by Amy Rowe

December 6, St. Nicholas Day, is the day we remember the 4th century bishop of Myra, Turkey, whose devotion to Jesus led him to secretly give his riches away to the poor. Saint Nicholas set a pattern for secret gift-giving in December that we continue to this day.

It was wonderful to have Bishop Chris visit us this past weekend at Incarnation Anglican in Arlington, VA. He was SUCH a good sport in helping us celebrate Saint Nicholas Day! Dressed in cope and miter (similar to what Nicholas would have worn), amidst spilled hot chocolate and soggy grass and fingers sticky from Turkish delight, he told the story of Saint Nicholas for the kids of the Greenbrier neighborhood and of our church. And then he did it all again on Sunday morning! I was delighted that several neighbors came to Saturday's event and lingered to chat afterward over the fire.

In the early days of the church, bishops were the chief missionaries. They were always out at the pioneering edges of the faith, always carrying the presence of Jesus beyond the bounds of the church into places where he wasn't yet known, always finding creative ways to translate the gospel into meaningful words and actions in new contexts. I caught a glimpse of that in our own bishop on Saturday, and I was grateful and inspired. It was invigorating to witness Bishop Chris' willingness to help us hold an outreach event, his joy in praying for neighbors that he (and we) had never met, and the ease with which he wove the story of Jesus into the story of Saint Nicholas.

In the aftermath of the events and conversations of Bishop Chris' visit, I'm freshly inspired to think and pray about our relationship to neighbors and place. I'd love for you to join me in prayer too.

Read more about St. Nicholas and the visit from Bishop Chris here.

The Rev. Amy Rowe is the Rector at Incarnation Anglican Church in Arlington, VA.