Bush Family Attends Christmas Eve Services in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas —  President-elect George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, served Communion on Sunday night during a Christmas Eve service at their church here.

The couple, twin daughters Barbara and Jenna, and Laura Bush’s mother, Jenna Welch, attended the service at Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin.

Entering the church, Bush said he hopes “all families in America have a wonderful Christmas.”

Senior pastor Jim Mayfield urged the congregation not to lose sight of the significance of the Christmas story. “Are we so full of the importance of our agendas, so weighted down by what we think are our important schedules, that there’s no room for something as familiar as this story?” he asked.

The church was packed to the balconies and decorated with wreaths and poinsettias, some of which the Bushes donated in memory of family members.

The former Texas governor spent Saturday at his 1,600-acre ranch in Crawford, about a two-hour drive from Austin, while his wife remained at the Governor’s Mansion to supervise packing for the family’s move to Washington next month.

After Christmas in Austin, the Bushes were joining relatives for a short vacation in Boca Grande, Fla., the state that was key to winning the presidency and where his brother Jeb is governor.

A trip to Washington was planned for later this week for Bush to attend transition meetings.