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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
Are you headed toward the manger in Bethlehem today? Does your heart  somehow yearn to gaze upon a poor, unmarried, vagabound couple who is searching for some space to give birth to God's own self and Son?
It feels almost impossible to believe in such a miracle. Each year we read Luke's account about an Angel of the Lord's announcement of The Messiah's birth, not in a glorious palace in Jerusalem, but in a sloppy feeding trough. The irony of the passage is lost upon us. Angelic messengers of the Most High praise God while giving thanks for the birth of God's Son who Mary wraps in tattered cloths and woos to sleep in a crib hardly fit for a Divine King.
Anglican Divine, cleric, and poet Jeremy Taylor crafted this poem in the 17th Century at a time as chaotic and confusing as that first Christmas morning in Bethlehem and our own. Taylor wrote:
HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY
Where is this blessed Babe
That hath made
All the world so full of joy
And expectation;
That glorious boy
That crowns each nation
With a triumphant wreath of blessedness?
Where should he be but in the throng,
And among
His angel ministers, that sing
And take wing
Just as may echo to his voice,
And rejoice,
When wing and tongue and all
May so procure their happiness?
But he hath other waiters now:
A poor cow,
An ox and mule, stand and behold,
And wonder
That a stable should enfold
Him that can thunder.
O what a gracious God have we,
How good! how great! even as our misery.
Somehow, some time -if just for a few minutes - I pray that you and I can approach the manger in Bethlehem with humility as well as wonder, belief as well as belovedness for our omnipotent God who loves us by coming to dwell among us in profound, awe-full, humble ways including a re-occuring birth as a baby away in a manger with no crib, royal or otherwise, for a bed.
Blessings Along The Way to The Manger and Beyond throughout Christmas-Tide,
Jim+ |
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| Christmas Eve @ St. Luke - 5:00 PM Saturday - Dec. 24th |  | | Join Anisa+ and special musical guests for a special service of Christmas Carols, communion, and family-friendly worship in St. Luke's cozy and Christ-filled sacred space,
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| Christmas Eve @ St. James - 10:30 PM Saturday - Dec. 24th |  | |
Candlelight Christmas Eve at St. James includes special music, communion, and a special message for children and adults alike. Bring you little ones in pajamas and celebrate Christ's birth on a most holy night.
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| Christmas Day @ St. James - 10:00 AM - Sunday - Dec. 25th |  | Christmas Day's Eucharist offers traditional Rite II Book of Common Prayer worship and a couple of A Capella hymns. Come to Church on Sunday Morning and offer thanks for Jesus Christ's birth.
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Offer Someone a Ride
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The weather and darkness outside offers many of our members and guests challenges to come to church. How about lending them a hand and offering them a ride to/from Church this weekend. You probably know someone who might not be able to worship with us this weekend because of the time of day or other constraints. Why not get in touch with them and invite them to come to worship with you?
You probably know of someone else who would benefit from spending some time beholding the Christ-Child's birth this year. Please invite them to come with you too.
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Once In Royal David's City  Once in royal David's city,Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
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