Bobbie Giltz McGarey
Southwest Oklahoma Presbyterian Parish

Having recently moved from Minnesota to Georgia, your WebWeaver has found it difficult to "think Christmas" this season. Blue skies and 70-degree days are great, but not for Christmas shopping. (We have little inclination, though, to seek out the good old days of snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures and all the rest.)

But as Christmas seems to be coming just the same, we want to share with you two pieces that have come our way – and we’ll add more if they come to us.

First, Carol Wickersham, one of the founders of No2Torture, offers a Christmas letter that shows how powerful Christmas thoughts can be when they are grounded in the stuff of struggle of justice, peace, and human dignity.

And then my brother, Jack King, has sent a Christmas poem, as has now become his excellent annual custom. I’m happy to share this gift with you all.

And here’s a delightful thought presented in "flash video" format by the Global Good Neighbor Initiative of the International Relations Center.

Finally, you may want to look at the page of Advent and Christmas thoughts that we offered last year at this time. [Over 2,000 people have accessed the page during this December, so there must be something helpful there.]

New

Christmas means reconciliation

Adding to our reflections for Advent and Christmas, here’s a note sent by Arch and Wanda Taylor of Clarksville, Indiana. They are retired from years as mission workers in Japan.  [12-22-06]

A letter from Carol Wickersham, of No2Torture  [posted here 12-21-06.  Sent 12-20-06]

Dear No2Torture Friends:

The season would not be complete without sharing some words of hope, gratitude and resolution with all of you. In the days following the passage of the Military Commissions Act, I have to admit that I was mightily discouraged. We had worked so hard to preserve habeas corpus, demand accountability, ensure humane treatment – and our efforts seemed to come to naught. I shared my sense of despair with a colleague who had worked on the passage of the Civil Rights Act during the 1960's. He kind of chuckled and said, "Girl, how long have you been working on this thing? One year? Two? Come back and cry on my shoulder when it has been 40 years in the wilderness, then I'll dry your tears." If we are in this for the long haul, we need to be fed by the manna of the encouragement of others. I have been fed by all of you -- thank you.

The second words of hope were a gift that came to me when I was working with the lectionary passages for Human Rights Day/ Advent 2, writing worship materials for the PC(USA) web site.

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high with break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1.78-79

These words of Zechariah, quoting the prophet Malachi – words spoken (and spoken again and spoken again) in discouraging times – remind us that the good news breaks suddenly like dawn. It is not our job to make the sun rise; it is our job to keep walking toward the horizon. Thank you for walking with me.

And finally, the most important words of hope have come from all of you: notes and postings to this group; conversations shared at gatherings in Miami, Princeton, Chicago, Birmingham, Beloit and Washington; letters to the editor and to Congress; prayers, poems, songs and conference calls. In all these ways, I believe God has spoken to and through us – thank you.

And so I move to speak words of resolution, a fine tradition for the beginning of the year; and I invite you again to join me.

1) Let's keep on speaking up wherever we are with whomever God gives us to talk to. Let's talk from the pulpit, at the Rotary Club, to our colleagues, to our children. AND POST WHAT WE ARE DOING, SO WE CAN STEAL EACH OTHER'S GOOD IDEAS.

2) Come to LA — Jan. 19-20. Details and online registration at www.no2torture.org. Let us equip ourselves for action as we learn from nationally known speakers and strategize with others. The conference is free and travel scholarships are available for young adults.

3) Post a poster! Yes, the poster has gone to print and will be available early in '07. Stay tuned.

4) Keep the issue before the Congress. If this is to be a priority with the new Congress, we will need to make it one. Friends, we have a tough sell. This is not a "feel good" issue, neither is it in most folks' immediate self interest. In addition, those for whom we advocate have been labeled "the worst of the worst." Jesus did not become popular by telling people to love their enemies. Consider writing a letter a day as a way to knock at the doors that keep closing in our faces. In truth, though our movement continues to grow in numbers and understanding, very little has changed for those who are detained. In fact, there is evidence that conditions and attitudes are currently becoming more harsh.

5) Mark your calendar for a gathering of Christian witness and worship in Washington D.C. on March 16-17. Details will be forthcoming

6) Pray without ceasing.

Again, thank you for your faithfulness. Surely, the dawn is breaking and God's light will shine on all those who sit in the shadow of death, in that light and until that day...

When Jesus was born the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace." (Luke 2:14). When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the way to the cross the people cried, "Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." (Luke 19:38). God is glorified by peace in heaven and peace on earth. Indeed, in Christ, God was reconciling the world, not counting our transgressions against us (2 Corinthians 5:19). The divine eternal purpose is God’s reconciliation of all things in heaven and on earth, making peace through the blood of Christ’s cross (Colossians 1:19-20).

So many national leaders seem more inclined toward war than peace that we the people must exert our best efforts to nudge the world along God’s reconciling way. May God give you the gift of reconciliation at Christmas. Let us take seriously the teaching of Genesis 1:27 that we are all created in the image of God—there is, as the Quakers say, "that of God in everyone."

Reconciled to God, let us live reconciliation with each other, with love even for enemies, and with respect for all God’s creation. This will truly give Christmas glory to God!

Arch and Wanda Taylor, Christmas 2006