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O Come, Let Us Adore Him!
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Christmas Season, 2024
Dear Beloved of our Holy Trinity,
As we enter the Christmas Season we often find ourselves surrounded by family, friends and the lovely siblings we have come to know and love in our church communities. Meals are shared and fellowship is freely received and given.
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Oftentimes in the middle of these celebrations or afterwards, in quiet moments, we slow down and travel through our memories of Christmases past where loved ones, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and dear friends come back to us.
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We remember their goodness and generosity. We savor their hospitality and kindness.
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We share the stories of how it was back then and what was said and done to bring us love and joy.
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We are so thankful for what they gave to us and we yearn for their presence once again.
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While the past can and should be blessed, there is nothing like small children to call us into the here and now, especially at Christmas time.
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Those of us who parent small children and those of us who get to be grandparents, those of us who are aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins and godparents to these little ones are invited to participate in life in the moment as it is happening.
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One might want to just sit back and reverently observe this life, especially for newborns, but sooner or later you will be taken by the hand and invited to dance, sing, and play.
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I always like to ask those who spend significant time with little ones...
"Are these young ones making you older faster
or keeping you younger longer?"
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"Besides giving and drawing out our love, children not only call us to live in the present but also make us put a stake in the ground for their future.
How can we fall into despair regarding the state of the country/world when we are committed to working for the best for the next generations?"
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At this Christmas time, I pray that we will glory in the revelation that God became a vulnerable child and shared in all our joy, wonder, pain and sorrow.
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As a child, Emmanuel, takes us by the hand and invites us into the dance of here and now.
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My prayer for us is that we will accept the invitation anew.
I pray that we will recognize the God Child not just of the past, but here in the present, in our families, in our communities and especially around the world where so many are living on the edge of survival.*
| May our hearts experience the presence of the Divine anew in our children and allow all these children to help us recognize the beauty of who we are and how we are called to be a Holy and Beloved Family. |
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Photo Credits
The second photo was taken at a gathering with Bishop Pablo at All Souls ECC, in Reading, PA. All other photos are family members of Bishop Pablo and Carolyn Sue Cecil. The last photo is from Mount St. Joseph Ursuline Motherhouse, Maple Mount, Kentucky taken by Carolyn Sue Cecil.
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