Doing the Work of Christmas

That vivacious vicar, Thurman Frey, joined by Carol, his indomitable wife, and the faithful flock of Holy Cross Lutheran Church warmed me a cold morning. Welcomed to this Towson congregation, I preached a message spotlighting LWR’s work. Predictably, on this celebration of the Baptism of our Lord, “water” flowed as a theme, its life-giving character, the fatal implications of its global scarcity, and the power of its regenerative, spiritual dimensions.

Prior to the worship, I led an adult information session regarding LWR’s mission. Members from two other, neighboring churches—First Lutheran (LCMS) and Ascension Lutheran (ELCA)—were drawn to the host Holy Cross congregation for this time of deeper engagement. The dialogue was probing, especially regarding the impact of sustainable development strategies that are both anti-poverty and pro-people by investing in human capacity.

The twelve days of Christmas have ended until next year, but we labor year-round in the light of its radiance. A quotation from Howard Thurman, a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr., appeared in the Holy Cross bulletin entitled, “The Work of Christmas.”

When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and Princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner
To teach the nations
To bring Christ to all
To make music in the heart.

The photograph, taken with a handy camera phone, depicts Holy Cross’ chancel window.