This was indeed a momentous year for the United States of America. We saw the death of another ex-president, Gerald Ford. We now have only three living ex-presidents, Bush I and Carter who are both age 82 and Clinton who is age 60. In my seventy-three years, I have observed the deaths of nine presidents, including two who died while in office. Like most of you, I remembeer exactly where I was and what I was doing when I learned of the deaths of F.D.R. and J.F.K. Those are moments that one never forgets.

This was also a year in which the American people again took over the reins of power in Washington. By defeating the party of our administration, the people have spoken out on many issues. The justification for our adventure in Iraq has now been thoroughly refuted. President Bush will no longer be free to pursue his reckless policies in promoting empire. We finally remembered that the greatness of America is not in its military might, but in its example as a shining light of hope to the huddled masses, yearning to breathe free. Hopefully, the new Congress will move us forward on issues of justice and peace, rather than adventurism abroad.

This is a year when all, including the administration, have finally come to the understanding that global warming is real and that it is critical that we begin to reverse that direction if possible. Indeed, it may already be too late. As a people, we have been living high on the hog for a long time. The only hope is that we return to living a simpler life, with a real concern for the aged, the sick, and the poor. For those of us who follow the Christian faith, that goal is what Jesus called, "The Kingdom of God." We are still a long way from living in that kingdom.

The road to that kingdom is not blazed by bombers and tanks. It is blazed by those who have promoted non-violence, people such as Jesus of Nazareth, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela. These few leaders, in addition to unnamed millions of other people, have pointed a direction that is not only the right way, but the only way in which peace will be finally achieved. It is my prayer that we will all set our feet on that narrow way, and leave behind the worship of militarism. May God have mercy on us all if we do not. I wish you all the best in the coming New Year.