December 22ndA Christmas Greeting from Michael Pahl and MCM Staff
“ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
Christmas is like a gift with many gifts tucked inside it. There is the gift of Jesus as Immanuel, “God with us,” signifying the nearness of God, immediately present to each of us in Christ. There is the gift of God’s incarnation, God taking on human flesh in Jesus of Nazareth, sanctifying our humanness, blessing our embodiment in the world. There is the gift of God’s promises fulfilled in Christ, promises of a world made new, God’s reign of justice and peace and flourishing life brought down from heaven to earth.
We celebrate these and other gifts each year as we sing our Christmas carols and tell our Gospel stories of Jesus’ birth. Every gathering we are able to have, however small, in which we share our joy and voice our hope, in which we encourage peace and nurture our love, is a celebration of the many gifts of Christmas.
On behalf of the staff that serve us together as Mennonite Church Manitoba, let me extend our heartfelt wish for each of you, that you would know the presence of Christ during the Christmas season, bringing hope, peace, joy, and love, even in troubled times.
“Thanks be to God for God’s indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Michael Pahl
Executive Minister
Christmas 2021