Pastor's Page— Dec. 2009 - Jan. 2010

Make Christmas what it should be

“Santa in the mall, holiday music in the stores, they’re pushing deck the halls, and shopping till you’re poor!”

Dear Friends,

As we begin the season of Advent, it is truly a time of preparation, celebration, and excitement! But let us not forget the true reason of the season— Jesus, God’s Son, sent to earth to deliver the best gift we could ever be given: forgiveness and eternal life. The cost to us? Saying we’re sorry for our sins and then living in a way that is pleasing to God. It is by accepting Jesus into our hearts that we begin an awesome journey with the living Christ!

In our most recent Bible study at church and at Shepherd’s Farm, we’ve been working on the Advent Conspiracy. Put together by three pastors, this study was not only to gain knowledge, but one of remembering whose birthday Christmas actually celebrates. It was a thought-provoking study, because as we considered our usual Christmas gift-giving and celebration, we were challenged to make some changes and give to the one whose birthday it actually is. You may think, “Well how is that possible?” But if you remember the text of Matthew 25:40, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” So our gifts to the poor, the weak, the sick, the hungry, those who have lost jobs, and those without clothing or shelter, are our gifts to the Christ child.

The four concepts of the Advent Conspiracy are simple to understand and the hope is that Christians will conspire to bring this most glorious event back to its original meaning. Instead of shopping till you drop to meet the expectations of gift giving to your friends and loved ones, recognize and celebrate the birth of Christ and the love and forgiveness that he brings for all people. Then be givers of that same love and forgiveness to those around us.

The four concepts of the “conspiracy” are: first, to worship fully. Most of us spend our time and energy on what matters most to us in life, and it shows in how we worship at Christmas. Do we worship the “stuff” and spend all of our time shopping for the perfect gifts? Or, do we look for those in need, help them, and act as beacons of light to the least and the lost? To worship fully is not just one hour in church on Christmas Eve. It is a “heart” event that permeates our souls to see Christ in the needy, the lonely, and the distraught, and then doing something about it.

The second concept is to spend less. Christmas has become a season of excess and many of us have been pulled into the secular celebration of buying. Buying is a form of worship that’s become the norm in our society and no one wants to go against the cultural flow to change things. Many will go in debt this Christmas season to purchase the “expected” gifts for family, friends, and co-workers and the cycle of consumerism and debt will just continue. Instead we need to spend less so we can free our resources for the things that truly matter.

The third concept is to give more. Now, you’re probably thinking, wasn’t the previous concept to spend less, so why the contradiction? Because to give more doesn’t necessarily mean spending money! We can give more, and often something of greater worth, by giving our presence instead of presents; using our hands, our words, and our time.

The fourth and final concept is to love all. God has called us to look beyond race, status, gender, any label we might put on others, and really see the need that surrounds us. With the recent job losses in the area, we don’t have to look too far! There are also those who are forgotten and lonely that we could share a meal with, bring to church, take shopping, or spend some time visiting.

So, if you are fed up with the consumerism that has stolen the soul of Christmas , YOU have the power to change that by choosing to make Christmas what it should be, a joyous celebration of Christ’s birth, and giving in a way that conveys the love of God for all people.

God has richly blessed all of us at St. Paul’s UMC! I pray we’ll all find ways to share those blessings with those in need this Christmas.

Blessings and love.