Bishop Marray’s Christmas Message 2025
A Final Note of Love and Thanksgiving
God’s Divine Love Permeates a Broken World
“They shall name Him Emmanuel” which means, “God is with us”
(St. Matthew 1:23)
Christmas is the solemn gathering of the faithful to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus and the world’s Messiah or Anointed One. As we commemorate his birthday, I feel compelled to remind the diocesan family that God became human like us so that we might become God. The Lord of the angels became one of us so that we could eat the bread of angels. What a stunningly beautiful and awesome way to sum up the Christmas message.
The center of attraction is the manger, the child Jesus, by coming among us offers God’s healing and love to our broken and hostile world. As I reminded our family some years ago, believing and receiving him means putting him first, far ahead of the fading glory and shifting hopes offered by this world. Also, Jesus offers humanity a personal way of knowing, loving and relating to God our Father in heaven, and our fellow neighbors.
Christ’s birth is the bridging of two realities that show that God is not just the God of heaven but Lord and Creator of the universe. Christmas is God’s incarnation, that is, God taking human flesh and becoming one like us. God became human, not just to save the world, but to bless the world, to bless being human, to endorse being human, to join us in our humanness. In this holy and joyful season Jesus invites us to come to him as a child embodying all the characteristics manifested in children – from the purity of innocence to the openness toward people of different cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, social or economic status and skin color.
The timeless incarnational truth in this message is God’s invitation for us to participate in the holy work of salvation. We are co-responsible for our salvation by embracing and incarnating Jesus’ call to ‘come unto me’ and ‘live in me as I live in you’.
In the spirit of the season, I would wish to personally send my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who organized, contributed, supported and attended the Farewell Service in honor of Lynn and myself on October 18th. It was one the most fulfilling times in our ministry in the diocese and the attendance and the many words of appreciation from so many. Your actions and expression of genuine kindness were uplifting to us especially at a time when we were experiencing a very painful period in our life and ministry. Lynn and I have given the best of our years to the diocese and people we love and sacrificed much to promote and create a healthy church. We are confident God who continues to lead and guide the ministry we share will in no way abrogate the care and responsibility, Jesus, the Son of God, has shown over the 158 years of the diocesan life and ministry. I am inspired and optimistic by the thought that the faithful ministry of the eleven bishops, thousands of clergy and lay who gave the best years of their lives in service to the diocese for over 57,670 days of the diocese’s existence God will not overlook. It is unequivocally true that the diocese by the grace and mercy of God incarnate is in a wonderfully hopeful place, and to that you are called to recommit your lives to this TRUTH in this Christmastide and coming years. The burden of proof remains with the faithful members of the diocesan family to dream with God the dream of a glorious future.
Likewise, in this season of love, joy and thanksgiving I would be remiss if I were to omit lifting up the ministry of the staff of the Bishop’s Office. Lynn, Beth, Joanne, Megan and Faith who for many years worked unceasingly into long hours for the diocese they love and cherish. I owe them much for the remarkable work we were able to accomplish in our tenure together as a vibrant and vital team. They remain ‘quiet giants’ for Jesus and his church on the eastern shore of Maryland.
However, as we do so we are reminded to spare some time in our celebration to invite the Christ child of Bethlehem stable, Jesus the Lord and Savior, into our lives and giving him the freedom to lead us where he wishes recommitting our life to the guiding principles of love for all, peace, joy and Christian harmony.
Finally, my beloved colleagues and spouses/partners, Nalini ‘Lynn’ and I are conscious of the gift we have received from God in allowing us to share ministry and companionship with each and every one of you. You have all made our life in the diocese a truly remarkable and holy experience. We love you with our heart, mind and soul! As the angels remind us, “God is with us”.
Every blessing, joy, happiness, peace and goodwill to you and your beloved family members on this Christmas season and beyond.
Your friends,
+San & Lynn