Alka's Angle

These past two years have been so different from the previous years. We have had to let go of so many rituals we were used and learn ways to connect with family, and celebrate the season of holidays. I remember we used to have a Christmas cantata at church and go out caroling in the evening.

We are a week away from Christmas -- when we celebrate God sharing with us the best gift humanity could ever receive -- God coming to dwell among us in human form, so we could experience God’s love for us, and all humanity. On this day, we not only celebrate the birth of Christ, but are also reminded of the gifts of hope, love, joy and peace that Christ shares with this world. We too celebrate this season, by sharing -- recognizing what God has shared with us -- God’s self in human form. 

Some of you may watch the HBO reality show “We’re Here” and seen the episode in season 2 in which Rev. Craig Duke, a United Methodist clergy from Evansville, Indiana, participated. Rev. Duke accepted the invitation to be in the show “because,” he said, “I wanted to empathize, not just sympathize with LGBTQ people in my community and to express support for my daughter, who recently came out as pansexual.” The show aired on November 8th and even though Craig knew that not everyone will understand or support his decision, he did not think it would cost him his job.

Two days ago President Biden marked the beginning of AIDS Awareness month by sharing a new national HIV/AIDS strategy with the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, in the United States. Hoping this response will be truly equitable, he committed to making sure that resources for HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment “will be available to everyone regardless of race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability.”

We have entered the last week of the liturgical calendar, which means next Sunday we enter the Advent season -- the season of waiting and preparation, season for introspection and renewal. So, before we enter that season, I want to share all that I am grateful for in this past year: