Message from Pastor Mori Christmas Letter from Bishop John L. Hopkins I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from downtown Chicago! It seems like everyone recognizes our need for God's love this year. And the Good News is that God in Jesus Christ—Emmanuel—is with us! Joy to the world! This is Elaine and my first Christmas in Northern Illinois, and we are so grateful for getting to know many of you over this past year. In just twelve months as your interim bishop, I have met thousands of you on Zoom and several hundred of you in person. I have become acquainted with your joys, your struggles, and your longings. Thank you for sharing your faith and love of Jesus with me. In 1739 Charles Wesley, the great hymn writer and brother of John Wesley, wrote a Christmas carol, based on Luke 2:14. It was later altered by George Whitefield. We know it as "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". It expresses the jubilation of the angelic chorus singing praises to God. We join with the angels when we sing: Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem." We celebrate the birth of Jesus with joy! At the same time, we pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We long for Jesus to complete his work among us... in our personal life, in our families, our church, our nation, and our world. Five years after, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," in 1744 Charles Wesley captured the prayerful longing we have at Christmas. He wrote: "Come, thou long expected Jesus born to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee." This has certainly been a year of full of fears and sins. And now, God comes as a child to take away our fears... and release us from our sins. God does not rule by power and coercion but by love and invitation. God uses unconditional love rather than judgement to set us free... and we are called to love others as God in Christ has loved us. This child born in Bethlehem fulfills the desire of every nation and brings joy to every one of us. "Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart." This has been a year of pandemic deaths and political divisions. And now, we receive a child King that is big enough to bring peace to the nations; and small enough to enter every longing heart. God's love is inclusive. In the life of Jesus, we see that God does not play favorites or divide us. God welcomes and includes. The leper, the woman at the well, the Good Samaritan, the tax collector, even the thief on the cross, were welcomed by Jesus against current custom and belief. We share the joy of Christmas and yearn for a church and world united by love. "Born thy people to the deliver, born a child and yet a King. Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring." God in Christ enters history and leads it beyond our imagination. His reign begins within us and is reflected into all the world. When we say, "Jesus is Lord", we are loyal to him above all else. He reigns in us forever and claims us for his gracious kingdom. On Christmas, do not miss the singing of the angels and the presence of our long-expected Jesus. Let him rule in your heart again. He will release you from your fears and set you free from your sins. What can be better than that? Merry Christmas! And have a Happy New Year! It is not over, this birthing. There are always newer skies into which God can throw stars. When we begin to think
that we can predict the Advent of God, that we can box the Christ into a stable in Bethlehem, that's just the time that God will be born
in a place we can't imagine and won't believe Those who wait for God
watch with their hearts and not their eyes, listening,
always listening, for angel works. --Anne Weems, Kneeling in Bethlehem
Bishop John L. Hopkin | 
