I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:10
A Christmas anthem from the 15th century shouts joyfully, “Alleluia, a new work is come on hand. Through might and grace of Goddes Son” a new work is begun when God stoops into our humble lives.
The Christian life is both a Christmas and an Easter life. The Christmas life is the sheer joy and hope of new beginnings with a God who breaks into our reality to redeem, heal, and make us new through the gift of Christ. The Easter life is the sheer joy and hope of new beginnings as God in Christ snaps free the chains of bondage, even to death, and raises us to the life of an unending glory with our creator.
I have sensed both the Christmas and Easter life at St. Peter’s in dynamic ways this year. This past fall, it has felt especially like a Christmas life with a new work come on hand.
A lunch program made itself new so that it could continue to feed hundreds each week. A new gala celebration emerged to celebrate those in our community whose ministry embodies our Crossroads value of welcoming, serving, healing, and celebrating.
A gift of generosity was met with generosity to reduce our mortgage and strengthen us financially for the year ahead.
Each month since September, new households have started worshiping with us and have become engaged in our ministries. We have had our largest topical Bible Study in years this Advent as nearly twenty people gathered together to explore angels - God’s messengers of hope.
Our energy is carrying into the new year as Vestry has already identified a full slate for the next Vestry class and we look forward to reviewing our ministry, identifying our strengths, and uncovering areas of growth for strengthening our work in the year ahead.
Even in ancient places like St. Peter’s, “a new work is come on hand.” As we gather at the manger “adore him, Christ our Lord,” we can take great joy that God continues to act, stir up, and make new in our own lives, in our communities, and in this world.
Jim and I thank you deeply for being our community this past year, and the ten that preceded it, and we wish you and all you love a joy-filled, hope-filled celebration of Christ’s birth.