Church Leaders Give Christmas Messages of Hope, Glory

A 2006 Christmas service at Salisbury Cathedral in the UK. (Photo: Ash Mills)

Peace, goodwill, and the glory of Christ were among the themes in this year's Christmas messages given by leaders of prominent faith organizations and churches.

"God's peace is promised in the person of the Savior Jesus," wrote Bishop Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation. "The Word made flesh is the very embodiment of God's goodwill, not an empty abstraction. The one born at Bethlehem is God's promise made good in flesh and blood. God's peace has come and will make its home in you."

"Join your voices in the song that is itching to be sung and the whole world deserves to hear: glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!" he said.

Glory was also part of the theme of the message from American Orthodox leader Archbishop Demetrios who wrote, "Through our celebration of the Nativity of Christ, our souls and minds are directed to contemplate the glory of His Incarnation."

Demetrios went on to outline the many ways in which Christ revealed his glory to mankind, including his life and ministry, his message of grace and truth, and the "transforming power" of his presence which "leads us out of the darkness of evil and into the uncreated light of eternal truth."

"As He dwells with us, He effects our transformation from sin to holiness . As the Good Shepherd, He guides us from despair to hope . As the Incarnate Word of God, He shows us the way to overcome our alienation so that we might live in full and eternal communion with Him. As our Master, He leads us out of the wilderness and into paradise ," Demetrios said.

The archbishop concluded with an encouragement to believers to witness actively during this Christmas season, exhorting that those who have witnessed Christ's glory should, "tell everyone of what we have seen and heard so that all will come and worship Him."

World Council of Churches' head the Rev. Samuel Kobia also pleaded with believers to offer themselves as "instruments of transformation" this year, especially in light of the "environmental destruction" that "undermines the doxology of creation."

"The singing of the spheres is obscured by pollution and manufactured noise, the rhythms of the sea are disturbed by climate change, the beauty of many manifestations of life is disfigured by abusive practices rooted in greed. And as the earth suffers, so must its inhabitants. Already, the poor and other socially marginalized people find it ever more difficult to lift their voices in song," Kobia wrote.

In spite of such circumstances, Kobia presented a reason for hope in the assurance of God's good will and purpose for society.

"Biblical scholar Barbara Rossing suggests that the old, imperial oikoumene of Caesar – along with modern economic, military and political empires – is perishing. Yet the prophets and apostles assure us that God's creation – a true oikoumene comprising the household of God – will be transformed," the general secretary said.

"We live in faith that, in the coming of Jesus Christ, there is a new creation in which the hope of the angels' song comes to fruition – God, humanity and all of life shall be reconciled," he concluded.

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