Christmas is a joyful season, not often giving itself over to deep introspection. The spirit of the season is one of intense thanksgiving for the newborn Lord, Jesus Christ. Hold on to that thought!

An obvious answer to the question, "Why is St. Christopher's here?" is that it is "where we go to church." If it wasn't for St. Christopher's, local members would have to drive to Springfield, Xenia, Riverside, or downtown Dayton? It's part of the answer, but it flies in the face of the fact that many of our Beavercreek communicants live closer to three or four other Episcopal congregations. Another part of the answer is that St. Christopher's was founded as a mission to Wright-Patterson AFB. That character still pervades life at St. Christopher's; we are the Wright-Pat Episcopal Church in many ways. Those of us in or working for the military can worship at St. Christopher's without being apologetic for our military calling. These are all parts of a good, but incomplete answer to the question. These answers look in on us, not out to the rest of the world.

An Anglican presence in every community is IMPORTANT! Why? As Bishop Charleston (former Bishop of Alaska) put it at the just concluded convention workshop on spirituality, the Episcopal Church (Anglican Churches in general) is the best kept secret in Christendom. The Episcopal Church (and the Anglican Communion) embody the best of all other Christian traditions being apostolic, liturgical, sacramental, scriptural, and evangelical. And here we are in a world that is starved for what we've got!

In Bishop Thompson's address to the 124th convention of our diocese, he told us that every congregation was a missionary outpost for the work of bringing the people of our communities into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Later in the evening during the sermon, Bishop Charleston called upon the Holy Spirit to anoint everyone present as evangelists. This is the true work of the Church! And, who/what is the Church? The Church is ALL of us; the Bishop, Joanne, me, and you. All of us carrying out the Great Commission, (Matthew 28 starting at verse 19) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."

Question: Why is St. Christopher's here?

Answer: St. Christopher's is here to serve as a missionary outpost of the Diocese of Southern Ohio, to enable her communicants to carry out their role of evangelism and discipleship in the name of Jesus.

Note: The full text of Bishop Thompson's address can be found on the diocese's web site at http://www.episcopal-dso.org/ on the "Convention" page.