Merry Christmas!

I hope all of you enjoyed the holiday season with lots of family and delicious food! I know that I did, a week ago today we had our baby girl and couldn't have asked for a better christmas miracle! (Sorry about slacking on the blog but I will be back to updating more often very soon, life has just been a bit crazy.) Here is a little food for thought this holiday season...

I loved the talk given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf at the Christmas Devotional this year. If you didn't get the chance to listen to it you should go to this link and read "Seeing Christmas through New Eyes." It helps you realize what this Christmas season is really all about.

Merry Christmas Relief Society Sisters!

Bishopric Message

With family gatherings taking place and presents being exchanged one underlying message remains constant that spans across religions alike, that is the message of Jesus Christ's birth. I am grateful for the Christmas season where our thoughts turn toward the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It was Mary's divine calling to give birth to Jesus Christ. I can imagine that Mary and Joseph felt very overwhelmed by the responsibility they would have to take upon themselves. God trusted in them. As they made their way to Bethlehem they experienced some difficult circumstances. They found themselves without any place to stay for the night. Joseph knew the importance of finding shelter as Mary was about to give birth. Although many innkeepers turned them away it was the compassion of one innkeeper to allow the couple to sleep in the stable. I'm sure that Mary and Joseph were grateful for the generosity of the innkeeper. From that experience we were blessed to receive Jesus Christ into this world. His birth would change the world forever. They prophesy of his birth was fulfilled and many more prophesies would soon follow. His ministry and teachings are the basic foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day-Saints. He stands at the head of the church.
So, I ask the question, who and what are you grateful for? Let's continue the Thanksgiving spirit and think about the temporal and spiritual blessing we have been given by being member's of Christ's church. Have you thought about how your life has been impacted by the birth of Jesus Christ?
I am grateful for my family, especially my wife who loves and always supports me in whatever calling I have fulfilled in the church. I am grateful for the love and support that I have received by everyone in the ward. I know that we have wonderful people in the ward. As we serve each other we become blessed and more unified as brothers and sisters in the church. I love the Christmas season in which we focus our attention more on the birth of our Savior. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas.

From, Bishop Patrick