Dear friends in Christ,
Merry Christmas!
Today, in stables and cathedrals, in grand churches and humble chapels across our church, we celebrate the profound mystery of God’s promises taking flesh among us. As your president of the House of Deputies, I have spent this Advent season watching for signs of God’s kingdom—in committee meetings and coffee hours, in passionate debates and quiet prayers. Now, on this most holy day, I see how all these moments converge in the miracle of Bethlehem.
The signs we sought during Advent—those glimpses of hope we strained to see like stars piercing the deep night—now shine fully in the most unexpected place: a newborn’s eyes in a borrowed manger. This is how God’s restoration unfolds, not in grand palaces but in places as humble as our own hearts, our own communities, our own church embracing transformation with faith and courage.
As your president, I am humbled to witness how God’s kingdom breaks forth in our midst—not just in grand moments but in our patient, persistent work together, in the holy conversations that bridge our differences, in each act of service that builds up the Body of Christ. Christmas reminds us that God’s grandest purposes often begin in the simplest places, just as our own work for God’s kingdom begins in the simplest acts of faith.
This Christmas Day, may your hearts overflow with the joy of promises fulfilled. May your communities be blessed with the peace that surpasses understanding. And may our shared ministry be renewed with divine purpose as we carry Christ’s light into every corner of our beloved church and waiting world.
The weary world rejoices, for hope is no longer just a sign on the horizon but a child in our arms, a presence in our hearts, a transformation in our church, and a promise for our world.
Julia Ayala Harris
President of the House of Deputies
