Dear Grace friends and families,

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12

The good news which we celebrate on Christmas is that God has come to us as an infant, fragile and vulnerable, assuming our own human nature. The good news of Christmas is the good news of the mystery of the Incarnation, Jesus fully human and fully divine. The Divine became one of us as an infant, to show us the way to God. Even in the face of darkness and pain, which Jesus  experienced, we know that God walks with us. Christmas is about the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is the celebration of Jesus' birth - the gift of God to us all.

Hmm, the gift of God to us all? Really? Yes! For me, that is one of the most critical pieces to his birth. Jesus came for all of us. Not because we were good or bad or naughty or nice but because God cared and does care about all of us.

In this season of Christmas, when you are pausing to give thanks and/or when you are feeling down, take a moment to thank God for the gift of loving each and every one of us for who we are - God's beloved children. In the moments when you are finding yourself irritated with someone who disagrees with you, remind yourself that they are part of the "to us all" folks.

We live in a day and time where persecution and violence abound. I believe that if we were to take seriously and act with the knowledge that God sent Jesus for the entire world, the angels would no longer be heard saying, "Do not be afraid."

This Christmas, may we work towards a world where all are loved and celebrated as part of the gifts of God.

Thank you all for being a gift to Grace and to the world.

Peace,

Thank you for all that you do for Grace Church. As you look towards financial donations for the end of the year 2013, we pray that you will give generously to Grace Church in support of the many ministries that touch the lives of many around the community.

Click below to donate toward the Christmas offering:

Please join us this Sunday, December 22, when A Service of Lessons & Carols will be prayed at Grace Church.  The service will begin at 4:00 p.m., and all are welcome.  An open house at the rectory will follow the service.   

The service will feature six movements of a work by Dennis Northway entitled "Songes to an Holpen Bairn" written in the summer of 2010.   The work is scored for treble voices and harp, and will be presented in the context for which it was originally scored.  We look forward to welcoming Erin Freund as the harpist. There is no admission fee and no advance reservations.

Open House at the Rectory (the house adjoining the church, and home of Shawn, Vicki, Snitch and Weasley)

 

 Sunday, December 22
Immediately following Lessons and Carols (around 5PM)

Come and meet other parishioners, Schola families and more!