Focusing on the verse from Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Lynne will unwrap the presents of Jesus given to us, not just a Christmas, but all year long.

Using vivid storytelling (including the time she failed in her role as Mary in the church’s Christmas pageant), Lynne will share stories of Jesus as Mighty God, Emmanuel, The Light of The World, and Savior.

God the Father knew exactly how to wrap that Christmas present so long ago. In all the crazy hype of this season, Lynne would love to help you unwrap that gift again this year.

Let’ s face it. As much as the word, peace, is thrown around during the holidays, there was not much peace on that first Christmas.

Mary, anticipating marriage to Joseph, was told she would get pregnant in ways she could not have anticipated. She would have to tell Joseph, her parents, her friends, her community, her rabbi, none of whom would be excited for her. Her world was about to fall apart. Chaos!

Then there was the trip to Bethlehem. Crowded inns with no empty beds. Dirty shepherds showing up with stories about singing angels. What were those guys really drinking around that campfire? Chaos!

Our own Christmases aren’t always filled with good news and peace to all mankind either. Lynne will share about intentional pauses we can take this season to find our own places of peace in the chaos.

A collect is a prayer form that has been used for over 1000 years in the Christian church. A collect is like a container to hold our deepest hopes and desires, not only as individuals, but as a community.

Using an easy and engaging manner, Lynne will guide participants in writing their own collects that are centered around the Christmas story. Even those who declare, “I am not a writer. I am not a poet,” will come away at the end of the workshop with a Christmas collect of their own.