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Thank you to Jenna Scheske for her beautiful photo of Christmas Eve 2017

 

Hello dear ones -

What a joy it has been to be back with you these last couple months. I am delighted to be in ministry with you. I’m proud to be your Minister and you all never fail to amaze me and when I look at each and every one of you, I see the face of Christ.
I also discover God’s love, and I witness the wisdom and beauty of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being you.

I don’t know about you, but since Covid reared its ugly head, it’s a little harder for me to get into the Christmas spirit. A holiday season I normally love and bask in.

Even when I worked retail when my colleagues became Scrooges, I delighted in how busy the store was, with more people to help and a shift that flew by with blissful chaos and magic in the air.

Normally it takes me until at least Advent 1 to feel “Christmasey”.

This makes it a wee bit challenging that my radio stations begin playing Christmas music exclusively in early November. I’m rarely in the mood for it.

But the other night, as I went for a drive in the late hours of the moon I listened to the calm beautiful Christmas music on CHYMFM. I was in a bit of a numb mood, and suddenly the words of the song playing grabbed hold of me.

I can’t tell you the number of times I genuinely believe that Holy Spirit of ours…that she works through the songs that happen to play on the radio to get my attention and remind me I am not alone in profound and mysteriously wonderful ways.

I really encourage you to take the time to listen to “Christmas all the time” by Tom Cochrane:



The acoustic soft melody draws me in, and the lyrics speak to my soul.

“Walking in the snow
Stars shine above us
There's a song that's playing in my head
Talks about love

Good will to all men
Peace in our time
It's a dream that I know
Christmas all the time”

So often as people of faith and Christians we speak of being an “Easter People”. Living out transformation and new beginnings and the gift of Jesus’ life and death.

I appreciated the reminder of this piece: It’s Christmas all the time.

This magical season that brings people and communities together with bright lights sparkling in the night, carol singing at the top of our lungs as we delight in our favourites…and the new life we find in the manger. The unwavering faith we find in Mary and in Joseph and the assurance of the Holy Spirit: Don’t be afraid”.

I know it’s a tall order to invite you to not be afraid. Omicron makes that kinda difficult. Yet I offer these words of assurance to you anyway. May you feel God whisper to you “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. You are loved”

I close with these words of prayer from Joyce Rupp. Perhaps you’d like to read them out loud:

Beloved Presence on the pathway of my life,
thank you for the footprints left on my heart,

the soft and gentle ones that brought comfort,
the deep and lasting ones of enduring friendship,

the lightly passing ones conveying kindness,
the heavy ones leading to necessary change,
and the impressionable footprints swept away

by time or lack of an ability to remember.
Even though lost, forgotten or not recognized,

these visitors have led my to live more fully
the innate goodness residing within me.
How grateful I am for every footstep of growth
I have taken because others have travelled with me.

Peace be with you my friends. Grateful to travel with you, and honoured you travel with me, too.

“I know you'll find peace
In that silent night
You ran the good race
You fought the good fight”


In light and hope,

Meghan
Phil.4:13