The Moderator's Christmas Message
A Christmas to remember?
My first grandchild was born in September. Although she only lives 10 minutes away from me, I’ve yet to be able to hold her. I know a great many of us will have similar stories to tell. Grandchildren, nephews and nieces, aging parents, lonely and isolated friends: a raft of people with whom we would long to share safe physical contact, whether that’s a huge hug or the reassuring touch on their hand or arm to let them know that they are not alone. I, at least, am able to know that this will be quite some story to tell my granddaughter when she is older, but for some people at the other end of life we may never get to reminisce with them after this is all over.
It really has been – and I use the term advisedly – one hell of a year for so many.
I hope that by now you are waiting for the, “And yet…” Well, here it comes! Throughout this, God has not abandoned us. Yes, I know many have experienced isolation, desolation even. But God has been with us, constant and faithful.
How can I be so confident that this is the case, even if God has not been obvious in our life, and in the world as so many millions have been ill and countless families have been plunged into grief because of Covid-19? It is because at the beginning and the end of it all, we have God’s promises.
Jesus came into the world as, “Immanuel” – God with us. He ascended to heaven with the promise, “Surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.” These are words that merit full acceptance, to borrow from 1 Timothy and the assurance of pardon in our service book.
In a world that has been violently unpredictable during 2020, with everything from wildfire to flood, drought, and an as-yet-unresolved Presidential election (will he finally concede defeat when the College of Electors meet in December?) besides the global pandemic and all that has brought us: surely we will be glad to see the back of it and pray that 2021 brings better news.
But hold fast. We already have the best news of all: a baby born in Bethlehem, our true Hope, the True Light, the Saviour of the World. I cannot see that we will have church worship the way we know it and want it for Christmas but there is still so much for which we can thank and praise God.
My prayer for you is that you know the closeness of God in your lives this Christmas and always, and for the help of the Holy Spirit to share Christ’s light in the world.
Steve Faber
Synod Moderator
A Christmas to remember?
My first grandchild was born in September. Although she only lives 10 minutes away from me, I’ve yet to be able to hold her. I know a great many of us will have similar stories to tell. Grandchildren, nephews and nieces, aging parents, lonely and isolated friends: a raft of people with whom we would long to share safe physical contact, whether that’s a huge hug or the reassuring touch on their hand or arm to let them know that they are not alone. I, at least, am able to know that this will be quite some story to tell my granddaughter when she is older, but for some people at the other end of life we may never get to reminisce with them after this is all over.
It really has been – and I use the term advisedly – one hell of a year for so many.
I hope that by now you are waiting for the, “And yet…” Well, here it comes! Throughout this, God has not abandoned us. Yes, I know many have experienced isolation, desolation even. But God has been with us, constant and faithful.
How can I be so confident that this is the case, even if God has not been obvious in our life, and in the world as so many millions have been ill and countless families have been plunged into grief because of Covid-19? It is because at the beginning and the end of it all, we have God’s promises.
Jesus came into the world as, “Immanuel” – God with us. He ascended to heaven with the promise, “Surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.” These are words that merit full acceptance, to borrow from 1 Timothy and the assurance of pardon in our service book.
In a world that has been violently unpredictable during 2020, with everything from wildfire to flood, drought, and an as-yet-unresolved Presidential election (will he finally concede defeat when the College of Electors meet in December?) besides the global pandemic and all that has brought us: surely we will be glad to see the back of it and pray that 2021 brings better news.
But hold fast. We already have the best news of all: a baby born in Bethlehem, our true Hope, the True Light, the Saviour of the World. I cannot see that we will have church worship the way we know it and want it for Christmas but there is still so much for which we can thank and praise God.
My prayer for you is that you know the closeness of God in your lives this Christmas and always, and for the help of the Holy Spirit to share Christ’s light in the world.
Steve Faber
Synod Moderator
