Brothers and Sisters Good Evening,

AT THIS time of year “when darkness can fall so deeply

in different ways, it’s important to recall the brighter
moments in our life and our human experience,”
“Hardship, bereavements, natural disasters and failures,
can either overwhelm and paralyze us or they can
awaken our hope and rally our strength to help one
another
“The challenges we now face is to bring encouragement
to one another. Just as an individual may spiral down
into a state of depression, so too, a community can allow
itself to be overwhelmed by negativity.
“Nobody wants to minimize the pain that many are
suffering, but having a positive attitude and coming
together to support each other, really can help us to get
through these difficult times . . .”
We “need a new vision of society as one extended family,
a single community of persons committed to one another
by obligations of love and respect. To love means to give
and receive that which can neither be bought nor sold.”
“There was a man at the time of Jesus’ birth who is
almost always overlooked. The inn keeper. This good
man did what he could for the stranded couple for whom
there was no room in the inn. He provided safety and
shelter.”
“As a hard Christmas (in several senses) comes and goes,
our plea to each and every member of our community -
be a good Samaritan, this Christmas, and every day next
year to someone. There is more to living than simply
caring for ourselves and our own interests, however
important or challenging they may be.”
“The expectations of past years have had a profound
effect on the mindset of so many of us. It is this that is
challenged by the message of Christmas. For those
hurting most, such must go beyond any exchange of
gifts. It must be developed in terms of burdens shared,
and a deep generosity of heart.”
We would like to take a moment to say thank you.  we
are so grateful for how you have served so sacrificially
this past year. Unselfishly giving what you have in times
when a brother or sister is in need. Thank you for the
leaders in leading prayer groups; serving grieving
members and their families; or simply serving snacks
during prayer meetings; setting up for worship; playing
music; serving on an online or face to face ECLS and
various community projects, or any one of the countless
other (usually unseen) tasks that keep our community
running, we are so grateful. Thank you so much for all
you have done!  Have a very merry Christmas.
God Bless!