The Patriarchal Christmas Message

Beloved friends

As I conclude my second year as your Patriarch, I am grateful to serve you in this office.  Since last-Christmas there have been many changes including my marriage and the change-of-address of the Archdiocese, now we prepare again to celebrate the joyous season.  

As we celebrate many new-conflicts have come among-our-world, the USA has a new-President, ISIS is still carrying out its murderous-ways, dictators-in-Africa continue to burden their-people and gun-violence throughout-the-world are taking more lives than any other cause combined, yet by Gods-grace we still seek a place of refuge in the celebration-of-his-birth which brings joy, especially in giving. Thought the hand of Coke-Cola the ACW has donated over $20.000.00 in benevolence to those in need, this gives the season of joy meaning.

Yet there is still the story of the empty-stocking where Shepherds heard a Childs-cry, wise-men came to leave their gifts as a blazing star hung over the stable-in-Bethlehem. We have not forgotten that night. We celebrate it with Christmas-trees, the sound-of-bells, and gifts.  BUT….as you give your-gifts this season there are many wounded-soldiers from the 2-wars that have now faded from-the-headlines, we must not forget-them.

Take a peek in the shopping-malls they are packed and we will again stuff our stockings, but one stocking's missing, the one for the Christ-child, we have not stuffed one for him, it’s his birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that.

Let us ask-ourselves what Christ would ask for and let each put in our share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched-out hand of tolerance, all the shinning-gifts that make peace-on-earth goodwill to men.

On behalf of the ACW
A blessed season to all,
+Hartley, Patriarch IV ACW