Moral of the story? Hope and charity

Many know the Christmas story - Joseph and Mary are traveling, find themselves in need of a safe, warm place for the woman to give birth to the Christ child, who is placed in a simple manger for a crib. Angels sing, three kings come from afar.

It's a story of humble beginnings and great promise. It's a story of hope.

“So many people can be so discouraged at this time of year, especially with the bad economy, loss of a job or loss of income because a spouse lost a job, and some people can be overcome with intense feelings of being alone,” said the Rev. Chris Arch, pastor of Good News Bible Church, 845 Pepperwood Lane in Iowa City. “I think the basic message of Christmas is that we're not alone, he's entered into our world and makes all the difference.”

Doug Wagner, 42, of Cedar Rapids, tries to remember that throughout the year.

“We aren't where we thought we'd be, but we're in God's plan,” he said. “Throughout life we are given opportunities and put in situations that aren't exactly like we thought it would be, just like Joseph and Mary walking through that city, but God has a plan for us, just like he did for Joseph and Mary.”

It's a story of encouragement.

“When Jesus was born into the world, it was not a world transformation, but the expectation that things would change,” said the Rev. Ken Kuntz, pastor at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 302 E. Jefferson St. in Iowa City. “He gives us hope today that we can change the world.

“The Christmas story is a message of encouragement, hope and possibilities, and that's something we can open ourselves to.”

For Ann England, 67, of Cedar Rapids, the Christmas story is about love and giving of one's self, something she does almost daily at the Jane Boyd Community House in Cedar Rapids, where she makes breakfast for the homeless.

It's the season for giving and building relationships, Arch said.

“This is one of the few times of the year when people are actually accepting if you want to interrupt their lives,” he said. “Take a tray of cookies or treats, demonstrate acts of love, get to know them.”

Unitarian Universalist congregations don't believe in the miraculous birth of Christ, but they do celebrate the Christmas story.

“One of the things that we believe is that any birth is a sign of hope for humanity, and that a birth of a child is a wonderful, miraculous thing and should be celebrated,” said the Rev. Tom Capo, pastor of Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 Third Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.