Christmas 2011
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Christ,
Soon we will gather around many different tables to celebrate Christmas. For many, joy and laughter will be present as families come to be with each other. Around other tables, there will be grief and sadness as people are missed and chairs are empty. Emotions will swirl as memories of the past are honored and avoided, dreaded and made golden. As the beloved Christmas hymn so eloquently states, all the hopes and fears of all the years will be met as we gather round tables in our homes, in the homes of family and friends, in our church home of St. James.
This Christmas there are two scripture passages from the gospel of Luke that are on my mind. The first is seasonal and will be read as we gather for our Christmas worship; The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them (Luke 2: 20). After they were met keeping watch over their flocks by night the shepherds are invited by angelic hosts to go and see the baby that was born in Bethlehem. Working through their fear, they go and worship the God who has come to them. This is their reaction – they return to the place of their daily lives transformed. They return to praise and glorify God while they watch their sheep and care for their families and live their lives of joy and sorrow.
The second passage that is on my mind this Christmas comes later in Luke’s gospel story. The manger is gone. The newborn child, which shepherds visited, has grown up; and died. Crèche has been replaced by cross. Two disciples, filled with deep sorrow and disappointment, have taken the long walk home to Emmaus. On the way they meet a stranger. They share hospitality. At table, in the breaking of the bread their eyes are opened – they are in the presence of the Risen Jesus! Here is their reaction: That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24: 33-34). Like the shepherds, the Emmaus disciples couldn’t help but respond to the presence of the Christ. They too are transformed. Their lives – though not free from sorrow or struggle – are forever changed because God came to them. God entered their lives of fear and sorrow, of courage and joy, and that encounter was enough: enough to bring joy; enough to bring meaning and purpose; enough to bring peace; enough to encourage them to respond; enough to empower their discipleship beyond themselves.
As Christians, the centerpiece on our Christmas table, is the simple proclamation that God has chosen to enter our time, our joy and triumphs, our sorrows and struggles, for the sake of bringing healing and wholeness to the whole creation. God comes to us and to the whole world so that we might respond to this presence in loving ways towards each other and beyond. Participating in Christmas, we both reach across our tables and set new places for friends/family/strangers; with hands and hearts that are open and filled with God’s love.
As a church we are growing in our response and it is a great joy. In 2011, we increased the number of worship and education opportunities for all ages. We have distributed nearly 3000 Comfort Meals to neighbors, family, and strangers – extending our communion table fellowship into homes of those in need. Our new visitation ministry has shared a listening ear and caring presence as trained Befrienders call on those in need of a visit. All this happens in the context of our gathering around the table in hopeful anticipation each week to receive the very presence of Christ through weekly communion.
This letter comes with joy and appreciation for the journey that we have traveled together in Christ’s name in 2011. Thank you for gathering with me and inviting me to many tables this past year. I look forward with joyful expectation to the coming year – towards the way that God will meet us in the breaking of the bread – towards the new/old ways that God will invite us to respond.
In Christ,
Pastor Walt
