On My Mind...
It’s official, we are in the Christmas season. Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, the worship center is decorated, I’ve begun an advent series and Sunday evening we will have our annual “Hanging of the Greens.” Let me just say, “Bah humbug!” No, I don’t mean it. Although, we pastors are not particularly fond of this time of year. Why would that be? It’s a time of great pressure. No, not from parties, get-to-gathers, and special services, the problem is with the preaching. How many new, different, inventive and thought-provoking ways are there for presenting the Christmas story? Maybe two? I’m sure there are many more for those who are innovative and thought-provoking but for the rest of us, this is a difficult task.
You know the story and you know it well. Everyone knows the story. It’s rehearsed every year with sermons, movies, TV specials, church pageants complete with shepherds donning their father’s bath robes! The temptation is to try to come up with something different. Some way of getting to the story in an unexpected way, that would really drive home the point. But let’s face it. If there was a better way to get the story out – God would have done that. He has given us the story in a simple, unadorned way and it is powerful. There is no need for hype. There is no need for innovation or flair. The story of God’s love for sinful, fallen and corrupt humanity is beautiful in its simplicity. He left the glory and splendor of heaven, where He was forever loved, worshiped and adored, to take on flesh. To become one with His creation in order to do for us, what we could never do for ourselves. The thought of the Eternal One and infant. The Giver of life, vulnerable. The King of heaven and earth in a feeding trough. Wide-eyed, shepherds still trying to make sense of the angelic announcement. Strange visitors from the East. An enraged tyrant slaughtering the innocent. Two aged saints, testifying to the wonder of His arrival. The flight to Egypt. It doesn’t need innovation. It doesn’t need a new twist or a modern spin, it just needs to be told. It just doesn’t get any better than the wonder of that simple announcement, “Unto you, is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Come join us throughout the month of December as we visit again, the old, old story that never grows old.
Sunday morning, we will celebrate the Lord’s Table in our worship service, and we will gather for a special evening of music and Scripture Sunday evening. There will be a fellowship after the evening service so bring your favorite Christmas snack or goodies to share.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship. Have a blessed week!
Rod
You know the story and you know it well. Everyone knows the story. It’s rehearsed every year with sermons, movies, TV specials, church pageants complete with shepherds donning their father’s bath robes! The temptation is to try to come up with something different. Some way of getting to the story in an unexpected way, that would really drive home the point. But let’s face it. If there was a better way to get the story out – God would have done that. He has given us the story in a simple, unadorned way and it is powerful. There is no need for hype. There is no need for innovation or flair. The story of God’s love for sinful, fallen and corrupt humanity is beautiful in its simplicity. He left the glory and splendor of heaven, where He was forever loved, worshiped and adored, to take on flesh. To become one with His creation in order to do for us, what we could never do for ourselves. The thought of the Eternal One and infant. The Giver of life, vulnerable. The King of heaven and earth in a feeding trough. Wide-eyed, shepherds still trying to make sense of the angelic announcement. Strange visitors from the East. An enraged tyrant slaughtering the innocent. Two aged saints, testifying to the wonder of His arrival. The flight to Egypt. It doesn’t need innovation. It doesn’t need a new twist or a modern spin, it just needs to be told. It just doesn’t get any better than the wonder of that simple announcement, “Unto you, is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Come join us throughout the month of December as we visit again, the old, old story that never grows old.
Sunday morning, we will celebrate the Lord’s Table in our worship service, and we will gather for a special evening of music and Scripture Sunday evening. There will be a fellowship after the evening service so bring your favorite Christmas snack or goodies to share.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship. Have a blessed week!
Rod