As the new guy in town (while I'm still the new guy in town), I want to say how grateful I am to be here in Pauls Valley. I get to see the beautiful relationships that criss-cross this town and give it its character. I get to see the way people in this town work out their love for each other, the way they do myriad real little things for each other. These things are new and surprising because I'm new in town, and I can look with wonder at all this love that a long-time resident might take for granted.
Walking and not seeing is walking in the darkness. At Christmas, the light of the world was born. God loved us and became flesh for us. Just because it was a small baby does not mean it was a small light. The dawn from on high broke upon us. We love because God first loved us. We can see love in relationships around us because we feel love ourselves. We are loved and so we are able to love. We walk not only in the light, but in full noontime daylight. We feel that much love all around us--love in abundance like light at noon.
My wish for you is that you feel the love of Christmas: the love God has for us, and the love we can have for the baby. My wish for you is that you see the love that is in every human heart, the love that is the love of God in us. My wish for you is that you feel love toward every person you meet. My wish for you is that you see the face of Christ in every person you meet, and that you can love them like loving that baby.
May these blessings of Christmas follow you each and every day,
Pastor Chas.