The Day Before Christmas

At this preachers house the Day before Christmas is a good day.  It's like Sunday, but unfettered.  It's good in that I get to do three things I love - go to church, preach and worship.  But better in that I get to do so distinctively.   Yes...  in 19 years on the Parkway I cannot recall one person ever coming up to me on Christmas Eve to tell me what they think is wrong with the church.  Not that this happens often on other Sundays, but, it does on 'some,' and it is usually about things that are so important, too, (NOT) like music selection, air conditioning, heat, room set up, advertising, another staff member, etc.  So that, like I said, Christmas Eve for this preacher is Sunday unfettered, and... I love it.  

Now I was thinking today about why this is so.  I thought, 'maybe its because ownership and opinion is displaced by purpose.'  Now there's a thought.  Could it be that Christmas Eve Worship brings the purpose of our being at church to focus on Him so to the fore that nothing else matters?   Perhaps so.  Or, maybe it's just that we've got so much company (big crowds and lot's of guests), or that (Heaven forbid)  the 'meanies' are just simply out of town (oh, surely not!).  So that Christmas Eve ranks as one of the sweetest of worships I know.  

Yes, Mom's, Dad's, Kid's, friends, relatives, neighbors - all as one big, HAPPY, family set each to wonder at what God has done.  Which is... something!  God with us!  Come as a baby.  Born to die so that we might live.  So that as we sing together our Carol, Silent Night, we really are set to wonder at the grandeur and love of God, reminded of what church is, and understanding of why it is we've come.  

Yes!  The day before Christmas, Christmas Eve, is that Sunday unfettered.  A taste of Heaven.  A reminder of God.  Which always brings me to...  

A Merry Christmas, indeed!

Pastor Sam