Merry Christmas to you!

I pray that you are doing well; keeping safe and staying encouraged at the same time. The key to finding our way through these very strange days is to keep our eyes fixed on Christ. There are so many challenging and seemingly discouraging waves around us, and I know of no one who can calm our fears and anxieties, who can be our Rock and Foundation in these times, other than Christ Jesus.

This year will be a stay at home Christmas for Lorraine and me. We will not be seeing our entire family as we would like, but we will do the next best thing and connect online. While this is definitely not our preference, it provides a great opportunity to find the strength we need in Christ to encourage and be a shining light to others.

The challenges this Christmas in our communities are great, with increased numbers of people struggling spiritually, financially, emotionally and socially. There is no shortage of need. Let me tell you a positive story! It is about our West Kelowna Warriors Christmas Hamper Drive. This is the 10th year for the Hamper Drive and while we wondered if it would even happen this year, the good news is that it is! Most years we pack 50 hampers for needy families, but this year we are at 120 hampers! I am honoured to have the Warriors hockey club team up with the chaplaincy program for such a great community outreach! I am also thankful to West Kelowna Tim Horton’s for stepping up in their support. We are doing everything distanced and masked, and while it’s a bit cumbersome, it is certainly worthwhile and rewarding.

I recently read in my Christmas devotions that when Mary said yes to the angel in Luke 1, she had no idea what the journey ahead would be like. The lesson was this: saying yes to Jesus means saying yes to a life of faith. He knows the path, we simply follow Him. May Mary’s words ring true in our hearts today: “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.”

May you have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas, and please know that we are thankful for you.

Don and Lorraine Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region