Faith leaders share messages of the season

Father Matthew Gomez
Monsignor Edward Pace
High School
“During this Christmas season, may the joy and peace of the newborn Christ be with each of our families. May these times of faith, family, friends, fellowship and food offer us an opportunity to be grateful to God for the many blessings He bestows upon us each day.
“Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!”

Rev. Father Joseph Lucas Christ the Saviour Orthodox Cathedral
“The message of Christmas is not that yet another king has been born -- it is the truth that the king of heaven has come down to earth in order to lift up earth to heaven.
“With his birth, we witness the rebirth of the cosmos. Christ is born, let us glorify him!”

Father Flavio Montes
Our Lady of the Lakes
Catholic Church
“We pray to the Lord that understanding and dialogue among people of any social, political and cultural backgrounds and beliefs may overcome their differences and be ready to live in harmony and concord.
“On behalf of the priests of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and school staff, I sincerely hope that the remembrance of Christ’s birth brings you much peace and hope.
“May you have the grace to find happiness and joy this Christmas and throughout the New Year… and may we meet each day in our prayers!”

Rev. John F. Stanton
The Church of the Epiphany
Episcopal
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world -- John 1:9.
“John sees Jesus as coming out of darkness into life. In a tradition we inherited from colder climates we bring the green Christmas tree into our homes and cover it with lights – even in Florida!”

Pastor Harold Marrero
Guest pastor, Miami Lakes Congregational Church/
United Church of Christ
“Whether the story of Christmas literally happened or not, does not matter.
“What matters is that Christmas is a time for people to come together with family and friends, share in the joy of gift-giving and celebrate the story of a child whose life, death, and spiritual resurrection changed the world then, and continues to serve as an example of what a fully awakened human looks like.”

Pastor Al Pino
Palm Vista Community Church
“Christmas means the greatest gift ever given was unwrapped in the birth of
Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. God came in the flesh to save his people, fulfilling his promise given to Abraham some 2,000 years earlier. What a promise, what a gift!
“Our prayer is that you would unwrap it for yourself this Christmas. Join us for our Christmas Advent services each Sunday in December at Miami Lakes Middle School auditorium, 10:30 a.m. and for our Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m.”

Rabbi Mendel Weiss
Chabad Jewish Center, Miami Lakes
“We are encouraged by the fact that a luminous body like the sun can have such a profound effect on entities and beings millions of miles away, enriching them with light, warmth, energy and life.
“We are encouraged by the fact that a tiny flame can banish a roomful of darkness.
“If so, all is not lost. If our own souls are “candles of G d,” then little me is not so little after all.
“All we need to do is be what we truly are, to act out our innate goodness and the darkness will melt away.”