Christmas 2025

Dear All Saints’ Family and Friends,

This year, the first lesson on the First Sunday of Advent came from Isaiah. The passage ends with an invitation to the community to “come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:5) In these weeks leading up to Christmas the days grow shorter and the hours of darkness increases. Life can also become more harried, stressful and noisy, and we may despair over the troubles of our broken world. In the midst of all these things, we are a people of expectation and hope, because we have the light of the Lord.

Think of the Advent wreath. On each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, we light one more candle on the wreath. With each additional candle, the light grows stronger and brighter, and we are reminded that the “light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” (John 1:5) We are called to walk in the light of the One who came, comes, and will come again.

An Advent reflection by an unknown author, reads:

The deeper the darkness

the brighter the light shines.

For love refuses

to be extinguished by despair.

Resilience and hope cannot be quenched

while the light of love burns steadily,

fueled by courage and by compassion.

Look for the light

and there you will find love.

~ posted on revgalblogpals.org

Let us pray that our church community will draw closer to the Lord who is the light of the world, that Jesus will fill each of us with his light, and that we will share his light – his promises and blessings and love – with others, this Christmas and always.

Blessings to you and yours this Christmastide and a safe, healthy, happy New Year.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Maxine Barnett, Rector