NO SURPRISE PARTY

KIM SHIPPEY, SENIOR WRITER

At this time of year, as we settle into holiday activities, it's comforting to know that the one thing that doesn't change is Christmas itself. No one tries to rewrite the time-honored script. It's never a surprise party. Angel voices still rise above the fearsome noise of the news of the day to proclaim "on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

These words have become so familiar to many of us, writes Sue Spotts in her lead article (p. 7), that they are often quoted without attribution and with little or no recognition of their deep spiritual significance. "Truth's immortal message," she says, "is destined to have ultimate healing and saving impact not only for each of us individually, but for all humanity."

Darren Stone writes in her poem on page 17 that Christmas is a time to honor this peace, "show we care even/for neighbors we might not like," and accept "the gift of living with the Christ/throughout each year."

And Jennifer Rosebrugh, who's in the Canadian Foreign Service, focuses on what we can do as individuals to help others at this time (p. 10). Recounting some of her Yuletide experiences overseas, she concludes that Christmas is "all about God's gift of love even under the unlikeliest of circumstances."

To such reminiscences, we add teens' and kids' pages, testimonies of healing, a Watch column from London, and a Bible Lesson guide, along with our Sentinel tradition of reprinting an excerpt from Mary Baker Eddy's well-loved writings about the season. This year we go back to Christmas 1900, when Mrs. Eddy asked that "all human hate, pride, greed, lust should bow and declare Christ's power ..." (p. 19).

More than a century later, it gives us great joy to add a heartfelt "Amen!"

WHAT I SAY UNTO YOU I SAY UNTO ALL, WATCH.
—JESUS

The Christian Science Sentinel was founded in 1898 by Mary Baker Eddy, and its mission remains the same: "to hold guard over Truth, Life, and Love." The Sentinel continues to report on the unlimited ways that the healing power and presence of the Christ activates, uplifts, and transforms the lives of everyday people around the world.

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