Christmas greetings

​It was 50 years ago today that Apollo 8 emerged from traversing the dark side of the moon. This was a first. The world waited anxiously as they went into a forced silence behind the moon, unable to communicate with earth. 

They were completely separated. When they reemerged, there were shouts of relief, and then the astronauts took a first-ever picture of the earth rising over the moon's horizon. 

Apollo 8 went from separation to sharing a profound photo of our shared identity and our shared home. For all of the differences that we insist separate us, the photo above reminds us of our essential identity.

Likewise, when God enters our world in the ordinariness of Jesus' birth, all creation is sanctified, all human life is revealed as cherished by God, and hopefully we can begin to better realize our shared communion. 

May Christmas help us all to appreciate the blessing of creation and the blessing of each other. May Christmas renew our love of God who loves us as much as His willingness to leap from heaven and into the humble Bethlehem manger.
May peace and joy fill your hearts and homes this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and remain with you all long afterwards. 

And of course, know that you are all welcome to join us this Christmas Eve at 7PM as we gather in Jesus' house to celebrate Jesus' birthday with song, Scripture and community.
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A Blessed Christmas to You!