Fr. Lee's Christmas Message

Now, more than ever, the world needs us, the body of Christ, to fulfill its mission to restore all people to unity with God and each other.

by Father Lee Davis on December 24, 2021

A Christmas Message from the Rector

Henri Nouwen, in his book The Road to Daybreak, says that "Christmas is saying "yes" to something beyond our emotions and feelings. It is saying "yes" to hop based on the initiative of God.

Christmas is about believing that the salvation of the world is God's work and not ours. We, as believers in the miracle of the incarnation that we celebrate at Christmas, are called to be co-creators with God to build God's Kingdom on earth. 

To those of us who follow God incarnate things will never feel or look just right. They will never look or feel easy. The world will continue to be broken and continue to be inhabited by broken people. It will always need healing. It will always need people who dare to join with God in creating a better world.

Our "yes" and our actions glorify God and bolster our faithful response to create this better world. Together, we the people of The Episcopal Church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Martin, strive to provide all people with the time, space, support, worship, formation, and service needed to say "yes" to the birth and invitation of Jesus. Our vision is to be a community that creates disciples, thrives, and offers hope, belonging, and healing to the communities around us. We say "yes" through our worship, parish life, and service and by rejoicing in the transformative love of Jesus, a love that can change the world.

In thanksgiving for Christmas, let us pray, serve, and give in ways that show our commitment to creating a better world, a world filled with the love shown to us by a babe born in a manger, a babe who is Emmanuel - God with Us.

Now, more than ever, the world needs us, the body of Christ, to fulfill its mission to restore all people to unity with God and each other.

Christmas blessings to you, each and every day!

The Very Reverend Lee Davis, Rector

Tags: christmas, blessings

About the Author
Father Lee Davis

After a diverse career in marketing and finance and a sudden realization of the love and power of God that he discovered aboard a Navy ship, Father Lee Davis has the distinction of being baptized, confirmed, and received for Holy Orders on the same Sunday. He studied at Bexley Hall Seminary in Columbus, Ohio where he received a Master's of Divinity degree in 2009 and then served as priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's in Hollywood, Florida as well as an assisting priest at St. Benedict's in Plantation. Father Lee also worked as a Hospice Chaplain. When he left after a little more than two years, St. Andrew's had grown in membership and under his guidance extended its outreach into the community. He was also a pivotal leader of the Jubilee Center of Hollywood, a vital outreach ministry to the homeless and hungry, and served on the Board of Directors for St. Lawrence Chapel, serving the homeless in Pompano Beach. He also served on several diocesan committees working with the youth of the diocese.


In December 2012, Father Lee was called as rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Damascus, Maryland. During his 8 year tenure there the vestry of the parish noted that "His dynamic leadership, inspired preaching, creative ideas and compassionate pastoral care combined to bring a new level of excitement, commitment, and growth among the congregation." Through his leadership, he developed partnerships with other organizations in the community, helped establish a transitional home for victim's of domestic violence, began the process of developing affordable senior housing on some of the acreages of land owned by the church, and grew stewardship achieving their first balanced budget in over a decade. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he led the congregation into the development of an online presence and with a couple of dedicated lay members started a feeding program for families in need which continues today. He served in the Diocese of Washington DC helping in the implementation of a Diaconate Formation program as well as being on the Board of Directors of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association and serving on the Diocesan Executive Council.


Amidst the COVID pandemic, Father Lee accepted the call to be our rector and began his tenure in September 2019. His leadership has already blessed our community.

Back to News & Updates