Letters to the Editor: Dec. 19, 2024

Amenia Fire thanks

On Sunday, Dec. 15, the Amenia Fire Company sponsored our monthly Pancake Breakfast. We were pleased to have a crowd of 186 people in attendance for our monthly meal and we appreciate Santa taking time out of his busy schedule to stop by! We rely on the breakfasts to raise needed money for general operations and we always appreciate the support of the community.
We thank everyone who attends our events and we will return again on January 19, 2025.

Andy Murphy
on behalf of the
Breakfast Committee
Amenia Fire Co. and Auxiliary
Amenia

‘Tis The Season — some thoughts

In these challenging times, embracing the beauty amid the chaos can be difficult. With so many voices pushing us to fear, embody busyness and buying, and check off our many holiday lists, it can be overwhelming to consider the gift of the moment. Therefore, I offer these thoughts to encourage and empower those who read them to celebrate some of the spiritual gifts of the season—whether they are “church-folks” or not. More than a few traditional Christian teachings are worth considering and embracing to increase your spiritual health this December.

December 1st was the first Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the Christian New Year. Echoing how the light of creation came out of chaos and darkness, Advent is a season where the days get shorter, and the world has much more darkness than light. During these shadowy times, Christians are called to meditate on hope, joy, peace, and love—the secret sauce of the light and grace the world desperately craves. Like an answered prayer, the Winter Solstice passes, and then we see the coming again of the Light in the celebration of Christmas. This constant and abiding celebration of Christ-light is a clarion call for the belief that brighter days are coming again, inviting us to enter a life lived in the light instead of the darkness.

Advent is a season encouraging us to give sincere thought and planning regarding our belief in the Light and our commitment to being a people of the Light. Each week, we consider the four core values of our faith: hope, joy, peace, and love. We prepare our hearts and our homes for the inbreaking of the heavenly into the earthly realm. We reach out to others with goodwill and generosity. We show through our words and deeds that we believe in the brightness of the human soul, sharing care and compassion with whomever we meet.

As we go forth into this transformative month, we know the light still shines even in the darkest moments. It beckons us to live in its warmth with all our hearts. It entices us to share its illumination with our friends, family, community, and country. Yes, it is a tender and challenging moment for the world. This is why we need people who believe in and nurture the light more than ever. Please join us in the work that lies ahead by recommitting to faith in the Divine and humanity’s ability to reflect the light in beauty-filled ways. You, dear one, have a light worth shining. Keep glowing, friends.

With luminous faith,
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews
Camphouse
Pastor of Lakeville UMC, Millerton UMC,
and Sharon UMC