In some parts of the country, sadly Florida being one of the most egregious examples, a war is being waged on Black history and, by extension, on the Black community. It is sinful. Thank goodness others are standing up to this.
Today, with the Feast of the Epiphany, Christmastide comes to an end. I pray yours has been a time filled with the love and light of the Christ child. Our celebration culminates with the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family. Matthew tells of their following a great star and being overwhelmed with joy when the star stops at their appointed destination. He writes of their entering the house, seeing the child and his mother, kneeling down, paying him homage and offering their gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh (see Matthew 2:1-12). The story is filled with mystery, awe and wonder.
In this week’s “Bishop’s Corner,” we feature the candidates to be the 13th bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. We asked each of them: Describe your relationship with Christ and how it shapes your ministry. Here are there written answers. To read more, visit the candidates’ pages on the
This is the Christmas announcement and the Christmas mystery. The angelic voice is calling us once again, to join the shepherds, and go, now to Bethlehem, “to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So let us go, go and rejoice.
It’s all about God…All about God and God’s grace in Jesus Christ. We are what God has made us. The good works we do, including our financial stewardship, including our giving of time and talent, we do because God made us for these, we do them by God’s grace as our thankful response to the love God has so abundantly and freely bestowed on us. To God be the glory in our serving. To God be the glory in our loving. To God be the glory in our giving. To God be the glory in our living and whenever that day comes, to God be the glory in our dying.
Christmas came into my mother’s dull room in a New York City nursing home last week. It is my prayer that the newborn Christ comes just as surely, and with that same heavenly light and joy that shines, that always shines, in darkness, wherever and whenever that darkness exists.
ECS is already making a meaningful and positive impact across the diocese through its education and advocacy work and through the grants it is making to address vital human needs in this part of God’s dominion. The convergence of ECS Sunday with the Second Sunday of Advent is appropriate and powerful.
Gracious and generous God, giver of all we have and hold as stewards; grant the people of this church a deep and abiding awareness that all that we have-our health, our incomes, our jobs, our talents – are gifts received from your hand. Send your Holy Spirit to help us as we swim against the rising tides of materialism and greed in our culture. Send your Holy Spirit to teach us that we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give! Send your Holy Spirit to remind us that when we give generously and joyfully, we grow in grace and our spiritual lives are transformed as our stewardship becomes a witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. We pray with grateful, thankful hearts, in the name of Jesus, the Christ…AMEN!
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