Merry Christmas
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that we are in the midst of Christmas. This year has gone by fast. This past year has seen some changes at the church, with a new website, a new database, new colleagues, and new energy. I can’t help but think of the passage from Isaiah 9 that says, “The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy.” There is a sense of lightness at Robertson-Wesley. We are truly blessed to be able to worship and serve in such a beautiful and well maintained building, with people who are willing to stand up and speak the truth in love. Over the past year I have heard many stories of how people in the neighbourhood appreciate this community of faith and how we serve people in need. It has been described as a space of peace, and joy. It is a space that provides people with a place to build relationships and to heal. More and more people are choosing Robertson-Wesley to be their home church and to participate in living out God’s call to be welcoming and inclusive. We continue to find ways as a community of faith to help people in need in this neighbourhood as Jesus taught us. We continue to build relationships and partnerships with businesses and organizations all around us. We embody the spirit of unity that was the driving force of the creation of The United Church of Canada back in 1925. The Spirit is truly alive and well among us.
As we walk through the 12 days of Christmas toward Epiphany, I hope and pray that you will take time to reflect on what a gift God has given us in the form of a child named Jesus, our Emmanuel, who reminds us that God is with us and that we are not alone. I want to share a reflection that was written by Ann Weems called “Christmas Comes.” May these words help you to remember the true meaning of Christmas. She writes:
“Christmas comes every time we see God in other persons. The human and the holy meet in Bethlehem or in Time Square, for Christmas comes like a golden storm on its way to Jerusalem - determinedly, inevitably…even now it comes in the face of hatred and warring - no atrocity too terrible to stop it, no Herod strong enough, no hurt deep enough, no curse shocking enough, no disaster shattering enough - for someone on earth will see the star, someone will hear the angel voices, someone will run to Bethlehem, someone will know peace and goodwill: the Christ will be born!” (from Reaching For Rainbows, p. 67).
We have retold the story of Jesus’ birth. May Jesus inspire us to not be afraid, and to stand with one another in love in this world at Christmas time. Blessings be upon you all.
Rev. Karen