The Spirit of Christmas

Don’t freak out…I know it’s not Thanksgiving yet, but I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the Advent sermon series I am pondering.  Sometimes it is hard to believe, but Advent is right around the corner and of course Christmas is close behind.  And since that is our reality, Advent planning needs to begin (if it hasn’t already).

I haven’t done an Advent sermon series since 2005 when I preached a series on 1 Peter (something I came across in some publication).  This year…my series is a little different.  The title of the series is “The Spirit of Christmas” with the following sermons topics:  “The Spirit of Hope”, “The Spirit of Life”, “The Spirit of Peace”, “The Spirit of Sharing” and ending on Christmas Eve with “The Spirit of Love”.  This idea came from a Hanging of the Greens worship service we are doing on Nov. 30; a service I found in a Hanging of the Greens book.

Each Christmas season, one of the things that really gets me going is seeing people totally miss the true spirit of Christmas.  It seems that with each passing year, Christmas becomes more and more commercialized (if that is even possible).  Each year I feel moved to submit a letter to the editor in our local newspaper to remind people of the true meaning of Christmas.  Each year I hear stories of how businesses and retail stores tell their employees that they can’t say “Merry Christmas” to the customers.  Heaven forbid if we offend anyone with those words.  So this sermon series really speaks to me and hopefully it will speak to others as well.

I haven’t totally thought out the scripture references for each theme (maybe you have some ideas for me), but hopefully I will have that done within the next week.  I am thinking a one day retreat away from my office might be in order.

In any case…I wanted to through this out to you and see what you think.  Is anyone else doing a Advent/Christmas sermon series?  Have you ever done one before?

God’s blessings to you as you prepare for the Christmas season.

-edh-

Text study – Matthew 11:2-11

What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary!

Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be bourne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary!

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come peasant king to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!

The Gospel text for this Sunday (Advent 3) comes from Matthew 11:2-11.  As I was doing some research I came across a sermon that another pastor posted that was titled, "What Child is this?"  Of course he was referring to the good ole favorite Christmas carol of the same name (which also happens to be my sister’s favorite hymn…anyway…).  That title alone got me thinking…what Child IS this?  Who is this baby that we (hopefully) give all our attention to during this time of the year?  Who is Jesus for you?

John the Baptist was born to be a fore runner of the Messiah.  John knew his mission — in that there is no doubt.  Last week we heard John preach a message of "baptism for repentance" and to "produce fruit worthy of repentance".  Now…after all of this…I am left wondering and pondering two different interpretations of this text.  I will throw them out here and let you decide:  INTERPRETATION #1 — John is growing weary of sitting in prison when he thought Jesus was the one who was to come and "open up a case of whip _ ss (I will refrain from misusing the word that is also used to talk about a donkey).  So John sends his disciples to find out if this prison thing is all worth it.  Was John wondering who Jesus really was?  INTERPRETATION #2 — John knew exactly who Jesus was.  His sending of his disciples was to instruct them:  "One is coming after me who is greater than I; one whose sandals I am not worthy to carry."  Follow Jesus…not me.  Was John’s question meant, not for him, but for his disciples, for the original readers of Matthew and for us?  Or…(after all this) maybe it doesn’t matter what John was thinking or feeling.  Maybe the point is the question itself.  After all, Matthew is writing for a Jewish community where the Messiah is indeed a big deal.  Maybe the message is:  There is no need to wait for anyone else.

Whatever the interpretation, the question is still thrown out there — who is this Messiah?  What Child is this?  Is Jesus some nonthreatening Messiah who will leave you alone; to live life how you want or is Jesus a kick butt type of Messiah meant to change your life?  Is Jesus a non-personal type of King who does not know you even exist or care about you current sufferings or is Jesus an intimate King, Lord and Messiah who is closer to you than you are to yourself? 

Who is Jesus?  What Child is this?  I guess Advent is a time to discover this.  Advent is a time to ask questions and see, once again, this awesome thing that God did in that manger stall.  What Child is this…this sweet, non-threatening, little baby?  This Child is our intimate, Savior, Lord and King who has and continues to "open up case upon case of whip _ss upon the sin of the world.  And because of that, there is no need to "wait for another".

Praise be to God, MERRY CHRISTMAS and Amen!

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 12/02/07

We have finally arrived…the first Sunday in Advent…and the other unofficial beginning of the Christmas season (Thanksgiving being the other one).  Today at Salem we are have a Hanging of the Greens worship service (Does anyone else have a Hanging of the Greens worship service?).  We will finish decorating the sanctuary this morning.  A lot of the decorations have been put up already in the interest of saving some time.  The evergreens on the pews will be put up, the children will decorate the Christmas tree, a poinsettia will be brought in (we add a poinsettia each week of Advent), and the manger and cross up front are talked about.  All in all, it is a fun worship service with a lot of people involved (especially the children).

Yesterday we got a good ole fashioned Minnesota snow storm.  Nothing too big but definitely enough to cause some cancellations yesterday, including the worship service at Belmont Lutheran Church (the other congregation I service).  One service on Sunday morning really throws off my groove.

Anyway…let’s being our "unofficial" start of the Christmas season together in a word of prayer.  Let us pray…
Loving and tender God, we come before you today with much on our plate.  We have a lot to do to get "ready" for Christmas.  We have decorating and baking and shopping and planning and so on and so to get done.  Sometimes this causes stress and sometimes it causes us to lose sight of what is really important.  Please keep our focus directed in the right direction…for Christmas is all about your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord…the greatest gift of all.  Help us not to lose sight of what our preparations are leading us to and don’t let the secular world cloud the true meaning of the season.  Dear God…thank you for loving us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray…AMEN!

God bless you this day and everyday and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

-edh-