This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In Advent, we are called as a church to prepare, watch, and wait for the coming of the Lord. On Christmas Eve during the nighttime services, as we hear the story of Christ's birth and sing “Silent Night,” the waiting ends. We sing songs of exultation, gladness, joy, and peace! And most importantly, we embrace a spirit of hope.

In that spirit of hope, we proclaim that we believe in the enduring power of love, truth, goodness, and justice despite a world that seemingly glorifies the opposite again and again. It is this belief in the power of love and truth despite all evidence pointing to the contrary that caused Michael Curry to label us "Crazy Christians," and perhaps that is what we are.

On Christmas, we celebrate the crazy notion that love can conquer all because God is Love! In a world filled with doom-scrolling on Christmas, we are reminded that our faith calls us to look up to the heavens rather than down at our phones. In a world filled with people selling fear, we are called to remember the words of the angels that proclaimed to all, "Be not afraid." In a world where violence is glorified, we follow the Prince of Peace, who was swaddled and laid to rest in a manger.

I wish you a Merry Christmas, and pray that we might be bold in our love and joy, and I pray that through that love and joy, our collective light will shine. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I pray we can carry his hope and his love into tomorrow.

Peace,

Mitch