>>> LET'S PRAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO GATHER AND CELEBRATE.

TONIGHT WE'RE TURN THE LIGHT ON THIS TREE AND IT'S A REMINDER THAT THE TRUE LIGHT OF THE WORLD IS YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST.

REMIND US THAT THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS IS THE ETERNAL LIGHT OF JESUS CRISIS.

WE CERTAINLY DO NOT DESERVE IT, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GIFT AND THE EVER-LASTING LOVE YOU HAVE FOR US.

WE LOVE YOU LORD AND WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR SON'S HOLY NAME.

AMEN.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.

WELCOME TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION OR AS THE FIRST LADY LIKES TO SAY, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

PARTNERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE POURED THEIR HEARTS INTO THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS AS A FAMILY.

IN JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES, MARTY WILL LEAD US IN THE COUNTDOWN TO LIGHT THIS INCREDIBLE TREE OFFICIALLY MARKING THE START OF CHRISTMAS HERE AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

AS WE BEGIN THIS TIME OF CELEBRATION, WE REFLECT ON ANOTHER YEAR THAT IS COMING TO AN END.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THE BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND THAT WE OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THOSE AROUND THE WORLD WHO MAY NOT EXPERIENCE THE LIGHT AND JOY THIS SEASON BRINGS.

WE RECOGNIZE THE EVERY DAY HEROS THAT SPEND THE HOLIDAYS AWAY FROM HOME AS THEY KEEP OTHERS SAFE, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM SO WE CAN CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH OUR LOVED ONES.

WE SHOULD NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS DEMOCRACY ARE THREATENING OUR ALLIES.

MANY OF US HAVE BEEN DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICTS IN ISRAEL, IN UKRAINE AND ELSEWHERE.

IT IS HARD TO IGNORE THESE SUFFERINGS AS THIS SACRED SEASON APPROACHES.

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THESE TRAGEDIES AND WE FIND HOPE IN THE PROMISE THAT GOOD ULTIMATELY TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL.

THAT PROMISE IS THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO CELEBRATE TODAY.

MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS AGO OUR WORLD WAS DARK AND IN DESPERATE NEED OF LIGHT.

GOD GAVE THE WORLD LIGHT.

THE ANGELS SAID FEAR NOT.

I BRING YOU GREAT TIDINGS OF JOY.

UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID, THE SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD.

JESUS WAS THE PROMISED SAVIOR WHO STANDS VICTORIOUS.

TODAY WE JOIN TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE PEACE THAT HE GIVES.

I HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON BRINGS YOU COMFORT AND JOY AS WE REMEMBER THE THINGS THAT UNITE US, INSTEAD OF THOSE THAT DIVIDE US.

ON BEHALF OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND LET'S LIGHT THIS BEAUTIFUL TREE.

MARTY, WILL YOU COUNT US DOWN.

>> EVERYBODY JOIN.

FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

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