Pastor Rich's sermon to St. Paul's for Sunday, December 2, 2007

“I could skip the holidays!”

Its kind a tempting, don’t you think? Disappear the day before Thanksgiving, and reappear on January 2. You would avoid the holiday hoopla in its entirety. No crowded malls, no out-of-control office parties, no stale Christmas letter, no anxiety about finding the perfect gifts, no stretched-to-the-limit credit cards.

Perhaps by leaping over this stressful season, you might actually have a shot at experiencing peace on earth, good will to all and maybe even a Silent Night, but skip the holidays?

This was the story line of the movie Christmas with the Kranks. Tim Allen plays Luther Krank, a man who is incensed that his family spent over $6,000 on the previous Christmas, and now they have nothing to show for it. With his daughter in the Peace Corps, he convinces his wife to skip Christmas for a year, and to put the money into a Caribbean cruise. They decide to forego parties, Christmas tree, lights, Christmas Eve bash and any participation in the neighborhood decorating contest.

The movie is fine family fun, but it does raise the question of what really matters during the holiday season. Like it or not, most of us are going to do the mall thing, the Christmas tree thing, the present thing and the decorations thing, the Christmas card thing — but in the midst of all this frantic activity, there’s a strong chance we’re going to be skipping or missing Christmas after all!

“Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

It takes a conscientious effort to prioritize our holiday preparations, shopping activities, along with our already full schedule. It is easy to become overwhelmed and miss the great blessing and joy of Christmas. I don’t want to skip Christmas. More importantly I do not want to go through the hoopla, preparations and traditions of Christmas and MISS Christmas. You know what I am talking about don’t you. It was what Luther Krank was feeling. I spent all this time, energy and money for what. I have nothing to show for it. My life isn’t any different or any better for having done it all. This is why I chose this year’s advent devotional book Christ is the Heart of Christmas. As the introduction states, ‘This book is not intended to add to activity or offer additional things to do. Strictly speaking it is not a daily devotional. The items are not dated by the calendar, or offered in any specific order. Instead, Christ is the Heart of Christmas offers you thoughts to ponder and pray about while you do the things you are going to do anyway.

My hopes and prayers are that the many Christmas activities will be sign posts, not distractions. Sign posts that we constantly remind you and me of the significances of why we are doing what we are doing. As we make our trip to mall, let us be reminded of the inconveniences Mary and Joseph as they made their trip to Bethlehem. As we wrap our Christmas gifts, let us remember how Mary wrapped Jesus in clothes. This way our Advent journey will fulfill our scripture that says,

“Let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

So let’s look ahead to Christmas, and open our hearts to what Jesus brings us. He comes to us as a sign of God’s great love for each and every one of us, and he offers us the gifts of forgiveness, new life and new righteousness. He comes to earth at Christmas to put us back into a right relationship with God.

The message of the season is this:
• living in harmony with the Lord and our neighbors
• enjoying the world that God has created, while taking care of its resources
• finding ways to resolve conflict without rushing immediately to violence
• caring for the poor and the powerless, following the example of Jesus
• obeying the commandments of God, because they are the keys to inner harmony.

To experience the righteousness of Christmas is to be drawn deeper and deeper into a close and personal relationship with God. Let the lights of Christmas drawer closer to Jesus as the star brought the Magi to Bethlehem to see this new born king. Let the carols increase your curiosity and desire, as it did the shepherds to see this Savior born in the manger. Let our Advent journey this year cause us to leave Christ as the shepherds praising God and singing.

AMEN