Kindred in Christ

This week as we will enter the story of Christmas, and once again hear the angel’s proclamation: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward all people.”

“Peace on Earth.” These words echo through centuries, yet they feel so urgent and necessary today. The promise of Christmas is that peace is not a distant dream but a divine calling—a gift we are invited to receive and to share in ordinary and extraordinary ways.

This peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, love, and compassion. It is the kind of peace that reconciles, heals, and restores. It is the peace that Christ came to bring, born humbly in a manger, under the light of a star, for all people.

This week, we gather to proclaim and embody this hope in community. Whether you come carrying the weight of the world or the light of joy, know that you are welcome here. Together, we will sing our favorite carols, light candles against the darkness, and celebrate the birth of the One who leads us in the way of peace.

Let us come together to be reminded of our shared calling to be peacemakers—peace in our homes, peace in our community, and peace on earth. Join us this Sunday for our Paper Bag Christmas Pageant, and Tuesday for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, in collaboration with our friends from Green Lake UMC, as we lift our voices and hearts in celebration and hope.

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz