Remember the old Christmas cartoon from Peanuts?
Charlie Brown is going crazy with all the confusion of a Christmas tree that isn’t working out, a play that’s going badly, and life somehow just falling apart. Frustrated with the chaos of the Christmas season, he yells out to the crowd, “ISN’T THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT?”
It is his young friend Linus who stops in the middle of all the hectic activity and, in his innocent little voice, says, “Sure, I know what Christmas is all about.” Linus walks onto the stage and into the spotlight, and he recites the story from Luke 2. At the end of the reading Linus walks back to his friend and says simply, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
‘Tis the season for office parties, social gatherings, Christmas music, home decorations, two-week school break, Christmas concerts at schools and theaters, light displays in the neighborhoods. We, much like Charlie Brown, live in a fog of understanding about the power of Christmas. It takes a Linus sometimes to draw us back and help us know God by remembering that this is the story of the incarnational God who came to us in the flesh.
From this story come some recognizable phrases:
- “In those days Ceasar Augustus issued a decree…
- “I bring you good news of great joy…!”
- “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
These phrases appear in the narrative of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2:1-20. My assignment for you before you come to church on Sunday, December 18, is to read Luke 1 & 2. On this Sunday, we will have a full-on Christmas celebration service! I will teach from this passage. We will sing some great Christmas music. We will light our fourth Advent candle. Finally, we will joyfully celebrate, as the shepherds did so long ago, that the Incarnational God himself came in that manger in Bethlehem. As great as the birth of any of our children or grandchildren might be, this birth roused a unique response with a unique message to the world:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The Incarnational God was no longer just a hope for some future time. Eternal joy arrived for all of us who have our faith in him.
Come Sunday morning, December 18, at 10 a.m. to celebrate and dig deeper into our understanding of the impact of the Incarnational God!
Looking ahead to Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24, 7 p.m. or 11 p.m.
This year we offer two different opportunities for a candlelight worship. These will be identical services. Take advantage of this worship opportunity for what I believe is the loveliest service of the year. We will read from John 1 the story of Jesus’ birth and the impact of his coming. We will light candles, sing together, and praise God that the Incarnational God has come to us.
See you Sunday,
