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Diocese of Montana Newsletter, December 2015

Bishop's Corner

The Rev. Joan Yetter retires Nov. 30, 2015.  Blessings and best wishes to her. 

We welcome D. Gregory Smith to the Diocese of Montana.  He will be Associate Priest at St. James', Bozeman.

We would also like to welcome Rev. Anita Rognas, deacon at Holy Spirit, Missoula. 

December - Clericus Meeting - The Clericus meeting in Polson has been rescheduled for December 16th @ 10:30.

Save the date!!  February 27, 2016 the diocese will host another "In the Heart of Lent" event at St. Peter's Cathedral.  Watch for more details!

 

     During the dark days of December the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday called Saturnalia.  The held parties, gave gifts, and generally engaged in merry-making.  One of their poets called it the “best time of the year.”  Saturnalia was a way they keep up their spirits during the depressing winter solstice.

     As Christians we do not need to find a way to help us endure the darkness and the cold. The gospel of John makes this breath-taking assertion about Jesus: “What has come into being through him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness.” (John 1. 3-4)

     The point of our Christmas celebrations is that God gives us light, life, and rejoicing. We don’t have to manufacture it ourselves.  We do not have to resort to the rather shallow customs of the secular holiday in order to stoke up some happiness in our lives.

     God has acted.  God has come among us.  God desires nothing more than to bless us with light and life.  And it is all gift, all grace.  That is what the Nativity of Our Lord declares to us.

     This year as you receive Christ in the Body and Blood of the Eucharist, open the doors of your life, so that Life can enter, and so that you can be an agent of Light in the world.