Yes, and I have the Messianic Seal on FreeAndEasy, kinda low so it doesn't offend anyone, but have met some wonderful Christian members because of it.
Here it is:

I know this is a fairly serious thread but I am what is called a submarine church goer....we surface once in a while.....

Actually, that was the Pagan Great Mother Goddess (pre-Christiam era).

So it's ok for other religions to attach their own meaning to it, but not Christians?

Sounds like you and I are much alike!

Many Bible scholars believe he was born in the springtime.

Here is a series of articles of interest:
http://www.tektonics.org/tekton_04_02_04.html
Mostly musings on the Christian holidays/festivals being derived from pagan holidays.
There's some pretty interesting reading there.

Mary, being the mother of Jesus who is king, is in effect, our mother too.

In the Old Testament, ancient Jewish times, the queen was always the mother of the son, it was never the bride who was queen. That is why Catholics and some other Christians believe Mary to be the Queen of Heaven (far different than the queen of heaven who was a goddess worshipped in the Old Testament times)

We believe that Mary was chosen by God to carry Christ in her womb, and that she is, in a sense, the New Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant held everything dear to the Jewish faith, in it was the 10 commandments and a few other things. Since Jesus, who is God, is the law, then Mary would be the New Ark, a living, breathing version of that holy place.

We believe Mary is and was 100% human, not God, nor a goddess to be worshipped, though we do adore her as the mother of God.

Getting back to the Old Testament kings and mothers-a good Jew always listened to his mother, whether he was a king or not. The queen, though she held no ground in the political arena, did hold ground with her son. The command to honor your father and mother influenced this culture greatly. In one of the gospels (sorry, don't recall which one right now) Jesus was at a wedding with his mom. They ran out of wine, and Mary went to her son to intercede on behalf of the couple that they would not be embarrassed for lack of wine for the guests (it was a terrible thing in that culture, not to have enough of anything to go around for the guests. The bride and groom might suffer some ostracizing because of it; the guests would see it as an insult) He said to her, woman, it is not yet my time. She turned to the waitstaff and said "do whatever He tells you." This is Mary's role in the Catholic and some other faiths, what we believe. Mary will always turn us to her son, for He is God, not her. She will pray to her Son for us and with us. She tells us the same: "Do whatever He tells you." Don't know about you, but I need all the intercessors I can get on my side!

The mother and brothers verse you mentioned-I just happen to have heard a homily by a priest on EWTN on this only last week. Jesus' response to the crowd was: "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my mother, my brother, my sister." Mary did the will of God; even though she was born human into this world, the church has proclaimed her the New Eve. Eve was created with a free will and intelect, but not original sin. That came a bit later. We believe Mary was created for the sole purpose of bringing the Christ child into the world, therefore was concieved without original sin. (she had free will, of course-but according to Catholocism, never acted on anything which would do Christ dishonor) This makes great sense to me, for when I am fasting and praying, at my closest most intimate moments with God, I feel the sin around me. There are some folks I just can't stand to be around, because the sin is so prevelant. I don't even know what they do, just get a creepy, icky feeling at times. At those times I do have those feelings, I am as pure as my human nature and intellect will allow-though not pure, as I am only flesh and have the stain of original sin. I couldn't imagine the Christ Child being cooped up in the womb of a human for nine months, and living with her for all those years, having all that ick swirling around Him. Even the Father could not look upon His only Son on the cross, when Jesus bore the sins of mankind. (I have struggled with this issue myself, even though I was brought up in the Catholic faith, I questioned the doctrine of Mary alot. This is why I have such great devotion to her now-I have asked God on numerous occassions in the past, these very things you have asked, and even more. Through a conference, through the radio or tv, and even in my own heart, God has answered and it just felt right)

When Jesus turned to the disciple he loved and said "this is your Mother", we believe He was speaking to all of humanity, for Mary being the mother of God who came in the flesh, could also mother us more perfectly than any human mother. She was created by God for this mission. You could have the best parents in the world, but they, being human, have wounded you in some fashion. Mary will hold us to her heart in those times, and ask Jesus to heal us. She would tell us to forgive, to love, to be humble and obey our parents.

As far as confessing to a priest, this is biblical. Jesus gave the keys to Peter and said "whatever you hold bound on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" There is another passage or two which states something of confession. Also, I've heard from some scholars that there was a sect of Jews who did have a type of confession. In fact, all the Jews practice in some fashion a day of atonement held once a year. The Apostles did hold some kind of confession for sins; this is noted in some of the earliest biblical scholars' writings. Confession was 'perfected' at some point, I think around 800-1000ad. I don't recall which council, I will have to look it up. The church has held councils whenever there was a heresy floating around, or if the practicioners of the Christian faith needed some kind of direction, as in the case of the confession. I think this council I am writing about, decided on venial, mortal, and serious sins. Too many people were over-scrupulous, and I imagine there was just not enough time in the day for a priest to hear confessions and tend his duties.

I don't want to spark a debate here; just wanted to answer your questions. If these answers do not satisfy you, please pm me privately and I will take some time with you. I don't want to have this topic get out of hand and have it closed.

As far as being a Christian-some days I try harder than others. Going to mass on Sunday, and even some other days throughout the week, really convicts me to live a more holy life. As does making a regular confession; after that sacrament I'm more in tune with God and more aware of my sinfulness, like a light-bulb went off in my heart, and I obstain a bit more readily from doing or saying something I shouldn't, or even ommitting something I should do. I would like to be canonized a saint some day; this is my aim. Though I fear if that would ever happen, I will not die for a very long time; have too much sin, and if God would so choose to answer my prayer, I probably won't be ready to die until I'm like 150 or so. My greatest error is ommission-I've had such difficulty with people, I'm a bit afraid to step out and do what I should do. I trust God will heal me; it's only human pride, and perhaps some form of control on my part-desiring everyone to be in harmony, and not to be shunned or mistreated. It's difficult to welcome these distractions and praise God for them; He knows what He is doing in putting me through the fire of perfection.

God bless you in abundance this Holy Advent Season, and may you be prepared to recieve the new-born Christ into your heart in a new and vibrant way at Christmas.