Letter to James – Holiday Traditions 1.16.2022

Dear James,

It’s been a memorable Holiday Season with you.  Gizzy and I enjoyed spending the first weekend of December in Brookline with you decorating the tree, the apartment and helping your mom and dad with their Christmas party. Of no surprise is that you were the hit of the party. I had fun chasing you as you darted your way among the guests, sometimes as you walked through legs instead of around them.

When we returned to Virginia, we made our own preparations, knowing that you, and your mom and dad would be coming to Virginia! But before you arrived, we were able to spend the weekend before Christmas at The Homestead with Jack, Olivia, Jim, and Karen. Visiting the Homestead during the Christmas season is a tradition we rather enjoy, like so many other holiday traditions, including dinner out with our former Crandall Court neighbors and Gizzy’s special beef tenderloin. And there are other traditions that you will participate in soon including the “tree pickle” and tree “money boxes.”  Your mom did well this year with the money boxes.

While you were here for Christmas new traditions have been established, including reading Christmas stories to you and the annual Pearl Creek Advisors Christmas dinner. Speaking of the PCA Christmas dinner, you sat at the head of the table and held court.  I believe the wait staff were just as entertained by our silly behavior over you as by your highchair antics.  That dinner was indeed one of the highlights of your Christmas visit.

One tradition that I am so happy we were able to continue, despite the pandemic, was attending the Christmas Eve Service at our church, Christ Church Episcopal.  Although you and your parents celebrated mass with Bridget’s family in Charlottesville, Carter, Jack, Olivia, Gizzy and I were able to attend the 4 pm service at CCE.  This is something that we have done since your dad was very small. And like most years, it does not feel quite like Christmas until I have sat in that special space with my family while listening to the Christmas Story, joyously singing many of my favorite Christmas hymns, and ending the service singing Silent Night by candlelight.  I know this also means a lot to your uncle Jack.

For many Christians, the Christmas Season allows a time to reflect on what it means to be a Christian.  And James, if I were to explain to you how I practice my faith it would include a continuous circle with arrows going to and from the following components: Canon, Communion, Community, and Church.  And at the center of the circle would be Christ. The arrows signify how each support the other. Canon for me is the New Testament. It is the scripture that speaks to me with the message to love yourself so that you can love your fellow man. Communion is communication with nature and God through thought and prayer. Community is living out your faith with support from my fellow man.  And Church is the formal worship that helps bring the other three together. For me, leaving any one of the four out would break the circle. So, you can also think of these four C’s as four cornerstones. And if one is missing, my construct collapses.

And if I drill down into Church itself, fellowship has been, and will always be for me, the most important part of Church. As I tell people, it’s the congregation, not the denomination that makes a church. Yes, we read scripture, we pray, and we sing. All of which are integral to a Church Service.  But it’s the people you share that experience with that creates a sense of fellowship and belonging. And this is what brings me back.