Merry Christmas Everyone! Thank you God for giving us the greatest gift of all your Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Thank you God for sending the light into a world filled with darkness, thank you God for sending your son fully human and fully divine, to be born in a stable, to understand the plight of the poor, to understand those who are not wanted. You sent him as a gift of love.

As we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, let us not lose hope or worry about world events, For scripture tells us that as believers we are victorious. Invite someone to church who has never been or has been absent for awhile. Tell someone about salvation.

Give the greatest gift of all. JESUS! Tell somebody about Jesus and God's unlimited power. And most of all give love and show forgiveness. Love is the essence of who God is.

And on a personal note I would like to thank everyone who reached ot to me two years ago as I began the process to become A.M.E. And now I am an Itinerant Elder and my daughter is a licentiate preparing to enter seminary in 2004. She was Presbyterian two years ago and now is A.M.E. We have not been in the same denomination since she was 5 years old. I had no idea that I would be back doing parish ministry for I was head of a human rights organization. But God called me to a denomination that was founded on the human rights of all people. He called me to a denomination where I could continue my work and preach. God called me to a denomination that like Jesus was born in a stable, against tremendous odds, an ex-slave Richard Allen was used by God to bring hope and the gospel message to 3 million people around the world. Richard allen preached to white and black at a time when it was dangerous to do so. It is almost 2004 and we as a denomination are are still here.

My beloved ame family do not be discouraged and do not be moved by the voices of a few that say our great zion is dead. We are very much alive and moving forward with dignity, pride, love and the power of Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas we are children of Richard Allen and the children of a mighty God who loves you all so much.

Please post Christmas wishes on the board and also share what your church is planning for Christmas service. Let's have some joy on this board. It's the celebration of the birth of the Savior.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2003

Answers

Sister Denise:

Thank you so much for the wonderful Christmas gift you gave me in this week's AME Herald. The Metropolitan AME Church has a copy of their Messiah program being streamed through the 26th of December. God to the AME Herald and then check out the broadcast.

If you live in a small sub-urban community like I do you will really appreciate the glory of this service.

Thank you and Merry Christmas

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2003