The Christmas season is in full swing at the Rockburn Church.  The third Sunday of advent Dec. 11, was marked  by a special story read by the Choir members, with an angel watching over them.  There was a special puppet skit for the young children, with 4 older children handling the puppets, a cow narrating, and a dove as stage manager.
 
One intrigued toddler kept sticking his finger in the calf puppets mouth and of course the calf responded by softly biting his finger.
The donkey acted very tired after his long journey. The guard dog rose to the occasion.  And just like  sheep don't normally open their mouths very far  the sheep puppet was true to nature and needed a little coaxing to talk.   The minister and his wife pitched in to play Mary and Joseph.  The puppets were not to sure about singing, but by the end of the program were rocking to the music.
 
Norm Rennie added his special musical talents by leading everyone in a foot tapping sing-a-long.  The women who sewed the puppets did a great job, and the Church band blended everything beautifully together with their lovely music.
Debbie Baxter

At today's service, we follow 2 themes : today is Advent 2 on the Church calendar, and is also a memorial service for the late William ( Billy) Morgan.

Music for both Advent 2 and the memorial service is provided by " The Valley Boys Quartet" Warm Welcome to Ken Rember, Keith and Bryan Tannahil and George Neal.

A double baptism for two greatgrandchildren of Norval Blair.  Heidi Blair
(Dean Scarlette) and her sister Lyndsay Blair (Ashley Craig).  Rev. Elke
Mehnert did a wonderful job including everyone in the proceedings and just as
good a job making them feel at ease and welcome.  Harley Bye also had a few
words of welcome. It was also the first Sunday of advent (getting ready for the
arrival of another baby of long ago.
The regular congregation was busy as a
beehive.  The 6 piece Church band had appropriate songs for a baptism. Our
professional church photographer Norm Rennie behind the lense.  I had
activities to keep the 7 visiting children under age 8 from getting too
restless.  After Church the men were inspecting a beautiful new wood
railing to be installed to hold pictures.  The women were admiring two
adorable puppets crafted by Ann Clark for the Kids for Christmas service coming
up on December 11.  With Linda Rennie diving into creating
another.   Plans were being made for long time Rockburn resident
Marion Arthur's brother William Morgan's memorial service next Sunday.  We
are definately a Church responding to the call.  We are not just sitting
around waiting for things to happen.