Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places— Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ! “Who will celebrate Christmas correctly?” This was a question asked by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, celebrated German pastor and theologian who stood up to Hitler and the takeover of the German church, and lost his life doing so in the waning days of WWII. When Bonhoeffer speaks, I do my best to put everything else aside and listen. I didn’t know, though, we had to celebrate Christmas correctly. It was never right or wrong growing up and growing older. It had always been about family and carols and Christmas Eve services and candles and gifts. Right?

Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places— Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ! I want to be lifted up on butterfly wings. The Rev. Dr. Mary Kuhns, Parish Associate for Pastoral Care, Presbyterian pastor, youth minister, chaplain, Associate for Justice for Women for the Presbyterian Church (USA), licensed therapist, teacher, inclusive language advocate, singer at nursing homes, lover of dogs and cars and people. Mary, who helped start the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) Program, who sat at hospital bedsides and listened to our stories, and played the ukulele… I could go on and on. You probably could as well. Mary died November 24th, after a somewhat brief illness and hospital stay. ...