Christmas greetings from UMCOR

From the Rev. Dr. J. Denise Honeycutt, leader of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) At our UMCOR Christmas luncheon, staff prepared favorite dishes from their various home countries to be shared. After the savory meal, the room filled with laughter as we exchanged gifts and then swapped them out. The simple $10 gifts were to be made or bought. Umbrellas, boxes of candy, a scarf were among the presents we gave each other. During this season of Christmas, as we gather with family and friends and as we worship together, we are reminded of God’s unexpected gift of Extravagant Love in the person of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that God continues to come near and to work for good in our broken world, and that God invites us to be a part of that work. Thank you for being a part of God’s healing presence in the world through UMCOR. Many of you have offered the gift of hope as you have journeyed with UMCOR through your giving this past year. Thank you for your solidarity, which enables us to be present in places like Haiti long after disaster strikes. As we head into 2015, not only will we mark five years of recovery work alongside the Haitian people; we also will begin to mark UMCOR’s 75th anniversary of service. Seventy-five years of offering hope and healing—thank you! May you joyfully receive the gift of God’s ever abiding presence this Christmas.

PRAYER: A CHRISTMAS PRAYER The Song of Mary Reference: Luke 1:46-55 God of hope and promise, God of love and joy, God of Sarah’s laughter and Mary’s song, the world waits with great anticipation and even greater hope for the birth of Jesus. Like Mary, we desire to praise You with our whole hearts, yet some days this season of watching and waiting is overwhelming. For the days when it feels like there is simply not enough time to prepare for the One who is to come, remind us of Your grace. And, when we grow impatient from our need to rush the season along, grant us Your mercy. Forgive us, O God, we pray. Grant us a new song when we wait with little patience and pray without fervor. Grant us a new song in the days of heavy nights with shallow praise. We give you our hearts to be fueled with humility. We give you our lives to be used for Your glory. We offer our bodies as vessels for Your service. We lay aside all animated images of Sweet Baby Jesus and embrace a real and holy, living divinity made flesh, in whom is manifested the birth of unconditional love, unwavering hope, and justice for all. May our journey to Bethlehem lead us closer to You and move us beyond our comfort zones into places of the Spirit’s nudging, which remind us, indeed, we are not alone. In all things grant us Your peace, we pray. Amen. Regina Henderson, Associate General Secretary, Justice and Relationships