NOW . . . it's Christmas!

 

It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. –Dr. Seuss

 

I had to suspend worship services at my church this year. The staff got hit by the nasty virus, and we were unable to hold services on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve! 

Hardest decision I ever had to make (even though I didn’t make it alone, and even though it was clearly the loving thing to do). We suspended everything until . . . next year!

We wept. We kicked furniture a little bit. We wept some more. And then we got to work.

We recorded a (socially distanced) service, just four of us. My gifted videographer waved his magic wand over everything and added in some amazing clips from previous years’ services. And you know what?

It worked. We came together, even at a distance, and made something wonder-filled, to the glory of God. (If you would like to see the finished product, you can go to strongsvilleucc.com under Worship.)

As it turns out, as you probably realize, Christmas really begins on December 25, and goes for twelve days. So while we aren’t together, we can still worship as the Body of Christ and celebrate Jesus’ birth until January 6! And after that—well, we just might keep on celebrating, all year long. It’s the very best way to keep the Christ in Christmas. 

Are you with me?


Monday In Canada, December 26 is Boxing Day, a day to give small gifts to postal carriers and other public servants. (Never too late.) Matthew 25:35-36

Tuesday The church (and other charitable organizations) count on your donations to meet our financial promises. Are you satisfied with your giving level? Acts 20:28

Wednesday Need help keeping a commitment? Share your intentions with a friend and ask them to keep you accountable. 2 John (the whole letter)

Thursday Was there something you didn’t get for Christmas that you really need? Someone else may need it, too. Buy two; donate one. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Friday Animals have it harder in the winter. Consider feeding the birds or squirrels. If you have stray cats in your area, consider making a safe, warm space for them. Genesis 2:19-20

Saturday, January As 2021 draws to a close, pause in the quiet and remember. Allow your heart to respond however it wishes. Give thanks for the year just past. Matthew 28:16-20

Sunday, January What will you do, right now, to make your world a better place? Don’t think of this as a resolution; think of it as each day beginning fresh again. Revelation 21:1-5

 

Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas means a little bit more! --Dr. Seuss

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spiritual dehydration

  Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up. –Pearl S. Buck   The past two years (at least) have been exhausting, haven’t they? We had a pandemic that physically left us anxious and afraid. Our churches, where we go for nourishment, were closed or online longer than we wanted—and even now, we are careful. Politically, we have been divided against one another, and those wounds are still bleeding in many cases. We need to take care of ourselves. And it’s never been more difficult. What to do? How do I make time in our busy schedules—for me ? The simple answer: Whatever it takes. Remember when we would fly to a vacation destination? How the flight attendant would remind us that if the cabin loses pressure, the oxygen masks would drop down out of the ceiling? And that before we offer to help anyone else, we need to have our own masks in place ? Good advice for life in general. Today: Pause. Take inventory ...
Read more

What are you waiting for?

  The waiting is the hardest part. –Tom Petty   We spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for the coffee to finish dripping. Waiting for the light to turn green. Waiting for the next available agent. It’s inevitable, really. We cannot always be first, and if we aren’t first, we’ll have to wait. But I think the more important thing is to ask yourself: How am I at waiting? Do I find myself getting anxious and fidgety? Am I worrying about things not going the way I really need them to go? Is my attitude rubbing off on people around me? The best way to wait is not to worry where we are in line, or gripe about wasted time. The best way to wait—is to be right there , in the moment of waiting. The disciples waited in fear; we wait in hope. Why not use this waiting time to pray? Welcome God’s presence into your heart. Ask God to bring you into the moment. Inquire what God would ask of you in this moment . Thank God for wisdom, patience, humor. . . . Take a d-e...
Read more

Don't be afraid.

Living is a great deal more than simply not dying. It is carrying out a mission, committing oneself to fashion some meaning that will attain eternity. –Leonardo Boff When asked, “What are you afraid of?” we offer a myriad of answers: snakes, spiders, flying in an airplane. But when pressed, many people, believers and non-believers alike, will admit that the one thing they fear most, at the core of their being, is death. Most of us enjoy having control over our lives, and frankly, we have very little control over, or way of knowing, how or when our earthly journey will end. And we have even fewer concrete answers about what will happen next. We have the profession of our faith and the occasional “crossing-over” story—but. No wonder death is near the top of that list. But sometimes, as I look around, it seems like people are less fearful about dying—and more afraid of living. Really cutting loose and enjoying our time together as human beings privileged to live in God’s am...
Read more