; if for nothing else for my stunning good looks and golden tongue.

Um . . . oh, right, back to reality.

Anyway, last year we had about 53, so who knows? However, we drew 15 for the service today. That's almost an average Sunday for the Sheridan group. I was only counting on eight max, so I'm happy.

And we've been invited to the home of some of my parishioners for Christmas dinner. That's always a good thing, especially when you know it isn't your kitchen. Speaking of food, we had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of shrimp scampi last night and our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of cinnamon rolls. We used to get a half dozen of those "smaller" Cinnabon rolls, but . . . well . . . two words . . . Southwest Montana. So now we purchase rolls from the baker up in VC. She's a great baker and these things are HUGE. They need more creamy topping though . . .

Finally, I spent time after services looking for a bowl game. Couldn't find one. Whatever happened to the annual Aloha Bowl on Christmas?? Basketball, bowling, but no football. So I ended up couch potatoing in front of the Discovery Channel. They had a good series on about Jesus and a cool show about St. Nicholas. Can't say as I saw all of the Jesus thing though as it was on during normal nap time.

Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.