The words of Isaiah:
Before those people lived in darkness,
but now they have seen a great light.
They lived in a dark land,
but a light has shined on them.God, you have caused the nation to grow
and made the people happy.
And they have shown their happiness to you,
like the joy during harvest time,
like the joy of people
taking what they have won in war.Like the time you defeated Midian,
you have taken away their heavy load
and the heavy pole from their backs
and the rod the enemy used to punish them.Every boot that marched in battle
and every uniform stained with blood
has been thrown into the fire.A child has been born to us;
God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom.
He will make it strong
by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The Lord All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Our little family took communion together for the first time on Christmas Eve. Beyond the challenge of Covid-era church, lies our particular challenge of getting young children to the end of anglican liturgy. Somehow, on the evening of the annual Christmas pageant, with Declan dressed up as a “stinky shepherd” and Maeve dressed up, begrudgingly, as an angel, we knelt together as a family around the altar and extended our hands for the body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven. It only took us 4 1/2 years to get to this particular moment: Maeve with her little hands extended, having placed her little Fisher Price Mary and baby Jesus on the altar. Accepting the tiny wafer that has temporarily replaced the pre-pandemic home-baked bread. Declan, slightly confused, wondering why this is the snack that mom said we were coming up here to have.
Recently, I realized that if our children were going to have any faith formation at all, Kelly and I were going to have to take the initiative. Formation came with the children’s programming at the churches we grew up in. Declan and I are working on bedtime prayers. Our boy, always full of questions, asked me right away, “What is prayer?” To which I answered “Um, you know, it’s like you sort of talk out loud right. And then God, sort of like, hears that, you know? And then, uh, stuff happens.” — so, a tough start, but we are doing better. A few nights ago, Declan, unprompted, whispered his prayers, “Thank you for my family, for mom and dad, and for my baby sister.” We are getting somewhere.
A child has been born to us and his name shall be called… Declan. Maeve. We spent a lot of time trying to name our children. No offense to the Lakynn and Brayden parents out there, but these kids are going to be grandparents someday. Grandpa Brayden just feels a little youthful. Kelly and I downloaded an app that matched us and had us swipe left or right on baby names that we liked or hated — yes we called it baby tinder — and the only name we could agree on was Declan. Full of goodness. We ditched the app for our second, and miraculously came up with Maeve. She who rules. And boy does she.
And so this Christmas, I hope that each of you are warm and healthy. With your family and not drinking too much. Loving the gift of this time of year and making sweet memories together. Remembering to celebrate all 12 days of Christmas.
2023 is a big year for our family. Kelly and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage. Declan will start kindergarten. I’m starting a new role with a non-profit in January. Maeve will still be the boss in the new year.
Until 2023 — grace and peace.
Warmly,
Adam