AP reports that yesterday President Obama, along with his family, attended the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse. In his remarks (
full text) before he and his family lit the tree, Obama said in part:
More than 2,000 years ago, a child was born to two faithful travelers who could find rest only in a stable, among the cattle and the sheep. But this was not just any child. Christ’s birth made the angels rejoice and attracted shepherds and kings from afar. He was a manifestation of God’s love for us. And He grew up to become a leader with a servant’s heart who taught us a message as simple as it is powerful: that we should love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves.
That teaching has come to encircle the globe. It has endured for generations. And today, it lies at the heart of my Christian faith and that of millions of Americans. No matter who we are, or where we come from, or how we worship, it’s a message that can unite all of us on this holiday season.
So long as the gifts and the parties are happening, it’s important for us to keep in mind the central message of this season, and keep Christ’s words not only in our thoughts, but also in our deeds.
While this is the 89th year for the lighting ceremony, this year the ceremony took place using a tree that was newly planted in March after strong winds in February toppled the previous tree that had been used since 1978.
