To the editor:

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in downtown Fort Dodge. When you happen to drive past our church on First Avenue South just west of the round-about, your may have noticed a life-sized creche or nativity scene. This scene has been displayed starting the first Sunday after Thanksgiving through Epiphany. We have displayed this nativity scene for years. What you may have missed is the baby Jesus. I guess someone really needed Jesus in their yard or in their heart. This is the second time the baby has gone missing

I read with interest this past week where a gentleman on South 15th Street had most if not all of his Christmas blow-up decorations vandalized. He has displayed both Halloween and Christmas decorations not only to the delight of his grandson, but to us who drive past. I don’t understand what joy can be derived from deliberately ruining someone’s pleasure and work for the simple delight of family neighbors passing by.

The joy and delight have been the response by the Fort Dodge Fire Department as well as other kind souls. Neighbors, taking care of neighbors who have come together and either replaced or repaired the inflatable decorations in the yard. Now the gentleman’s grandson can once again look forward to flipping the switch and watch the yard come to life with color and whimsical figures.

This season is a season of hope. Not everyone is fortunate enough to experience the real joy of the season which is anticipating the memorial of Jesus’ birth and at the same time preparing for Jesus the Messiah coming again. Folks get trapped by the pressure to get the perfect present, the perfect meal, the perfect decorations; often people end up spending too much who then must face the credit card bill in January. Others simply hope for a warm meal and a warm coat.

St. Mark’s is running its annual coat drive. We have folks who drop in who have no coat or not a warm enough one. We invite people who have more than enough coats to consider dropping some off at the church. We request the coats be clean with working zippers…you get the idea.

What we hope to do is love our neighbor; the neighbor who is walking by or the neighbor who stops and shares some of their treasure. We share non-perishable foods and hygiene products in our little “library” cupboard in front of the church. Another way we love our neighbors. Even the neighbor who decided to borrow the baby Jesus from our nativity. We pray they may have a change of heart and return the baby before Christmas. If not, we pray for their good health and happiness. We hope to invite you in loving your neighbor either here at St. Mark’s or wherever you may feel called.

We look forward in anticipation and hope with joy this Christmas Eve. You are warmly invited to join us in our sanctuary which will be filled with the beautiful sights and sounds of this wonderful night. Along with a promise my sermon won’t take a half an hour! HA! Christmas Blessings, from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

Rev. Kristine Leaman

Priest in charge

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church