Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregations and communities. 

First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul  is trying to provide a sensitivity and attentiveness to the needs of peoplewho are blue at Christmas bycreating a sacred space for members of the congregation and community who are living through dark times.

At 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, the First South St. Paul will  for a special worship service designed around these themes. Often such services are held on the longest night of the year, which falls on or about December 21, the Winter Solstice, to signify the long nights just before Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss. This service will be more reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope.

First Presbyterian is located at 535 20th Avenue North in South St. Paul. For more information, please contact the church at 651-451-6223 or admin@fpcssp.org.

Why Our Christmas Trees are So Beautiful
by Sarah Bigwood

Our trees in the Valley (Presbyterian Church) Youth Tree lot are lovingly named, locally grown, and cut fresh the week before we open. Many other lots, especially at the big box stores, will ship their trees from thousands of miles away.

Rather than ship our trees thousands of miles, we ship our youth to locations all over the United States to paint and repair homes, serve at foodshelves and homeless shelters, and participate in cross cultural mission.

Last year, our Senior High group built and assembled accessibility ramps
for residents in Kalispell, MT; residents that had run out of options and
were isolated in their own homes. Our Junior High youth built relationships with children and teens in a Sudanese community in Nebraska.

Of profits we make off this and other fundraisers, roughly 10% is spent on local mission projects, painting and repairing homes for people in our own neighborhood.

If you buy a tree from the Valley Youth this Christmas, you will be contributing to the good work done here and throughout the country, becoming one more reason why our trees are so beautiful!

The Valley Youth Tree Lot opens Saturday, November 28. Valley is located at 3100 Lilac Drive in Golden Valley.

Hours of Operation:

•  
  • Thursdays & Fridays: 4 -8:30 pm
  • Saturdays: 9:00 am—8:30 pm
  • Sundays: 11:00 am —6:00 pm

The lot will be open through Saturday, December 19.

Sarah Bigwood is the Youth and Young Adult Director at Valley Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley.