From the Minister

Dear Ones,

Christmas is a big holiday in my family. One of our favorite traditions involves stocking gifts. On Christmas Eve, all the “grown ups” play Santa, as we stealthily add presents — be they silly, yummy, useful, or pretty — to the stockings set out on the hearth. The next morning, we eat breakfast treats as we open our stockings, one by one, admiring and giggling about the items, with shared delight. (Last year, I received a little plastic “screaming goat” that, yes, really screams. We laughed over that ’til our stomachs hurt. Still do!) Our kids first got in on the act when they were still teens and have insisted on participating in this ritual ever since.

Of course, every year is different. This year, one of our kids will be with their boyfriend’s family, which means we won’t exchange stockings with them until mid-January! We will miss having Jaye and their boyfriend with us, but are glad to know they are building new family traditions. We also miss the kids’ grandparents, all of whom are gone now, who brought so much loving care to our Christmases past. We keep some of the traditions they handed down to us, while inventing newer ones — like the stocking exchange — to adapt to our current circumstances.

For those who celebrate Christmas, it can be a poignant holiday. Many of us remember with longing those who are no longer with us or times gone by. Then it becomes necessary to mark the day in new ways, perhaps by creating new traditions that suit our current situations. However you observe Christmas this year, may it be a time of both giving and receiving, in love. And may it bring you comfort and joy.

I close with a prayer that this year will bring peace on Earth, good will to all. May it be so!

Merry Christmas!

Yours in faith,
Rev. Susan