Greetings from the City of Angels!

The joyful celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ brings us together as a family. I pray and hope that none of you are drowning in misery and pain caused by the present economic crisis. In the midst of darkness, the light of Christ will guide your way and bring warm and hope into your hearts. I am delighted to know that Christ’s spirit has moved you to share laughter and merry-making jesters in this festive gathering of members and friends of the three PIC congregations in Chicago area.

We do believe that no matter what our circumstances are, God’s presence will sustain us. The power of Incarnation will scatter the darkness in our path and it will help us overcome our fear and anxieties to face the challenges and uncertainties in life.

My dear friends, I sincerely hope that all of you are aware that the child in a manger in Bethlehem is a precious gift of God freely given for the benefit of all humanity—for the rich and the poor, for the weak and the strong, for the believers and the non-believers. We can experience the joy of Christmas, even without fancy clothes and expensive gifts, by exchanging peace with warmth affection and by encouraging one another. As we strive to deal with our problems like the rest of the world, let us not lose heart, but rather remain strong so that we can be bearer of hope and light to others who are also in need and in trouble.

John the Baptist proclaimed, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” in the advent of Christ’s birth (Mark 1:2-8). We are called to do this so that we can have a place in our hearts to welcome him. Creating rooms in our hearts can be done by true repentance, by forgiving one another, by praying unceasingly, and by replacing our worries and anxieties with hope, love and joy, knowing that “If God feeds the birds in the air and clothes the fields with colors, then how much more God will do for His beloved children” (Matthew 6:26-30).

If we think we don’t have enough, remember that we can find happiness and contentment in life by knowing and appreciating what we already have. God has blessed us abundantly so that we can be a blessing to others. Giving from the heart will make us rich in God’s eyes, like the poor widow in the Temple who gave everything she had in the treasury for the glory of God” (Luke 21:1-4).

May you have a blessed year round celebration of Christ’s birth.

Always rejoicing in the Incarnation of God’s love, our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Raul C. Tobias