A Message From Pastor Gary Stevenson My Dear Fellow Pilgrims, Except for a Santa Ana wind or two, the weather has already begun to become cooler. We have experienced a bit of rain and most people I talk to hope that there is more rain yet to come. With the rains will come green grass and lush vegetation in the spring. In the meantime the rains will mean wet shoes and socks for those who spend anytime at all walking in the rain. I don't know about you, but once my feet are wet and cold I can't wait to get someplace where I can remove my shoes and replace my wet socks with dry ones. For me, little is more uncomfortable than having wet, cold feet. I am fortunate. I can go to a nice, dry home and change my socks (and my wet shoes) whenever I wish. I have a warm, dry place where I can go to beat the cold and the wet. I realize, however, there are others who do not have those luxuries. Too many people are homeless and may not have a warm dry place to spend their days (or nights) or a second pair of sock which they can wear. Pastor Gary Stevenson The economy stinks, and I wonder how many more people may be put out on the streets simply because their company went out of business, their job was outsourced or the high cost of health related issues caused them get behind in payments. While there are some people out on the streets who choose to be there for whatever reason, I would bet that a majority of the homeless would give up their homelessness for a job and the safety and security of housing without a second thought. As followers of Jesus, what can we do? Jesus was pretty clear that the one who had two coats keep one and give away the other to someone without. I assume the same would be true for dry socks - those of us who have more than one pair should be willing to share another pair with someone who has none. During the season of Advent we will have an opportunity to help "the least" among us through filling Christmas stockings. At the beginning of each of our worship services we will pass around the Christmas stockings and inviting worshippers to place money in the stockings that will then be given to Lutheran Social Services and the Samaritan Center to provide dry socks and sleeping bags so that those among us who have no homes can at least have a chance to stay warm and dry. Just as we hope to see the Christmas stockings on our mantle filled on Christmas morning I hope we will see our Christmas stockings filled each Sunday to offer a warm and dry Christmas to each one of "the least." Your Partner in Ministry, Pastor Gary