“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” —2 Thessalonians 3:16
I love Christmas! This year was especially meaningful for me. Singing in the choir, being a wise man, and watching the Christmas service online brought such joy to my heart. The music was uplifting, Pastor Mark’s sermon was inspiring, and the tiny cherubs dancing filled the sanctuary with wonder. And how could I forget Hank the Tank, our spectacular camel? Even the burrow, sheep, and goat seemed to share in the peace of the season—they really liked me!
But one moment stands out above all. At the end of the hall, little Taamale spotted me. With a burst of joy, he ran giggling the whole way and gave me a big hug. That spontaneous dash of love captured the essence of Christmas—pure, uncontainable joy.
I also cherished seeing old friends, exchanging “Merry Christmas” wishes, and sharing a Christmas kiss with Jackie after both services were done. In those moments, faith, hope, love, and peace triumphed in indescribable ways.
So, I ask: Why don’t we celebrate Christmas all year in 2025? Every Sunday, we could gather at church, sing together, and hear the Good News of scripture from Pastor Mark. We could delight in the children running around, play peek-a-boo with them, and remind each other of the peace proclaimed by the angels that first Christmas: “Peace on earth, goodwill toward all.”
My mom had a habit of singing “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” year-round. It’s a beautiful reminder that the message of Christmas isn’t confined to December. What if we all embraced that mindset? What if, instead of limiting the celebration of peace and goodwill to one season, we made it a way of life?
Let’s make 2025 the year of Christmas all year long—a year filled with joy, kindness, and peace at all times and in every way.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White