Dear brothers and sisters,

It is that time of year that people around the world give gifts to others.  As you celebrate this time of year remember the purpose for the season from a Christian point of view.  That is, it is about a “Gift” the gift of Jesus Christ to the world.

Christians have celebrated the birth of Christ on the 25th of December since about 336 AD.  That dates back one thousand seventy years.  This celebration came about during the time the Roman Empire ruled the known world.  The known world during Roman rule celebrated many forms of pagan festivities that were the celebration of pagan gods and pagan rituals.  These celebrations were during this season we know as the winter holiday season.  But, in 336 AD a Christian Roman Emperor name Constantine instituted the Christian holiday of Christmas.  So that Christians would not celebrate pagan gods and the rituals would not be done in respect to pagan gods.  Instead it would be done in celebration to the gift of the Lord and savior Jesus Christ given unto the world. 

Remember people have a right to believe and do what they want.  But just like Emperor Constantine gave others a reason for the season even though they had their own reason.  You too give others a true reason to celebrate this season.  As you celebrate share with those in your world why you celebrate. 

We celebrate not the sun god but the Son of God. We celebrate not the pagan ritual of carrying an evergreen wreath worshipping evergreen holly believing that it can give eternal life. We celebrate a savior coming to the earth to save you and me.  We celebrate not a Yule Log that represented sun worship or a tree that represented good luck. We celebrate the Light in the form of Jesus Christ who came to the earth to show us the true way to be a light in a dark and perverse world.

During this season we celebrate the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ given to us by our Heavenly Father. The gift given that we may live a more richer and fuller life and have an after life that is heavenly and not in hell. 

Therefore share with your world what you know is a better reason to call this season a reason to celebrate. Celebrate the season and share with others your reason for celebrating. Jesus Christ is our reason for celebration during this season.

With love,
Rev. Tecko H. Green