Stories of hope light a welcome spark

The Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT delivers her Christmas message for 2016 and is “confident the good news that we share this Christmas, will cast away our fear and light a welcome spark in every human heart.”

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Transcript of the Moderator’s Message

Do not be afraid, for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people! (Luke 2: 10)

Throughout the year, I’ve tried to share stories of hope, to deliver stories that remind us that life is worth living, to share the green shoots that I have witnessed in various places of our synod which remind us of the presence of the living God.

Even more joyful for me is to greet you with the good news that the world has cherished and celebrated for more than 2000 years, the story of the birth of  Jesus Christ !

Sadly, too often we hear stories that shock and frighten us. News which causes us to want to separate from each other and even build a wall around ourselves so that we can  keep away from the horrors of the world.

We can shine a light, in the  midst of  darkness and despair, by proclaiming our faith in God, the creator.

We have much to be thankful for and to celebrate.

We can communicate each other’s lows and highs across the world through technologies like social media. For the last 200 years, people from every possible nation including refugees from war torn countries have come and made Australia their home. Despite many years of atrocity and discrimination our First Peoples continue to share with us their great land in the spirit of generosity, and teach us how to welcome others.  We have become a proud multicultural nation with a greater sensitivity to each other, as we endeavour to create a place where everybody’s dignity is upheld and respected.

I am confident the good news that we share this Christmas,  will cast away our fear and light a welcome spark in every human heart.

Saint  John put the  Christmas message  in a most remarkable way: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3: 16)

So let me bring  you warmest greetings and wishes for this Christmas.
May the spirit of Christmas bring you joy to share with all people,
may the spirit of Christmas increase your love to embrace the unloved,
may the spirit of Christmas fulfil your hope to make the world a better place,
and may the spirit of Christ child bless you  and all people!

The Rev. Myung Hwa Park is the Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia’s Synod of NSW and the ACT.