Arnolds Valley

Karyn Gardner, (540) 228-2176, (540) 655-3646 [email protected]

Wishing everyone happy Gåsdagen! Til Gudene! Gåsdag, (pronounced “goos-dahg”), is a family holiday my husband and I created nine years ago, and have celebrated on Dec. 12 every year since, centered around a Nordic-themed dinner usually with goose but sometimes with duck, a universal toast to the gods, and time spent with loved ones.

Sending birthday wishes to Kathy Bennington, Shelia Decker and Spencer Somervold, as well as to St. John’s Episcopal member Sallie Thieleke and to Faith Baptist member Zayden Hostetter. Happy anniversary to Daniel and Shambray Gardner!

Faith Baptist will be having its Christmas cantata on Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. and the Youth Christmas Play will be that night at 6. A Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be on Dec. 20 at 8 a.m. and the Christmas Communion Service will be on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. The Christmas Eve service will be on Dec. 24 at 11 a.m. No Sunday school on Christmas Eve.

St. John’s annual Christmas Community Service will be on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. The service of Lessons and Carols will feature special music, vocals, and Bible readings by members of multiple area churches representing several different denominations. A dinner will follow the service in the parish hall. All are welcome!

A frightful thunderstorm with heavy rain and lightning passed over the Valley and south Rockbridge early this past Sunday morning. Shortly before 5 a.m., thunder cracked so loudly that the windows and walls of our house shook. Now, I love thunderstorms, but I’m not sure I like them that strong ... in December!