Seasons Greetings from the Staff at First Unitarian

"Comfort and Joy" We all could use some comfort; it is a tough world, and what with worries and grief and climate change, and a host of other troubles, my hope is that this Christmas season will take you into the warm embrace of friends and families. And who has enough joy? There is joy in the world; occasionally we have to search for it, and attend to it. The Candlelight service on Christmas Eve is a good place to look. Most of all I hope that you know that within you, (and everyone else) there is a light that will never be extinguished, and a music that will never be silenced. With Love, Barbara (the Rev.)

Someone asked me yesterday, "Why did the shepherds tremble with fear?" I answered that a full display of angels was probably startling, but there is more. It is the human condition, it seems, to be anxious and fearfully trembling. Lord knows there are reasons enough to be troubled. But Christmas is coming, and the weather is perfect. Starting right now, slow down to the speed of joy, which is not nearly the pace of normal life. Spend a little time, and soon, looking at a decorated Christmas tree in a house fallen still. And when you find yourself this week hurrying and worrying, say to yourself the words of the angel: Fear Not, I bring you tidings of great joy. Human life can be redeemed and made healthy and whole. There is hope for all. May all the blessings of this season be upon you and those you love. Tom

May the warmth and joy of the season’s music resonate in you to uplift your spirit and heart. Will Sherwood

We are blessed to have one another. There is no gift I can offer you more precious than the one you already have: those beautiful and flawed relationships with the beautiful and flawed children of God with whom you share your life. So I offer this wish for the season and the new year. My wish is that there are moments for all of us in which we exchange presence with one another, moments when we make ourselves fully available to those around us, and are received in that same spirit. May we each stay warm, laugh plenty, and truly know love this season. Sierra-Marie Gerfao

Hope – I am wishing for all those who are going through hard times for any reason the gift of Hope. This season brings joy for most, but in the darkest days of the year, others of us need Hope to get us to brighter times. Seasons greetings from Jennifer Bowes.

“Peace on Earth, Good Will to All” My wish this Christmas is that we can find joy that brings peace to our hearts and lives, have an extra measure of love and kindness to share with others, that we can live with hope and know the blessing that was the babe in the manger over two thousand years ago. –Barbara Foley

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Jim Mousseau

Many years ago I designed a Christmas card that was a simple evergreen tree with a red bird flying towards it as if to land on its branches. The inspiration for this card was the Chinese proverb: "Keep a green bough in your heart and the singing bird will come." For me the proverb meant keeping the spirit of Christmas in our hearts would bring the joy and blessings of the singing bird -- and that is my Christmas and New Year wish for you. Donna Rossio