God’s Beloved,
Grace and peace to you for this month of December. I know December is a busy month and that it can be a hard month. Which is why December is an important month to carve out time together – to slow down and take a deep breath – to center ourselves with one another and with our Creator. A time to wait together in anticipation of Christ’s birth.
And even though we wait for this wondrous night every year, every year is different, even though the good news of this story remains the same. A story told in many different ways – read from Scripture, recited from memory, performed in Children’s Christmas Programs, made into movies, and musicals. Because the good news of Christ’s birth cannot be forgotten, and is a part of many holiday traditions that have united us for centuries.
And one of my family traditions is to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on the night of Christ’s birth. And birthdays are all about new beginnings. The beginning of a life, and the beginning of a new year at a new age.
Which is why our Advent theme this year will be Words For The Beginning, as Christ’s birth is a sacred beginning. A beginning that not only celebrates him, but unites all of creation into God’s very being. As we read in John 1:1, 3, 14
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.”
These words harken back to the “birthday” of all creation if you will, and reveals this truth: that Christ was not only with us since his birth, but Christ was with us since the very beginning, and continues to be with us. Good news that is at the heart of the Christmas story, when the angel proclaims
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us.”
Words found in the Gospel of Matthew and also prophesied in the Book of Isaiah. Words that bring comfort and joy – for God is with us in all things.
God is with you when your December days are bright and merry. God is with you when your December days are dark and dreary. God is with you when you have that cup of cocoa, snuggle up on the couch, and watch a Christmas movie (even if it is about Santa). God is with you in all things.
I look forward to beginning another new church year with all of you this Advent. As we wait with excitement, anticipation, and hope—till Christmas Eve. The night I can wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
