MEADOWBROOK UNITED CHURCH

2 Flemington Drive, Kingston 19

December 21, 2020

From the Acting Minister’s Desk

Dear Friends,

Another Christmas has moved within our thinking, and our minds linger over many different moments in our own lives and the state of our nation and world.  Indeed, we are living today in a troubled world, when tensions between East and West become greater rather than less, when moral and spiritual confusion is widespread and the hearts of men and women fail within them for worry and fear.  The world has experienced a year unlike any other we have seen in modern times due to COVID-19.  There is a strange irony in the usual salutation, “Merry Christmas,” when so many millions of people on this planet are thrown back upon themselves for food which they do not have, for resources that have long since been exhausted and for vitality which has already run its course.

Despite this condition, the inescapable fact remains that Christmas symbolizes hope even at a moment when hope seems utterly fantastic.  Life keeps affirming the margin of hope in the presence of desolation, pandemic, darkness and despair.

The message of Christmas is that in the fullness of time there came One who said, “I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8: 12).  Let this be a moment of decision on the part of each of us to light candles this Christmas –

Candles of joy despite all sadness,

Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,

Candles of courage for fears ever present,

Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days, Candles of compassion to ease heavy burdens,

Candles of love in the midst of hatred.

Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen.  Lamps do not talk, but they do shine.  A light house sounds no drums, it beats no gong; and yet far over water its friendly spark is seen by the mariner.”

Our Christianity is worthless unless it is seen.  We have lit candles in the sanctuary in The Advent Season but let us light candles that will burn all the year long and inspire all our living.  Let us do so:

In the home – by love and unselfishness

In the business – by honesty and diligence

In society – by purity, courtesy and humility

Toward the unfortunate – by sympathy and mercy

Toward the weak – by helpfulness and patience

Toward the wicked – by overcoming evil without compromise

Toward the strong – by trusting and cooperation with good

Toward the non-Christians - by witnessing to Christ and His Gospel

Toward the penitent – by forgiveness and restoration

Toward the fortunate – by rejoicing with them without envy

Toward God – by reverence, love and obedience

May the candles we light this Christmas, the expressing of our Christianity be moments of renewal and may The Christ of Christmas cause us to affirm joy in the experience of living and hope in the presence of desolation and despair.  The light, love, peace and hope of God be with you all as we look to the New Year.

Yours in Christ,

Derik R Davidson

Acting Minister