Dear Friends,

Ahh…. The frenzy will be soon upon us. Maybe it’s already here. Do you feel it?

The lamppost wreaths are up in town. The store displays have their “seasonal” items out. Not even a clever meme can keep the “craze” at bay (e.g. “There are 12 days of Christmas… none of which are in November!”).

Okay, so let’s not go down this path. Not yet. I have plenty of weeks to secure “humbug” status, and I will take advantage of the opportunities as they arise. For now, though, I’d like to reissue something of a PSA that stirred my imagination last year around this time (with the first snowfall of 2018-19).

The cold snap we experienced this past week was brutal. The weather has been trending colder for some time, but that first plunge under freezing is always a bit of a shocker.

Particularly cold days make me think about my neighbors. As I struggle to stave off the cold, I’m all but sure that some of my neighbors won’t do as well as I will. Perhaps they’re living on a too-tight budget, and the idea of spending more money they don’t have is overwhelming. Maybe the person they depend on to winterize the house hasn’t been available yet. For some, the death of a loved one has left them alone and unable to do even some of the simplest things.

Do you know if there are people in that position around you? This is a really big question for us, charged as we are to bring God’s love to life for everyone we encounter. I know it’s hard to know your neighbors these days, but what a difference it would make to know these kinds of things, and to extend ourselves in love to meet people’s genuine needs.

Likewise, if you have need of a toasty room, a hot drink, or a warm reception, don’t be afraid to swing by. You can enjoy the warmth of my home, and we’ll make room for a chat to give us good cheer.

Let me know. And please, be assured of my prayers.

Christ’s Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ