Dear Member(s) of Trinity,

As our humanistic society attempts to distance itself more and more from all things Christian, it’s even more important for us to remember and understand what the Incarnation of Christ means to our faith. For the very same Satanic forces that tried to kill Jesus while still a baby to keep Him from saving mankind, are still mightily at work trying to kill the faith of everyone who confesses Him as Lord and Savior. To get a fresh perspective on the mystery of the Incarnation, perhaps the words of an old Lutheran Theologian, Johann Gerhard, would inspire us to a new understanding of this great and mighty wonder thereby strengthening our faith.

Let us for a little while withdraw our minds from temporal things, and contemplate the mystery of our Lord’s birth. The Son of God came down from heaven, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:5). God became man, that man might become a partaker of divine grace and of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). Christ chose to be born into the world in the evening of the world’s life, to signify that the benefits of His incarnation pertain not to this present life, but to eternal life. He chose to be born in the time of the peaceful Augustus, because He was the blessed peacemaker between man and God. He chose to be born in the time of Israel’s servitude, because He is the true liberator and defender of His people. He chose to be born under the reign of a foreign prince, seeing that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). He is born of a virgin to signify that He is born in the hearts of spiritual virgins only (2 Cor. 11:2), that is, in those who are not joined to the world or to the devil, but to God by one Spirit. He is born pure and holy, that He might sanctify our impure and defiled birth. He is born of a virgin espoused to a man, that He might set forth the honor of marriage as a divine institution. He was born in the darkness of the night, who came as the true light to illumine the darkness of the world. He who is the true food of our souls is laid in a manger. He is born among the beasts of the stall, that He might restore to their former dignity and honor sinful men, who through their sins had made themselves little better than the beasts. (Sacred Meditations, Repristination Press)

Please have Christ’s invitation and my invitation to join us in remembering our Lord’s birth on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Receiving His gifts of forgiveness in Divine Worship is the best way there is to keep “Christ” in Christmas and in your life.

We are truly thankful for our life together at Trinity with you that flows from His presence. We are thankful for your kindness to us in so many ways. Please have our warmest wishes for a blessed Christmas and a fruitful New Year under God’s grace.

In Christ’s love, we greet you this joyous season.

                                                                                                            Pastor and Karen Hofmann