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The Episcopal Diocese
of El Camino Real
B.V. Sargent House
154 Central Avenue
Salinas, CA 93901

Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mailing Address
PO Box 689
Salinas, CA 93902

Phone: (831) 394-4465
Email: info@realepiscopal.org

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Photo of the exterior of Sargent House in Salinas, California decorated for Christmas December 7, 2021

Bishop Lucinda’s 2021 Christmas message

December 22, 2021
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Bishop Messages
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Posted by Staff

Christmas is an open door

Every year at Christmas, we listen to an old story; and each time, we are invited to hear it differently spoken in the language of our hearts. Christmas pageants and our readings on Christmas Eve tell of angels and shepherds and even three kings making their way to the place where Jesus was born.

At its very essence, the story of Jesus’ birth is one where our hearts stand still as his parents search for lodging—a part of the tale relived every year in Las Posadas. What a relief it is, when the innkeeper says, “Come in,” and pilgrims and sojourners are finally able to enter holy space.

It is the opening of that door and the invitation to enter that finds its place at the very core of our religion. It is not “work” to be welcoming; to welcome another is often found in the incidental way in which each of us engages with a person who asks and seeks. To enter the door of our church for the first time takes courage. To engage the everyday encounter between hearts, no matter where it happens, takes willingness and hope—the “good news” of our scriptural story.

A couple of weeks ago, the staff decorated Sargent House for Advent and Christmas. We searched the basement for ornaments, strung lights, and decorated the tree. As Elrond Lawrence and David Starr hung the lights on the porch, two different men came up to talk to them and asked about our church. The backdrop for this conversation was the open door to our diocesan house. One man asked if he could enter and see—and he did. They both promised to return and thanked us for the lights and the hope we brought to the neighborhood.

We called it, “evangelism through decorating.”

Christmas is a time for good news. It is a time when—despite or perhaps because of the challenges of the world and the prevalence of bad news—we gather around a little newborn, count fingers and toes, and marvel that new life always finds a way. Always.

It is a time for those who are searching to find an invitation to connect with God, and leave with a promise to return again.

Christmas happens because a door is open, during a pandemic and always, and hearts meet in the place of peace, hope, joy, and love. May it be so this season for you and yours.

Faithfully and with love,

Bishop Lucinda

La Navidad es una puerta abierta

Todos los años, en Navidad, escuchamos una vieja historia; y cada vez, se nos invita a oírla de manera diferente en el idioma de nuestros corazones. Los dramitas de la Navidad y nuestras lecturas en la Nochebuena hablan de ángeles y pastores e incluso de tres reyes que se dirigían al lugar donde nació Jesús.

Esencialmente, la historia del nacimiento de Jesús es una en la que nuestros corazones dejan de palpitar mientras María y José buscan alojamiento–una parte de la historia que se revive todos los años con Las Posadas. Qué alivio hay cuando el posadero dice: “Entra”, y los peregrinos y los forasteros finalmente pueden entrar en el espacio sagrado.

Es la apertura de esa puerta y la invitación a entrar lo que se coloca en el mismo centro de nuestra religión. No es “trabajo” ser acogedor; dar la bienvenida a otro a menudo se encuentra en la forma incidental en que cada uno de nosotros se relaciona con una persona que pide y busca. Entrar por la puerta de nuestra iglesia por primera vez requiere valor. Para participar en el encuentro diario entre corazones, no importa dónde suceda, se necesitan voluntad y esperanza: las “buenas nuevas” de nuestra historia bíblica.

Hace un par de semanas, los empleados diocesanos decoraron Sargent House para Adviento y Navidad. Buscamos adornos en el sótano, colgamos luces y decoramos el árbol. Mientras Elrond Lawrence y David Starr colgaban las luces en la entrada, dos hombres distintos se acercaron a hablar con ellos y les preguntaron sobre nuestra iglesia. Al fondo de estas conversaciones había la puerta abierta a nuestra casa diocesana. Un hombre preguntó si podía entrar y ver, y así lo hizo. Ambos prometieron regresar y nos agradecieron las luces y la esperanza que llevamos al vecindario.

Eso llamamos “evangelización a través de la decoración.”

La Navidad es una época de buenas noticias. Es el momento en que, a pesar o quizás debido a los desafíos del mundo y la prevalencia de malas noticias, nos reunimos alrededor de un recién nacido, contamos los dedos de las manos y los pies y nos maravillamos de que la nueva vida siempre encuentra un camino. Siempre.

Es el momento en que aquellos que están buscando encuentran una invitación a conectarse con Dios y se van con la promesa de regresar nuevamente.

La Navidad sucede porque una puerta está abierta, durante una pandemia y siempre, y los corazones se encuentran en el lugar de la paz, la esperanza, la alegría y el amor.

Que así sea esta temporada para ustedes y los suyos.

Fielmente y con amor,

Obispa Lucinda

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