wfn.org | Christmas Greetings from UCC President Geoffrey Black

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Christmas greetings from Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President

> December 15, 2009

> Dear United Church of Christ family of faith:

This is the first occasion that, as General Minister and President, I
have had the pleasure of sending this Advent / Christmas greeting to
you, my sisters and brothers, who share in the ministry and mission of
the United Church of Christ. Grace and peace to you, in the name of
Jesus Christ, whose birth we anticipate and celebrate anew!

It has been a little less than three months since I embarked on this
journey of service leadership. During these initial months, I along
with staff colleagues have devoted significant time to visiting and
listening to UCC people as they share their visions for the future of
the church. These experiences have been inspiring and informative for
me, and I also have been the recipient of very gracious hospitality
and, what we like to call, extravagant welcome. For this enriching
start to my new work, I am very grateful.

Advent is a time of reflection, penance and holy anticipation. It is a
season to rekindle our hope and renew our commitment to the quest for
peace ? inner peace and peace among people and nations. Yet, as Advent
approached this year, our nation continued to be engaged in two armed
conflicts, with the war in Afghanistan being one of the longest in the
history of the nation. Moreover, early in the season, we learned of a
decision to escalate this war with the stated hope of bringing it to
an end. This was a course of action with which I did not agree, and we
will continue to press for alternative paths to achieve a lasting and
just peace.

During this Advent season, we are also aware that the movement to
reform health insurance so that all Americans might have access to
adequate care is at a critical point of deliberation and decision.
Similarly, we know that the global community is engaged in serious
negotiations regarding climate change and the need for the world
community to reduce greenhouse gases.

Surely, the peace among nations that we yearn for in this season is
not on the horizon. We also know that inner peace is often
unattainable for many of our friends and neighbors, because they
cannot afford access to health care. Although concerns about the
natural environment are shared by people around the world, we have not
yet committed ourselves to meaningful action that would forestall
environmental disaster. These are aspects of life where our Advent
reflection might lead us to repentance.

Yet, Advent is a time of holy anticipation. It is a season of looking
forward with the expectation that God will reveal the Divine presence
here on earth, in our midst. For that we prayerfully wait not in
despair, but in hope and active preparatory engagement.

The wonderful reality of Advent is that it segues into Christmas, the
celebration of the birth of the Christ child, Jesus. For us, he is the
fulfillment of God's willingness to be with us, thus blessing our
lives with renewed hope. Our hope is grounded in God's presence in
Christ, and the Holy Spirit enables and emboldens us to take
initiative to persist in the quest for peace among nations and to seek
to be at peace ourselves, to press on for health care for all and to
grow as stewards of God's creation.

For me, God's enduring presence is the source of the joy of this
season. In the face of all we know and all that challenges our
wellbeing, we are reminded that we are not alone. In Jesus, our
Emmanuel, God is with us.

This year, I join with all of my coworkers and colleagues here at the
United Church of Christ National Offices in prayerfully wishing you
blessed and joyful Christmas season!

Yours, in the blessedness and joy of the season,

> Geoffrey Black