On behalf of the entire staff and vestry of Saint Gabriel, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
We will come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus once again. As we do, we will hear majestic music from our choir, smell the scent of candles while we sing Silent Night, or capture the fragrance of incense as it rises like a prayer to God above. We will see the colors of green and red, gold and scarlet, and taste the gifts of communion wine and bread. And as we step out into the dark night of Christmas Eve or the blue sky of Christmas morning, may we find ourselves believing that what we have done is something more enduring than opening even the most lovingly wrapped present under the tree.
For we have paid homage and offered worship to the One born to be King!
In a world as fractured and torn asunder by selfishness, pride and, frankly, evil, as ours is, where do we do go, to whom do we turn, except to the Christ child, wrapped as he is in the arms of his weary and holy mother?
As the disciple Peter once admitted to Jesus after many of Jesus’ followers deserted him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
Yes, the true joy and delight of Christmas can only come from the Holy Spirit working in our hearts to draw us to the Christ child. Once found, he can never be abandoned. Once found in him, we can never be abandoned. Alleluia!
The birth of Jesus is more than sentimental story. It is a sign of God’s redeeming love that he became human in order that we might be re-born into his family and share his likeness. As a light shining in the darkness so may his light be shining in us. All grace!
So, come. Come with hearts seeking, searching, questioning, doubting. But do come.
And let us worship the newborn King.
Come, let us adore him!
In his love,
Fr. Chris