Christmas is a season of wonder, a season of light and warmth in the midst of the darkest and coldest time of year where often our homes and churches are adorn in such ways as to try to add to the wonder of the season.  However, the problem for us today is barely different from the one faced over 2,000 years ago, a problem with  space, with making room in our lives for the real wonder of the season.

Luke’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ birth and yet John’s Gospel declares the same promise, that the Word, the Word that was in the beginning with God, the very Word that spoke and brought all things into being, that this Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of truth and grace.  Luke and John both declare the wonder of the promise that that God has come to us. Because if there is true wonder in life, this is it!  The wonder of God, the creator, the one who brings all things into being, sends of himself to us, for us!  The good news of the Christmas message is that God, out of love, makes room for us.

And the fruits of his love, the fruits of God’s love for us and in us, is always the same; Peace, hope, and Joy shared for the sake of the world! 

This is why Christians gather regularly for worship, it is why we join together in acts of compassion and caring for the sake of the world, all because of the wonder of our God who so loved us that he send His Son for us and for our salvation.

May the wonder of the Christmas message bless and keep you all year though:  ‘that unto us a child is born, unto a savior is given, and his name is Jesus’.  May the wonder of this love fill always.    Amen.

Fellowship as a Gift of Grace - Pastor's Article Oct - Nov

Fellowship as a Gift of Grace

One of the books I most appreciated re-reading this past summer was Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together”.  Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and teacher in Germany before and during World War II.  In the first paragraph of the first chapter he writes: “Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies.  At the end all his disciples deserted him.  On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers.   For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God.”

He then quotes the reformer Martin Luther:  “The Kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies.  And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ, he wants to be among friends, to sit among rose and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people.”

What Bonhoeffer declares is that the gathering of Christians in fellowship is not only a reason for joy and encouragement but we our being able to gather is itself a gift of God’s grace, for it is by grace that we are able to live in fellowship with one another.  And the reason is this, it is because we come not as ‘demanders but instead we come thankful’ for the grace that is ours in Christ, a grace that has been given to share for the sake of another.

Bonhoeffer writes: ‘Is the divine gift of Christian fellowship anything less than this, any day, even the most difficult and distressing day? Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life (congregational life), is not the sinning brother or sister still a brother and sister with whom I, too, stand under the word of Christ?’

And then he adds these words that have always caught my attention:  ‘Will not their (my brother and sisters in Christ) sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that the both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Christ? Thus the very hour of disillusionment with my brother becomes a reason for celebration because it so thoroughly teaches me that neither of us can ever live by our own words and deeds, but only by the one word indeed which really binds us together… the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.’

Bonhoeffer wrote these words 73 years ago but they continue to speak to us today, for we too as a congregation, as a community of faith, as a fellowship in Christ gather and serve together only by grace of God that is ours in Christ Jesus.  This grace is what is best about who we are, it defines who we are, we are God’s forgiven and forgiving people called to be community where his grace is declared, trusted, and lifted up.

May the Grace of God continue gather us for a life together as we service together, pray together, and worship together. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark

Christmas Joy - December Pastor's Article

Joy to the World

I remember well the Christmas Eve of my 13^th year.  What I remember of that Christmas Eve was the joy of watching my grandfather open his gifts.  He had a small pocket knife and with each gift he carefully cut the tape that held the paper in place and then just as carefully he removed the wrappings and gently folded the paper and placed on the small table next to him.  Then he would examine the box and finally open the box to reveal the gift inside and then he would smile and sometimes laugh.  I remember some of the gifts that he received that Christmas however what I recall the most was the joy, the simple joy I felt in watching him receive his gifts that evening.

A number of years ago Sandy and I choose to make a donation to an international project that helps make possible wells in a small villages in South America for homes and families without access to clean drinking water.  There is always a sense of  joy whenever I think of those who are using that well today.

This fall as we visited with confirmands and their homes it was not unusual to hear them talked about the joy they experienced in helping with a host of projects in and around the church, from joining their classmates and their families in the annual food drive as they do each fall, to helping serve the fall dinner, to helping fill and then pack the boxes for Operation Christmas Child together with the residences of Serenity Assisted Living.  Some told of the joy they experienced ringing the bells for the Salvation Army together with family and others. What caught my attention was that both the confirmands and their homes spoke of these memories as a reason for joy.

Recall for a moment the story from the Gospel of Luke and the telling of the birth of Jesus: “And that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

God sent his angels with a message of joy for all the world, the joy of our heavenly Father who first loved us; “This is love: not that we love God but that he loved us and sent his Son…” (1 John 4:10). 

This is the message of Christmas, the message of God’s love given to us, the Joy of God, expressed by angles at the gift we receive, the grace and salvation that God brings to us in His Son.  This is a reason for joy, both at Christmas as well as the whole year. “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!”.

A Blessed and Joyous Christmas to all!

Pastor Mark