A Christmas and New Year Wish

As we dive into Christmas and New Year’s celebrations full swing, attend our parties, family gatherings, churches or celebrate quietly at home, our wish to you is that you can take a few minutes to reflect and feel the presence of the Spirit of peace. Pray, allow yourself to feel the freedom of the love Christ brought into this world 2,000 years ago. What does the humility of the manger signify to you? How can you encourage your loved ones, and strangers, around you and remind them of “good tidings of great joy!”? If shopping was tight due to financial difficulties, take the opportunity to enjoy the many blessings you have, the love that surrounds us all and does not cost a dime, only our acceptance. 

If you need any help with a prayer list for Christmas and the New Year, here’s a start….

• More compassion for the lost, impoverished, hurting and vulnerable
• Healing and restoration between law enforcement and our communities
• A stop to the anti-poor/anti-homeless laws taking hold in parts of the country
• Wisdom, encouragement and protection for President Obama, his whole administration and family
• Peace, hope, a helping hand and mercy to those most in need – “the least of these”
• More of Christ’s light, love and humble servant-hood reflected in His Body
• For Christian Democrats of America – we have big plans for 2015, some of which you will be hearing about in January. We need the support of more members, God’s guidance and wisdom in all actions we take to help further the mission and cause.

We pray also for you! May these scriptures and stories encourage you and help you to feel, whatever your situation may be this year, the Spirit of Christmas and anticipation for a New Year of God’s promises!

Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.