December 24, 2016. On this Christmas Eve we might imagine a future only of good and beauty, but we know the burdens of reality will set back in. We know we can’t expect forgiveness for all our selfishness. But God gives us a gift we don’t expect: a new reality. We know we don’t have to follow Santa’s rules. We don’t have to worry about how successful or productive we’ve been, or even whether we’ve pleased God. In her sermon this evening, Pastor Penny reminds us that God gives us the best gift when he says that we’re his daughters and sons whom he loves, and that this gift is so great we need to share it.

*** [Keywords: “Go change the world” Christmas tree Christmas Eve Francisco Ortega God’s children Mexico Pastor Penny Santa animals beauty belonging burdens of reality childhood daughters expect expectation forgiveness future future gift glimmering ornaments glowing lights good good and beauty immigrant joy magical feeling merit naughty new reality nice peace pressure productive respectable selfishness shepherds smell good socioeconomic pole sons successful tension unearned unexpected]