Pastor's Weekly Word

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

What memories do you have of Christmas? Over the years I have served as a pastor, listening to people speak about life and all that goes on in their life, the more I have seen how different our perspectives really are. We share the same faith, and yet we each bring a different experience to it. We belong to the same church, and yet we each see it a little differently. We celebrate the same seasons, and yet we each have different things to say about them.

All of us grew up with some kind of experience around Christmas. Some of us have fond memories of what might be called the idyllic kind of Christmas, you know, the kind you see in Hallmark movies. Others of us have harder memories. Some of us grew up looking forward to what will happen on Christmas morning. Others of us not so much. We each fall somewhere along the spectrum of what Christmas memories we have. What memories do you have of Christmas?

Here is the good news. The birth of Jesus is not told in order to conjure up the fond or harsh memories we have about our own Christmas experience. The birth of Jesus is told in order to open up our hearts to the life of God. The Jesus of the manger comes to us right where we are in life with no preconceived notions. The Jesus of the manger comes to us no matter where we are or who we are. The Jesus of the manger comes that we might know God in the same way God knows us. Now that is good news for any and all of us. Merry Christmas!