Bishop's Christmas Message |
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“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”
(St. Luke 2:11)
These words spoken by the angelic host are from the Christmas Story, passed on from generation to generation for centuries. It continues to spread warm and joyful feelings today, even as it did over two thousand years ago. What is so magical and compelling about this story is that our Savior is born and invites us into a personal relationship with God. Sisters and brothers, think of a time when someone invited you into a personal relationship. These same feelings were the expression of the angels to the shepherds.
The message of Christmas is about God coming among us, not as a lofty king, rather as a humble child born in a dark stable, in the home of a simple yet righteous family. This is the most profound testimony of revealing God’s love for all humans. In the fullness of time, chosen in the wisdom of God, the Son of God took for himself our common sinful humanity in order to restore us to the Creator. He came to transcend evil and restore righteousness, while conquering darkness and unleashing authentic hope in the goodness of human nature. And so, at the birth of our Lord the angels sing with joy: “Glory to God in the highest,” and they proclaim, “Peace to all people on earth”.
It is our story still – Christ is born: let us glorify him with the angels and all creation. Christ comes down from heaven: let us go out to meet him. Christ our Lord is here in the flesh. He shares in the poverty of our flesh that we may share in the riches of his Godhead. In this Christmas season, let us give reverence to the nativity, which releases us from the chains of evil! Let us honor the little child of Bethlehem, who restores us to paradise; let us reverence the manger because from it we are fed with divine understanding, the Word of God!
The Christmas scene is a constant reminder that God gave us family to get through the ordinary days of our lives when nothing much is happening, and the bad days when we feel very much alone. The consoling message of Christmas is that God is a part of our family now as much as in heaven. Part of our joy at Christmas comes not only because God came to our home to share our humanity, but that one day we will share the eternal joy of being in God’s home.
While we clearly acknowledge the times are troubling and uncertain due to health and safety concerns brought about by covid-19 and associated variants, do remember the angels were singing on the day when God almighty was born as a human being. Christ was born into this sometimes-disordered world and his coming changed things. He who has survived numerous wars, natural disasters, untold pandemics and epidemics still reigns eternal as our HOPE, JOY and LOVE!
We join with all our Episcopal families across the diocese, and by extension the global Christian community, to honor and reiterate the importance of family life. We are encouraged by this message to gather families and loved ones together to share the spirit of the Christmas season. And I do so cognizant of the caution to observe health and safety protocols. Let me reiterate the need for all of us to be vigilant and wear your masks. Be your own self-advocate!
Also, as we use this time to share quality time with family and friends, let us be mindful of the neighbor at our door who may be unable to experience the joy of the season, simply because their condition in life deprives them of the same opportunity. Let us lend a helping hand to make Jesus part of their holiday experience, so that the light of the Christ child’s divine presence shines brightly for them.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR
BELOVED SISTERS & BROTHERS IN CHRIST!
We love you!
+San & Lynn
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Convocation Meeting
February 2nd at 7:00 pm will be the second of two Convocation Meetings leading up to our March 5th Diocesan Convention.
February 2nd at 7:00pm
Meeting ID: 841 7895 6425
Passcode: 413784
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Bishop San's Tornado Appeal
Our prayers, hearts and thoughts are fixated on the beloved citizens and residents of the six states (Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois) struck by a series of powerful tornadoes on Saturday, December 11, 2021... To this end, the Bishop’s Christmas Appeal is officially launched to raise funds, all of which will be donated to Episcopal Relief and Development earmarked for Tornado Relief. The Bishop’s Appeal extends from Advent 2021 to Epiphany 2022.
Please be generous with your gifts. You may mail or deliver your contribution to the Diocese of Easton, 314 North Street, Easton, MD 21601, and please include in the memo line Bishop’s Tornado Appeal or donate online.
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Christmas Office Hours
The Bray House staff would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyful and blessed New Year!! We hope this holiday season is filled with good health, lots of happiness and joy, and may your homes be filled with much love and laughter! The Bray House offices will be closed on December 23rd and 24th as well as December 30th and 31st. Our office will be closed December 27th thru the 29th, however our phones will be answered remotely if you need assistance.
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Bishop Marray joined in joyful celebration honoring the Food Pantry volunteers and the leadership of the Rev. Deacon Barbara Coleman, at the Annual Christmas Party at St. Andrew’s, Hurlock on Thursday, December 9th. He distributed monetary gifts to those who selflessly kept the Food Pantry open during the peak of the pandemic over the past two years. The Food Pantry continues to serve over 100 clients each Wednesday; receiving a food package to feed a family of 4-5. The Bishop returned to St. Andrew’s on the 12th of December for his Annual Visitation, where he commended the pastoral leadership of Rev. Deacon Barbara Coleman for the stability brought to the congregation and gradual increase in membership. All these point to good signs for the church in the Hurlock community.
A joyous noise was heard at All Faith Chapel, Tunis Mills yesterday, December 19th where the Bishop joined the congregation for their Annual Lessons and Carols. He commended the leadership of the Vestry together with their Rector, the Rev. Canon Patrick Collins for maintaining a robust, steady and solid ministry in the bucolic town of Tunis Mills.
Bishop San also celebrated a joyful baptism and a lovely Christmas dinner with La Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia yesterday for their 4:00 pm service. He was impressed with their improving attendance.
The bishop is reporting a very healthy indicator across the diocesan family for the year 2021. He is continuing to encourage everyone to believe in the good and fruitful ministry our parishes are exercising even in this the second year of living and ministering in a global pandemic. From his vantage point and in his visitation and engagement with the faithful, he is very optimistic that the mission of God is very much alive and well and attributes this confidence to faithfulness and commitment of clergy and lay leadership.
Next visitation . . . Sunday, December 26th – St. Paul’s, Trappe.
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Thank you for your continued support
of the mission and ministries of our Diocese.
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Bishop San is encouraging the continued use of masks and to please get vaccinated and/or to make sure you get your booster if you haven't already done so to help slow the spread of Covid-19 and especially the new Omicron variant and to be safe while gathering with family and friends.
Make an appointment to get vaccinated by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or by calling COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829) seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find other vax site locations near you at covidvax.maryland.gov. Federal Government vaccine finder - visit Vaccines.gov or text your zip code to 438829 to find a location near you.
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Keep on slowing the spread of COVID-19 by
watching your distance, washing your hands and wearing your mask.
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Prayers of the People
Please continue to keep in your prayers those infected with Coronavirus, those who have died as a result of the virus, and medical personnel, first responders and front line workers.
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Pastoral Concerns
We pray for continued healing and comfort for the following people and their families: for The Rev. Paula E. Clark bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and her husband, Andrew McLean. The Rev. Kevin Cross. The Rev. Bryan Glancey & Barbs Glancey. The Rev. Jim Kamihachi & Weasie Kamihachi. Art Kendall. The Rev. Ron Knapp. Art Leiby. Tom Mendenhall. The Rev. George Merrill. Becky Richardson. Larry Samuels. The Rev. Pete Stanton.
We pray for the many lives that have been affected by the Coronavirus. For those who have died; for the family members that mourn their loss. For those who continue to heal and for the skilled caregivers that continue to fight this disease – we pray for you.
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Diocesan Prayer Calendar
Fourth Sunday of Advent
(December 19th)
We give thanks for the witness of God’s people at All Faith Chapel, Tunis
Mills, and for their Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Canon Patrick Collins, and
his wife, Loretta.
Christmas Day
(December 25th)
We pray for our retired Deacons: Penny Morrow, George Murray, Melody Sutherland, Carol Callaghan, Dick Bunting and Don Whalen.
First Sunday after Christmas
(December 26th)
We give thanks for the witness of God’s people at St. Paul’s, Trappe, and
for the lay leadership in the absence of clergy.
Second Sunday after Christmas
(January 2nd)
We give thanks for the ministry of the Board of Managers, celebrating 12 years of investment leadership and stewardship of diocesan funds.
First Sunday after the Epiphany
(January 9th)
We give thanks for the witness of God’s people at St. Philip’s, Quantico, and their Deacon-in-Residence, Laura McCarthy.
For additional weeks, please visit our website.
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Communication from the
Office of the Presiding Bishop
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“The Christmas stories are reminders that this Jesus came to show us how to love as God loves. And one of the ways we love as God loves is to help those who are refugees, those who seek asylum from political tyranny, poverty, famine, or other hardship.
“In the 1930s, Episcopalians did this to love as God loves, and today, ministries like Episcopal Migration Ministries, the work of this church, have helped to resettle some 100,000 refugees as of December 2021. And that work goes on for refugees from Afghanistan and from other places around the world.
“The Christian vocation as Jesus taught us is to love as God loves. And in the name of these refugees, let us help all refugees.
“God love you. God bless you. And, this Christmas, may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.”
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
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