12252020 – 10 A.M. Christmas Morning…
I have always believed it is “A BLESSING” to be in worship on CHRISTMAS MORNING.
It is DIFFERENT.
There is a different “AIR.”
A different “FEEL.”
“PEOPLE” are different.
For me, it is always “SERENE,” “PEACEFUL,” “QUIET,” and “VERY RESPECTFUL…” WORSHIPFUL!
People speak in HUSHED and QUIET TONES…
Almost like we are THERE (PRESENT)…at the foot of the manger, PAYING HOMAGE…
I LOVE Christmas worship…it is like NO-OTHER.
And the music, AH-THE-MUSIC!
(It is the stuff of angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim)
For the music has always been HEAVENLY.
It is a truism, there is no other ANNUAL CELEBRATION that generates so much widespread COMMOTION and so much PARTICIPATION…on the part of so many different people.
All the PLANNING and PREPARATION…
All the DECORATING…
All the SHOPPING…
The CAROLING…
The sending and receiving of CARDS…
The BAKING…
The DINNERS…
The PARTIES…
The HOSTING…
The VISITING…
The clean ups…
There is the CRUSH and the RUSH of it all.
Some people are already started on NEXT YEAR’S celebration. They WORK ahead. They THINK ahead. They BUY ahead. They look for all those 75% OFF SALES, now!
No wonder so many people are EXHAUSTED and TIRED when the BIG DAY finally arrives.
Well, just so you know…
JESUS’ BIRTH was not an instant hit with the church.
NO ONE sent Baby Jesus Happy Birthday messages on FACEBOOK!
In the year 221 there was a liturgical writing listing all of the major FEAST DAYS in the life of the church year.
The Nativity of Our Lord, was NOWHERE to be found!
In the year 245 noted Early Church Father, Origin-by-name, actually DENOUNCED the notion of commemorating Jesus’ birthday as if he were some kind of a KING or a PHARAOH.”
From the beginning the celebration of the birth of Jesus has played second fiddle to Easter in IMPORTANCE.
The Church was formed because of the RESURRECTION of JESUS from the DEAD, not because of his birth.
But the interesting thing is, that Christmas- THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD has always been “first chair” in the hearts and the minds of the people of God.
Without Bethlehem there is no Calvary.
Without the MANGER there is no cross and resurrection.
Without the Babe of Bethlehem, what do we have?
So, not trying to start an argument here, between Christmas and Easter…I am switching gears…
(That’s called a transitional sentence)
Three men die in a car accident on Christmas Eve.
They all find themselves at the Pearly Gates waiting to enter heaven.
On entering they are all told they must each present something “relating to or associated” with Christmas.
The first man searches deep into his pockets, and finds some mistletoe, so he is allowed in.
The second man presents a chestnut, so he is also allowed in.
The third man pulls out a pair of stockings.
Confused at this last gesture, St Peter asks, ‘Dude, how do these REPRESENT Christmas?’
The guy says, oh, that’s easy …
(Wait for it)
‘They’re Carol’s.’
Have a blessed, safe and joyous Christmas Everyone!