In the new Forward Today, Scott reflects on making time for grace this season—and “leaving space in this chaotic time for the still, small voice of God to speak or sing of the wonder of Christmas.”
Dear friends in Christ,
As we get closer to Christmas, the pace of life seems to quicken. Those last-minute gifts need to be purchased. Grand meals with family need to be planned and prepared. People who work in the church are readying for larger-than-usual attendance at splendid Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
Amid all that frenetic work, it would be easy to lose sight of the thing we are celebrating.
I invite you to do two things, right now. Read the Christmas story in Luke and then read John’s wonderfully poetic prologue, setting forth the meaning and the glory of Jesus’ birth, the Incarnation of God. Seriously, spend five or ten minutes and just bask in the radiance of what you have read. If you can manage it, find even more time. Enjoy 30 minutes or an hour of silence, leaving space in this chaotic time for the still, small voice of God to speak or sing of the wonder of Christmas.
Let us who follow Jesus not lose sight of what we celebrate at Christmas. Christmas is amazing: the lights, the gifts, the family traditions, the beloved songs. But if we allow commerce or family tradition to govern our celebration of Christ’s birth, we are missing out on the most amazing parts of this feast.
Two thousand years ago, God lived among us. That mystery takes some time to soak in. Luke says how, but John says why. “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”
Make time for grace. You need it. I need it. God knows, our world needs it.
Have a happy and grace-filled Christmas.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
Today’s featured sale product is Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book, which makes a wonderful gift as well as a handsome addition to your own prayer book collection.
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