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World Council of Churches - News Release

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For immediate release - 12/2/2008 4:35:03 PM

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2008 

FROM THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES GENERAL SECRETARY

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen
his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth."
 (John 1:14)

"Glory" is a word, a shout, a song used to express human wonder
at the majesty of God. When Jesus was born, angels ascribed
"glory to God in the highest heaven" (Luke 2:14), and in the
witness of Christ's life on earth "we have seen his glory … full
of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

In celebrating Christmas, we recognize the coming of Jesus as
the meeting-point of heaven and earth, the means of healing our
broken relations with God, overcoming our hostility towards one
another and re-kindling our determination to seek peace in this
world. "That is," the apostle Paul explained, "in Christ God was
reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses
against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us"
(2 Corinthians 5:19).

Reconciliation is a glorious message. It offers the promise that
some wrongs of the past may be set right, the truth may be
discovered in all cases, forgiveness may be sought and even
ancient enemies may come to live together in mutual respect. It
is a message of mercy and hope that reflects the great gift of
God’s love in Jesus Christ.

The United Nations has declared 2009 to be the International
Year of Reconciliation and has called on societies that have been
divided by conflict to adopt reconciliation processes in order to
establish firm and lasting peace. Christian churches everywhere,
and the World Council of Churches, are supporting this effort
through projects and ministries consistent with the ecumenical
Decade for Overcoming Violence; Churches Seeking Reconciliation
and Peace (2001-2010).

We commit ourselves as Christians, in the power of the Holy
Spirit, to this great purpose. And we give thanks to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the opportunity to work for
reconciliation with men and women of good will throughout the
world, in the spirit of the angels' blessing: "Glory to God in
the highest heaven, and peace on earth, peace among those whom
God favours!"

>Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
>General Secretary
>World Council of Churches

Additional information:

Juan Michel +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.