Remember all those times you wondered if you would even be able to plow your way to the highway in order to get where you needed to be on Christmas Eve? Would there be a church service? Could we get to Gramma’s? After all it is Christmas Eve, what if we can’t be there to celebrate? It isn’t the same if it isn’t on Christmas Eve…. Oh, the worry…. And of course, the drama.
I recently watched a public television presentation of The Three Kings and the scholarly research that indicates that Jesus might just actually have been born about 6 BC in April. So then, what is the big deal? Too much snow? Icy conditions? We could have a Christmas Eve service in April! A little rain, maybe but no big deal! The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Christ’s birth on January 6, while the Armenian churches celebrate his birthday on January 19.
Several years ago I was serving a church that had a pre-school. It was a hot, hot day in July and as I was heading down the stairs I heard several children playing and singing, of all things, Christmas carols. I had to check it out. Sure enough, they were playing Nativity…with nearly a whole cast of characters (minus an animal, or two). I asked what was going on and the little boy took control: He puffed up his chest and said “I am Jofesh, this is Mary, and these are the shepherds…we are singing to baby Jesus.”
“Is it Christmas?” I asked them?
“Sure,” said little Joseph, er…Jofesh, “It can be Christmas any time, we just keep on singing.” And he and his little entourage continued their rendition of Away in a Manger.
How right they were! If we relegate the awesome Christmas story to one hour on the 24th of December, … one day, filled with traditionalism, commercialism, materialism, and probably more Julakaka, fatiggmann, and glogg than is really necessary, we are missing the point.
The story of the birth of a child who would bring love, light, peace and hope to a world filled with darkness is an every day story. It is the “good news” message from God that even during our most difficult times we are not walking alone. Emmanuel, God-With-Us, the one who was born into our world, experiencing life, in all its joys and sorrows just like us is ever present.
Just like Jofesh and Mary…. It just makes us want to keep on singing, all through the New Year and beyond.
Just pondering.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Pastor EvaLyn Carlson serving as interim minister at Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte.
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