More than ever, we need the hope and peace of Christmas

It’s Christmas time!
With Christmas only days away, we hope the hustle and bustle of the holiday is largely behind us and only the warmth and wonder remain.
Though the holiday is primarily a celebration of the birth of Jesus, it also is a time of giving and hope.
And it’s an annual reminder of the generosity that makes Fayette County such a special place. As always, the citizens of our area have been amazing in their response to the needs of others.
Caring & Sharing donations of gifts and food and money made it possible to provide Christmas boxes to 450 families – with enough left over that some non-perishable foods will be available to replenish the stocks at the CEFS food bank.
And the generosity extends to dozens of other groups and individuals in the area. The Methodist Men organization of First United Methodist Church in Vandalia has provided coats, hats, gloves and boots to 55 area elementary school students.
Also among the familiar sights (and sounds) of the season are the Salvation Army bell ringers. Last year, some 250 volunteer bell ringers helped raise more than $15,000 here, and project coordinator Rodes Hood said that the effort appears to be on pace to match that this year. “The kettles are full every time we take them to the bank,” he said. Once again, the generosity of the people will allow the Salvation Army to help people in need throughout the year.
This year’s celebration of Christmas is tempered by the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. We see there the stark face of evil that demonstrates our need for God’s intervention. At bottom, the message of Christmas is God reaching out to humans to save us from ourselves. The Sandy Hook massacre underscores our capacity for evil and our need for the message of hope that is central to the season.
So, as we celebrate Christmas by giving and reaching out to others, consider the gift we’ve been given. It is, indeed, good news of great joy.
Merry Christmas!
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