December 2006
Dear friends,

Happy Holidays! I hope all is well at your end. Things are challenging but wonderful here in North Carolina. As many of you know, my husband and I moved in October to join Isaiah House, an intentional Christian community and hospitality ministry in east Durham. There are eleven people in our "family" now, including several young moms with small children and a baby on the way--fun but crazy! We appreciate your prayers.

Tom is wrapping up his third semester at Duke University Divinity School (three left to go), while I'm polishing up two major writing projects. One is a ministry resource entitled The God-Hungry Imagination: The Art of Storytelling for Postmodern Youth Ministry (Upper Room Books, fall 2007); and the other is a OneYear devotional for Tyndale's youth line (thirsty? fall 2007). I'm also helping our local church begin its first youth confirmation class in over six years--we had our covenant ceremony during worship on Sunday, and it was exciting to see eight youth, their parents and leaders filling the front of the sanctuary! Without a formal youth ministry, this is a big step for our small church.

For those of you who are still Christmas shopping, there's still time to order gifts through www.saraharthur.com. Books are $9.98 apiece, including shipping, and I'm happy to personalize them for the young people in your life. Simply go to the "order" page on my website and follow the instructions, or you can email me your questions and I'll follow up with you.

Blessings to you all this Christmastide! God is with us, Emmanuel.


 ►sarah@saraharthur.com

Since all the world is but a story,
it were well for thee to buy the more enduring story,
rather than the story that is less enduring.

 -- The Judgment of St. Colum Cille
(St. Columba of Scotland)