November 29, 2004
Christmas greetings from Yucata, Mexico
There has never been a snowflake in Yucatan but that will not
stop the stores from putting up plastic snowmen with carrot noses
and playing “White Christmas” on the public announcement
system! Thankfully, the church here is quite determined not to
let sales gimmicks into their liturgy so there are no cut-outs
of Santa Claus drinking Coke in the sanctuaries. But they will
have nice services on the 24th and the 25th. We introduced the
Advent wreath and Christmas Eve candlelight services a number
of years ago, and these are now quite popular. When you worship
this Christmas remember your brothers and sisters around the world
are worshiping our Lord and Saviour with you.
Each of our children is healthy and sharing the gospel among
his or her friends. I continue to teach at the San Pablo Seminary
and have many conferences lined up for the next few months. More
and more interest is being shown in some of the liturgical reforms
we have been trying to present, and this is greatly encouraging
to me. The Benedictine religious community for women has completed
three years, and we are praying that we will have six novices
living at Gethsemane for the coming year. (They will not make
their decisions until December 10, after this letter is mailed.)
Martha was elected as a board member of the Door of Salvation
congregation where she has been a member for many years. This
is a great challenge, as the congregation has had poor leadership
for a number of years and the members have drifted away to other
places. |
