Christmas 2017
Through sending His Son to the world, God showed us His love. Jesus Christ brought us salvation and freedom.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Although this happened two thousand years ago, Christmas still can change the world and the people.
Thanks to Christ, in this special time we can discover anew God’s love and show its power to the people around us.
May Christmas become an opportunity for real joy, deep celebration, reconciliation and love sharing.
Bishop Jerzy Samiec
____________________________
Christmas is the time of joy and hope. It is associated with presents, but most of all – this is the story about God who gives us his Son and teaches people how to take care of one another. Two symbols speak about joy and hope: szulki and Wigilijne Dzieło Pomocy Dzieciom (Christmas Eve Aid Program for Children).
Szulki are cinnamon tubes that used to be baked for children in the region of Cieszyn Silesia. In times when the evangelical beadle used to deliver Christmas Eve wafers, he was always greeted by children but usually had nothing to give them. Kids were disappointed. Therefore he came with an idea to add an egg, honey and cinnamon to the wafers and to roll them while still warm. During his next visit he started giving szulki to kids.
And this is how they can be found on the Christmas table next to the regular Christmas Eve wafers. Today in many houses of the Cieszyn Silesia szulki are the symbol of family ecumenism. They can be purchased in evangelical parishes. Vintage tins are exhibited in the Museum of Protestantism in Cieszyn. Christmas Eve candle has been distributed in the frames of ecumenical action called Wigilijne Dzieło Pomocy Dzieciom (Christmas Eve Aid Program for Children) led by the Lutheran and Reformed Diakonias, Roman Catholic Caritas and Orthodox Eleos since the year 2000. Profit goes to the aid projects for children and families.