A Message From Bob Henderson 
Dec. 24, 2015
Dear friends:
 
On this Christmas Eve, I hope you'll join me in pausing to appreciate the blessings of the year past. This year, in particular, has been rich for our family. Children have been home for holidays, friendships have been borne and renewed, work has been rewarding and good health in full supply. We're grateful to our bones.
 
One particular blessing this year was the opportunity to take a sabbati�cal. For ten weeks in the summer, my schedule was open to do as I pleased, and I certainly tried to make the most of it. I enjoyed a week of solitude while hiking and biking in the high desert country of Utah. I hi�bernated in a log cabin in North Caro�lina and luxuriated in fine literature. I renewed old friendships across the south and even fulfilled a life-long dream of hiking the Dolomites while staying in old farmhouses (called rifugios) and meeting other hikers from across the globe. Each expe�rience exceeded every hope and expectation.
 
So, when I was asked upon return, to name my single favorite experi�ence on sabbatical, I paused to scan all my memories and was surprised by tears welling up in my eyes when realized my answer. "Sharing dinner with my whole family," I said. "One night I sat down with Suzanne, our three children, as well as my mother, and we shared fine food and great laughter for nearly two hours. It was lovely, sacred, nothing less than God's finest gift." I loved every minute of it.
 
Of all the things Christmas is about -- and it is about a lot, gifts, memories, rituals, faith -- more than anything it's about love. Love born into our midst. Love shared with dear ones. Love expressed to new family mem�bers. Love recalled for family mem�bers no longer with us. It's about love, God's love born into the world that equips us to love fearlessly, love with abandon.
 
German theologian Helmut Thielicke put it beautifully. "All loving," he said, "is ultimately thanksgiving for the fact that we ourselves have been loved." (The Waiting Father, p.168)
 
The whole foundation of Christmas -- God's son being born into the world -- reminds us that we are loved. The birth of the baby, when we understand it as a gift that conveys God's unconditional love, says to you and me-you matter, you have value, your life is worth my love. May you experience such love on this sacred day.

Warmly,
Bob Henderson's Signature
Bob Henderson, senior minister

PS: We hope that you will share some of that love at our worship services today (11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) as our Session has dedicated our entire Christmas Eve offering to our work here in Charlotte at Highland Rennaissance Academy, in Avery County at Crossnore Elementary's after-school program, and Kenya at the Renguti school. To learn more details, please visit our website. Also, please join me Sunday, Dec. 27 for one worship service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary.  
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