Dear Friends,

These words were the closing ones at this year’s Community Carol Service.

When the song of the angels is stilled

When the star in the sky is gone

When the kings and princes are home

When the shepherds are back with their flocks

The work of Christmas begins

To find the lost,

To heal the broken

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among the people (Howard Thurman)

I think these words are a reminder that God became human to remake the world.

So I hope your homes are places of peace and joy this Christmas. And that, when the decorations are taken down, the celebration food is all eaten and the kids are back at school, we can remind ourselves that the work of Christmas for 2023 will begin. I hope you will be part of it.

Have a happy and hopeful Christmas.

Much love, Liz