Dear friends,

As I write this, I am anticipating our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

services. What a special blessing it is to have Christmas celebrated on

Sunday!

The season of Christmastide begins on Christmas Day and lasts for

twelve days. Following this season is the Day of Epiphany, on January 6.

This is the day when we remember the gospel story of the Magi (wise

men) seeking the newborn King. They find Jesus, at about two years of

age, and his mother, residing in a house in Bethlehem.

The season of Epiphany follows, with themes of new beginnings and

light. Our gospel stories for the season include Jesus’ baptism, his

beginnings in earthly ministry and his transfiguration, on a mountaintop.

One of my favorite hymns for the season of Epiphany has words by

Kathleen Thomerson:

I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus 
God set the stars to give light to the world The star of my life is Jesus.
In him, there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God; Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
        

May the light of God in Christ shine brightly in our hearts, so that we

may shine for others!

 

In Christ,
Barbara