Rev. Michelle's Message December 26, 2024

Happy Second Day of Christmas, Second Day of Hanukkah, and First Day of Kwanzaa! And in the UK, it’s Boxing Day (not religious, but a holiday for some nevertheless)! There are so many different traditions coinciding on this blessed day. Let us hold in our hearts and join in prayerful solidarity with all those who are celebrating and honoring their sacred traditions at this time.

At this time of the year, I like to revisit the following powerful words written by the great American author, philosopher, theologian, Christian mystic, educator, and civil rights leader, Howard Thurman.

The Work of Christmas by Howard Thurman

 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,

To make music in the heart. 

I love this poem because it reminds us that when all the excitement of Christmas has ended, it is time for us to get back to the work that we have been called to do—not just at the holidays, but all year long. It is wonderful that people become so generous and kind and compassionate at Christmas, but wouldn’t it be great if we could carry that spirit of giving and love and striving for justice into the New Year?

Jesus’ birth, which we celebrate at Christmas, is just the beginning. Let us remember to focus not on the pageantry of the Nativity story, but on the true gift of the season—Jesus’ powerful, challenging, revolutionary, counter-cultural, and transformative teachings that we are called to follow, to emulate, and to live out each day to the best of our ability.

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas celebration and I hope, also, that you will join me in re-committing ourselves and our lives to the true “work of Christmas.”

End of Year Blessings,

Rev. Michelle