A Christmas message

Greetings neighbors of Glen Cove and the surrounding communities from Trinity Lutheran Church. I am the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church and have been serving in Glen Cove for over six years.

At this time of the year, I would be preparing for a fantastic packed church filled with people eager to hear the Christmas Story. No, I am not talking about Ralphie and his family on Christmas. I am talking about a certain story from 2,000 years ago.

Christians will be hearing about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Although this year something is quite different. We should be gathering together in the church, in restaurants and in homes but as most of you are aware, this year is an abnormal weird year. No one expected a pandemic to hit, and no one expected how it could change society. We see how hard people are suffering from lack of physical contact, mental concerns and emotional instability. Everyone in our community has suffered due to this pandemic. Congregations and churches have also felt the effect of this virus.

When congregations suffer, they look to their Savior Jesus Christ. We hear the account of Joseph and Mary being forced to take a short trip. A trip in which they had to depart while Mary was in her ninth month of pregnancy. It was not something that they planned. We know it was all according to God’s plan to have Jesus be born in a certain town. Our savior was to be born in the town of Bethlehem, just as King David was. Christians will always hear this message: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” from Luke 2:11.

Churches have had to adapt to proclaim Jesus as their savior in a socially distant world. Our church continues to stream our services via Facebook and upload them to Youtube. Even this Christmas Season, we will not let Covid stop us from spreading His word. We will continue to live in a socially distant way of life to care for our neighbors. You are important to us. This is our Christmas Gift for all of you. As you read this please know that we will continue to pray for all of you: the essential workers in our community, the doctors and nurses in the hospitals and nursing homes and everybody who lives in our communities.

We might not all know each other, but that does not mean God does not know each of you. He gave you a great gift that starts in a manger and ends at the cross. As the angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”  May God bring you peace as we finish 2020.

The Rev. Travis Yee of Trinity Lutheran Church