November 24, 2006

GENEVA – Bishop Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) affirms in his 2006 Christmas Message that God visited the world in the miracle of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. "Held in Mary's arms that night was the revelation of steadfast, unbounded love for all humanity. The birth of Jesus disclosed God's saving will and eternal desire for reconciliation and peace," says Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In his message addressed to the worldwide Lutheran communion of churches, the LWF president, however, points out that as Christians gather to celebrate Christ's birth, the sounds of discord and difficulties can be heard throughout the world. He cites divisions caused by walls of separation; the struggle for survival amidst disasters, devastation, hunger, and poverty; the dread of rampant disease and the spread of HIV and AIDS; and the threat of war, even with nuclear weapons, among other concerns.

But the angel is heard saying, "Do not be afraid," and those who believe realize that they are never alone. "We have been claimed by God and made a part of the household of faith," Hanson stresses in his Christmas message.

The full text of the 2006 Christmas Message from the LWF President follows. It is also available in PDF version on the LWF Web site at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF_Christmas_2006.pdf.

2006 Christmas Message from the LWF President

Sisters and brothers throughout the worldwide Lutheran communion of churches:

"The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory... (John 1:14)."

We live in a visited world. On that holy night twenty centuries ago, God visited the world in the miracle of Bethlehem. Held in Mary's arms that night was the revelation of steadfast, unbounded love for all humanity. The birth of Jesus disclosed God's saving will and eternal desire for reconciliation and peace.

In this season of Christmas, we encounter again Jesus, sent from God for our salvation. As the Word is proclaimed in both simple buildings and cathedrals of grandeur, we receive the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus for the whole earth. We witness the mystery of rebirth in the waters of baptism and rejoice as the community of faith embraces new ones. As bread is broken and wine poured in the Eucharist, we give thanks for the real presence of Christ in our midst.

We gather with the whole Church for the celebration of our Lord's Nativity. In our gathering, however, we hear the sounds of discord throughout the world. From divisions caused by walls of separation, from the struggles of many for survival from disasters, devastation, hunger, and poverty, from the dread of rampant disease and the spread of HIV and AIDS, from war and the threat of war, even with nuclear weapons, from broken relationships in homes and hostilities within communities and countries, we seek rescue. We yearn for the gracious, healing, and reconciling Word of the Prince of Peace.

We hear the angel say, "Do not be afraid." With that message of courage, we realize as believers that we are never alone. We have been claimed by God and made a part of the household of faith.

So we lift our voices with renewed hope throughout the communion of the Lutheran World Federation. In so doing, we join the grand anthem: Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king...

In God's grace,
Bishop Mark S. Hanson
President, The Lutheran World Federation
November 2006

Lutheran World Information