My family has a Christmas Eve tradition, one that we’ve been doing ever since I can remember as a child. My parents have always set an extra place setting at our table for Christmas Eve dinner, remembering the “unseen guest”, Jesus, who is always with us. In doing so, we make room for someone, anyone, should the circumstance of a “seen guest” arise.
These dinners have always been a small affair—just my parents, my sister, and I, taking a moment of respite amidst the busyness of preparing for the subsequent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Even though we are always limited on time that day, we try to carve a space for the neighbour.
It is a small gesture, but it has always served as a valuable reminder to me: of the importance of open arms and hospitality, the importance of building care and compassion, the importance creating bridges. Especially during this time of the year—it is easy to get swept up in everything that is happening around us.
December is an exceptionally busy month for many people. December can also be a time where hardship and grief may sit heavier on our hearts, while simultaneously being a time of wonderful merriment and fellowship.
Seeing families, friends and communities gather together is so incredibly gratifying and healing. I’ve always found it to be one of the most beautiful aspects of the holiday season, bearing witness to the many different ways people come together and celebrate this time of year. It is a steadfast embodiment of hope! Learning how others foster fellowship is inspiring to me, both throughout Advent and Christmastime, and year-round.
This issue of Canada Lutheran is very much thematically focused on the ways in which we are coming together, on how we are fostering our relationships with our neighbours, ultimately strengthening bonds of community and belonging.
In the cover story, we explore how campus ministry initiatives are thoughtfully fostering community through its programming and intentional creation of affirming spaces, where relationships, trust and faith can be nurtured. Practising our Faith delves into the experience of participating in a Moravian fellowship tradition, a Moravian Lovefeast. In the MNO Synod, congregations are cultivating connections with the wider community through participation in a winter coat drive at the University of Manitoba.
These stories bring me joy and hope as Advent approaches (at my time of writing), and I hope that they will inspire you all as well.
Let us also keep in our hearts and prayers those who are currently experiencing hardship and tragedy, those who are facing oppression and violence, those who are mourning. My prayers this Advent and Christmas are especially with those in the Holy Land who are experiencing a constant reign of fear, trauma, mass violence, displacement, hunger, injury, and illness. I pray for a just peace, that we may find the courage to keep advancing towards God’s vision of justice, peace and lasting love throughout the world.
I wish all of you a wonderful, joyous Christmas. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may His light illuminate your path and His peace fill your heart!
Sarah Malina
Editor
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