A Christmas Message from The Rev. Victoria Pretti, Priest-in-Charge

Dear People of God,

Thank you once again for welcoming my husband Anthony and me into your parish family this Advent!  We continue to be deeply moved by your faith, goodness, generosity, and commitment to God and to one another.  We’re proud to be part of a community that really believes and lives the Good News that God is Love, and that welcomes and cherishes all people, even as all people are welcomed and cherished by God in Jesus Christ.  It is truly a great joy and privilege to be here with all of you, and we look forward to living the gospel of Christ and building the Kingdom of God with you, right here and right now.

The beautiful image on this card reminds me of the lyrics from one of my very favorite Christmas songs.  It was written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, and is entitled “Mary Did You Know?”  Here are some of the lyrics from that song:   

               Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water;
               Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters …
               Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod;
               And when you kiss your little baby, you’ve kissed the face of God?

We’ve heard the Christmas story so many times that we often seem to take it all for granted.  But please take some time during this very busy season to remember the unfathomable mystery that it proclaims:  God has become a human being! 

The ultimate creative Majesty of all eternity, the Source of all being, the One through Whom and in Whom and for Whom all things exist, the One Whose heart beats at the very center of the cosmos, the Mystery most of us call God has become a human being,  in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

And the miracle doesn’t stop there, because by the power of the Incarnation all things have been reconciled … reconnected … to God.  The heart of God now beats in every heart; and the breath of God now breathes in every one of us.  And I do mean every one of us …  young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, weak and strong,  black and white and every possible color in between.  No one is excluded from the miracle that is given to us in the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ our Saviour.

So kiss the face of God … in your child, your spouse, your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your neighbors.  And rejoice!  Christ is born ... today and every day!  Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth! 

I pray every blessing for you and those you love this Christmas and New Year.

Joyfully yours in Christ,