Dear Mr Vonk and management, trustees of the George Hospital Trust, members of the George Hospital Board, Doctors, Nurses, Hospital staff and most importantly our patients and all the supporters of the hospital:
Christmas 2021 is upon us, and shortly thereafter we await a new year - 2022 AD. Christmas refers to Jesus Christ, the son of God who was born just more than 2000 years ago. The prophet Isaiah penned his prophetic book between 701 BC and 681 BC and spoke about the sign of Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 states: ”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son and call him Immanuel.” Jesus was the final fulfilment of this prophesy, as related in Matthew 1:20-23 when the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said that Mary will conceive from the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins: verse 23….” and they will call him Immanuel-which means,” God with us.”
The Gospel according to the apostle John clarifies the meaning and purpose of Jesus’s birth, life, death and resurrection for every man, woman and child on earth, and even all creation, in John 3:16” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” It is important to note that it is not the size of our faith, either big or small that matters, but rather in WHOM we believe!
May this certain knowledge that God is with us in and through his Son, enable you to experience “the peace of God that transcends all understanding may (it) guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”( Philippians 4: verse7) In this time with Omicron, and whatever the new year may bring let us remember: ”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:4-6)
I close with what De Sales once said to a friend: What a blessed thing active prayer is. I mean by active prayer, doing everything in God’s presence and for His service. “ May this be true of all of us as we celebrate a joyful Christmas and a blessed new year!
Greetings
Rev. Michiel Burger(Chairman)
George Hospital Trust.