It is my joy and honour to write a Christmas Greeting on behalf of Bishops Don and Trudy Harvey, Stephen and Nona Leung and Trevor and Dede Walters, Ron and Jan Ferris and Malcolm and Mary Lou Harding and myself and my wife, Judy. It is our prayer for you all, your families and the congregations you represent that you may experience a very wonderful Christmas celebration and a happy entry into what promises to be a very exciting, 2013!
As long as I can remember, I have always loved the Gospel of Luke. Even when I was very sporadic at Bible reading, as a child growing up, if I did read the Bible, I usually started with the Gospel of Luke.
Now many years later, I still love Luke. One of the reasons is because of the first two chapters which give such wonderful information about the birth of Jesus.
The message of the angels to this rag-tag band of shepherds in the hills by Bethlehem is one of my favourite parts. First of all, it is personally so important (“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11) But more than that, their message also gives a mandate for gospel proclamation to every person around the world. (“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10)
Dear friend, Jesus was born in Bethlehem for you. And later he died on a cross and rose again for you. He ascended to heaven and one day will surely return for you. This is not being self-indulgent. It is not being self-centred. Such a viewpoint is exactly what the angels heralded that glorious night.
But he came not just for you. He came for everyone, everywhere. Jesus came to this world with every person in mind and he is needed by every person whether they know it or not.
This is good news for the world- good news of great joy which shall be for all people.
It is also a huge call to those who have already been found by this same Jesus to make him known as generously and as broadly as we possibly can. Surely this is why in our mission statement as ANiC states that we are seeking to “build Biblically-faithful gospel-sharing Anglican churches.”
No surprise that the shepherds having encountered the baby Jesus exactly as the angels had told them, it says: “and when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” (Luke 2:17.18)
If Christmas rightly is a time for sharing, and it is, then sharing the message of Jesus with people is the most meaningful and most important gift you could ever share. You can’t share what you don’t have, so make sure you yourself have received him. But then please make provision this Christmas time and throughout 2013 for extravagant sharing of him who was born for everybody.
Go ahead please make your Christmas a time for sharing Jesus with the people around you. The world will be better for it.
Christmas love and greetings to you and all you love!
Dear friends,
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