EYCE wishes you a blessed Christmas!
“she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger” Luke 2:7
Greetings Members, partners of EYCE and Friends,
Advent is a time for preparation and reflection, a time of love and joy. A time of remembering the baby boy, born with nothing but a manger to lay his head. A beautiful, bouncing baby, born with no real bed. As we think about the nativity story, we forget that a boy with so much promise was born with so little.
We celebrate Christmas surrounded by so much, by decorations, food, presents and cards, so often forgetting that there are many who don’t. Of course, celebration is important, especially when it’s something so special. It is vital we glorify God as much as we are able, and Jesus did things in His time that proved His love for celebrating, and celebrating well!
This year has been the first year of our current campaign ‘Break the Chains-A campaign to overcome poverty!’ and it has become abundantly clear in our work that poverty is so often overlooked and unseen. As we remember Jesus, laid in a manger, we must also remember all the others born with no home, no food, no gifts, no decorations, no real understanding of the love and joy of Christmas.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:35-40
If Jesus were out there on the streets today, we’d certainly all do what we could to help, so as you celebrate Christmas this year, remember those who are living in the conditions He was born into. Embrace the love and joy that Christmas brings, but if you can, share it too.
We hope that you will have a wonderful Christmas, surrounded by Christ’s love, and filled with His light. May you also share that love and light with your neighbours too.
EYCE thanks you for your support and fellowship through the year, giving us the opportunity to love our neighbours through all the work we have done. We are excited to see what next year will bring, and look forward to meeting and working with you all!
Many blessings at this wonderful time of year,
Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe