JANUARY 8, 2008

Dear Friends,

Love, the reality of it, the expression of it is, as Thomas Merton says, "What finally demonstrates who we are and why we are here".

It is that which brought us Jesus.

In this, our visually driven society - imagine the night of Jesus' birth, before technology could imitate it - angels in the sky, a star standing over the place where he was born, the visit from Magi bearing gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold... not too shabby, would you say? I mean, even Herod the king, was aware of the boy… didn’t’ need a big screen, the sky was it!

2,000 years later, as planets kindly hold their course around the sun, as 57 moons hover here and there in mysterious weightlessness, as 10,000 asteroids hurl themselves forward as if propelled by some giant slingshot, and 1,000 billion comets compete for attention, I stand in awe under the clear, crisp December night sky, knowing that God the Son allowed himself to be limited, the ultimate expression of sacrificial love – Emmanuel, God with us.

As we at REACH pull our gaze from the cosmos, we celebrate love incarnate.

It is this sacrificial and hopeful love that we long to imitate. This is the love we encourage in you who stand with us to relieve the suffering of children here and around the world, affected by HIV/AIDS.

It is in the spirit of love that we thank you for your ongoing support and wish you peace on earth good will for all of us!

Your Servant,

Susan K. Slonaker

P. S. Please consider a gift of $25, $50 $100, or an increase in your monthly gift by ten percent. Ask at your workplace about matching funds, and please designate REACH Ministries when you contribute through The United Way.