From the Vicar
To all who have come through our doors this year, blessings. To all who have yet to come,
blessings as well. This is the season of miracles. It may not feel that way amid the noise, haste
and honking horns, but miracles have a way of coming at the most impossible times: during
storms at sea, illness, anxiety, traffic snarls at second and Irwin. If they happened at the beach,
they would not be miracles.
The miracle of Christmas, of course, is that God came to earth as one of us. San Francisco
Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll worries about Christmas because he doesn’t want to deal with
the divinity of the Christ Child. Jon, I’m here to tell you that you may relax this year. That’s not
what Christmas asks us to deal with. Every newborn baby is divine – I’ve never known a parent
to think otherwise, and what that child will become, well, that is the adventure of life. What
Christmas really calls us to face, is, not so much that baby, as the spark of divinity within you -
and you - and you - and even me. Our sacred story tells us that we are created in the image of
God. Or as writer Marianne Williamson says in a quote so true it deserves to be read over and
over again:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
. . We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the
glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as
we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do
the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others."
At Christmas, when there are so many demands upon us all, it is too tempting to feel inadequate,
judged, wanting. But that’s not why God came. I don’t need God to judge me. I can do guilt
entirely on my own. God did not come to a manger in Bethlehem for that. God came to tell me
he loves me.
It’s our own children who teach us about God when they race across the soccer field, or pass a
football, or sing in chorus, or race over the hills with the wind in their ears. God is their coach!
God is cheering us on. Jesus himself said, “I came not to judge the world, I came to save the
world.” I like that guy.
O come, let us adore him.
Cheers,
NOTE:
SILENT PRAYER IN ADVENT
For all who wish to take some silent time during this holy season, the Church will be open the
three Wednesday mornings in Advent (Dec. 6, 13 and 20) between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. for prayer
and meditation. After a brief Advent meditation, we will pray the names on our prayer list and
offer other intercessions. The morning will end with a Eucharist.
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