It will come whether we are ready for it or not.
It won’t matter what is not yet purchased, or wrapped, or baked, or mailed.
It won’t matter that we are not yet emotionally or spiritually, or physically
prepared to entertain this miracle.
It will still make its way through the wintery dark,
illumining everything in its wake.
It will come, as it always does, in spite of the cold and our disbelief.
It will come, as it always does, bringing a warmth greater than 10,000 suns.
Christmas is coming.
It will bring with it all the memories of Christmas past.
The arguments. The disappointments. The unreconciled guilt.
It will bring with it all the hopes of Christmas to come.
The sweet peace. The quiet joy. The brilliant hope.
Christmas is coming.
And at the center of the entire endeavor is an infant child;
too small to save himself, let alone all the broken people of this world.
He is a human infant and so he wets and soils his swaddling clothes.
He cries. He burps. He sleeps. He smiles.
He does not yet know it, but before long, he will.
Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Christmas is coming.
I hope you will celebrate this great holy event at one of our many liturgies over the next several days.
I hope you will come to church on Sunday morning at 8, 9, and 11 am to celebrate the 4th Sunday in Advent.
I hope you will come to the Candlelight Carols service on Sunday evening at 5 pm and bring your friends and family.
I hope you will come to the Christmas Pageant at 4 pm on Christmas Eve and watch our children tell the great story as only children can.
I hope you will come to the Light in the Darkness liturgy on Saturday at 6 pm and experience a service of hope.
I hope you will come to our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services and enjoy the glories of these extraordinary liturgies.
Christmas is coming!!!
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, D.D.
Rector