Bishop's Office Message for January, 2005

Dear Partners in Ministry,

As we begin a new calendar year, we often consider making New Year's Resolutions to make a new start. Most of the time, those resolutions go by the wayside as our life's patterns tend to continue as they always have. That can be frustrating. Watching the world situation, we observe much the same thing. We would like for the world to be a better place. We would like for wars to stop and economic systems to be more fair. The beginning of a new year offers such possibilities for optimism, but one year seems to drag into another, and we are still saddled with the same old concerns.

Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. As a new year begins, the light outside also begins to grow more right. We have come through the dark time and the promise of the warming sun lightens our spirits. This is the time of year we celebrate Epiphany, the coming of the Wise Men to see the infant Jesus. The symbol is the star which led them to Bethlehem. The light which dawned at Jesus' birth continues to spread even today. The darkness which seems so oppressive - whether that is war, or illness, or loss of work, or the death of a loved one - cannot put out the light of Christ. Jesus conquered even death, so there is nothing left to fear. Jesus empowers us to head out into the world of darkness with a light that no darkness can put out: Christ is born! "Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening, and the day is almost over. Let your light scatter the darkness, and illumine your Church." (Evening Prayer, LBW p. 142)

+Stephen P. Kristenson,

Bishop Synod of Alberta and the Territories Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 10014 - 81 Ave. Edmonton, AB T6E 1W8 Phone 780-439-2636 Fax 780-433-6623 Email: SKristenson@elcic.ca http://www.albertasynod.ca