During this Advent Season we have been making our Journey to the Manger. Now we get ready to move from Advent to the Christmas Season.
For many, we are feeling relieved that “we made it” to Christmas. However, Christmas season is not over with Christmas Day – it’s only the beginning.
Christmas season includes the Feast of the Holy Family, when we have the opportunity to bless our own families with the gift of faith and the presence of Christ as the center of our homes. Then we have the Feast of Epiphany, when we look to the Star that guides us, as it did the Magi, to discover and give homage to the newborn king. One of our parish traditions is the blessing the doors of our church and our homes to announce that all are welcome and invited to come meet Jesus Christ alongside us. Finally, Christmas season ends with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. We recall our own Baptism and remember that we are children of God. On this day I raise up in prayer Fr. Francis Carberry, the priest that baptized me and Ted and Julia Chabot, my Godparents.
In the meantime, many of us are starting to make New Year’s Resolutions. Our Vision Team met last week, and we made a resolution for 2025. We turned to Divine Renovation (DR) and asked for a DR Coach to help us form a strong Vision Team for our parish so that we can focus on Mission rather than maintenance. This means that we will focus our attention on the primacy of evangelization so that all can know Jesus Christ in a personal way. We have our work cut out for next year. In making the journey to the manger, I heard clearly to break past the little nothings of life and grasp the matters that really matter to God. I am asking you all to pray that God points out the people God wants on our vision team; that we are united in that vision; and that we have a balance in strengths to carry out the vision as we move to “Enable all to grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Your prayer support is greatly needed and appreciated. As we move forward, I will personally keep you posted on our progress.
Many of us make New Years Resolutions and by Mid-February they become a thing of the past. I am counting on all of you to “Hold our Feet to the Fire” and support and encourage us to move with the power of God’s Holy Spirit!