a chat with the pastor: Christ was born for this?

“While they were there the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for him in the inn…”

— Luke 2:6-7

It begins again. The watching and waiting, the anticipation, the Christmas songs and holiday bustle… we are marching towards another December 25 with the inevitable question ringing in our heads: Are you ready for Christmas? But what does being ready for Christmas mean? Is it just about the shopping, the lists, the food and crafts, the planning and decorating and feeling like it’s never going to be completely perfect, but if it can just be as nice as last year…? Or is there another kind of preparation we should be worrying about—something we might be neglecting even in the midst of our efforts to cover all the bases?

Well, of course there’s Jesus to think about. After all, it’s His birthday. But remember how he told us to come to him when we’re heavy laden and carrying burdens, and He will give us rest? Not now, Lord, I’ve got to make the fruitcake. If there were a time when we should be slowing down and letting go of frantic busy-ness, this is it. But it ain’t gonna happen.

So here’s the good news. Jesus comes anyway. Like Christmas dawn over Whoville, the day comes whether we get all the packages mailed on time or not. Mary and Jospeh couldn’t find the perfect quiet sanitary place to deliver the Child, but He came anyway. And when Christmas looks like it might be a disaster because nothing is coming together and things aren’t going right, and certain people who have always been there aren’t going to be there this year, remember that He comes anyway. The kings and princes who should have been present at the birth of the King of Kings didn’t show up either. So God made do with shepherds, cows, and angels in a barn. And somehow, it was all perfectly right.

The anxious pre-Christmas runaround is what we do to ourselves. What God does to us is something different. The stars come out and the angels sing that it’s not about us at all. God changes us in the midst of our preparing, tuning our hearts to see beyond the wreaths and ribbons, past the bulbs and lights, to a babe in a manger who came for us. No black Friday sale or half-off holiday special can compare to this good news. This child will share His life with us in a way no one ever has. He will lift up the brokenhearted and heal the sick, offering cleansing for mottled hearts and joy to those who mourn. He will pronounce us all brothers and sisters and invite us to become citizens of an invisible nation where we are all one people. He will die as everyone does and rise as we will one day. He will make us into new people who know God and love each other deeply. Christ is born for this. Christ is born for this.

Our Christmas services on December 24 will be at 4pm, 7pm, and 11pm. The 4pm service will be led by the praise band, and will feature communion brought to the seats for those who aren’t able to walk well. The 7pm is our regular candlelight carol service, and the 11pm to midnight liturgy will also feature candlelight singing at the end. Each service is unique, and we hope you are able to come to at least one of them this Christmas.

If your holiday to-do list makes you want to run away to Key West or hibernate till January, don’t despair. Jesus is on His way. Nothing can stop Him.