An Advent Blessing from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
ADVENT 2016
The Christmas cards I ordered arrived last week. I searched to find cards that showed the nativity with Jesus front and center bearing the message, “Blessed Christmas” embossed in gold.
But something was missing. Roll call: Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, cow, donkey, sheep. No star.
The star of the nativity marks the birth of Jesus as a world-changing God-event. The star is the glory of God shining through from heaven into the dark and harsh reality of the world. Without the star it could be any baby in the manger– oh, miraculous, to be sure, but without the power to heal, release, renew and transform.
So, I bought a shiny pen. And I am painting the star into the midnight sky on every card. The power of God is at work in our world through Jesus, who comes to us as. . .
Light (shining in darkness) | Fire (of the Holy Spirit)
Hope (of the world) | (abundant) Life
Grace (upon grace) | (steadfast) Love
Promise (fulfilled) | Peace (on the earth)
God bless you this Christmas, with light in darkness. And may you be a light to the world and all who live in it.
A l l e l u i a !
Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky
Advent 2 – The Animals - Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church
[…] week I wrote about the star in the Christmas story. Today I’m thinking about the animals around the baby Jesus. Donkey, […]
Advent 2 – The Animals » Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church
[…] An Advent Blessing from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky […]
Edward Purkey
An IMPORTANT message …. The power of the Babe of Bethlehem to TRANSFORM lives: both THEN (eg: Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, the Magi) AND TODAY! Thanks Bishop Elaine.
sia
Amen!! Glory be to God 🙂 And the WORD became flesh and dwell among us!!!
shalom to you and your family………..sia
Janey Smith
Dear Bishop Elaine:
How blessed OUR Annual Conf. is to have your as our Bishop. You are a gift to this community.
janey smith