Dear Friends,
I’ve always loved Christmas. The message of the angels is simple: The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for all people. God has come to us in the form of a newborn child, and we rejoice in the gift of a Savior.
This does not mean that our lives and our world are not complicated. For many, this has been a difficult year. There is global conflict, continued economic uncertainty, and a growing political divide here at home. Our world needs Christmas hope, peace, and joy as much as ever.
In our yearly remembrance of the birth of Jesus, there is an invitation: to set aside the anxiety that comes from the complicated, the challenging, and the difficult parts of our lives, and to trust that God’s infinite goodness and mercy are with us. We are not alone in what we face, we have a Savior who has entered into our human existence, and with the angels, we rejoice.
This is the true meaning of Christmas: Through the gift of Jesus being born in Bethlehem, God is with us, bringing good news even into the most difficult situations. My prayer for you this year is that your Christmas celebrations will bring you closer to God and to your loved ones. May you rejoice at the message of the angels, and may Jesus the Messiah bring you Christmas hope, peace, and joy.
Christmas blessings to you and yours,
Bishop Sally French
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The Right Reverend Sally French
Bishop of New Jersey
