Celebrating Christmas!

 Christmas Eve!

Prayer

Luke 2:1-20

 

I.  I want to reminisce a little about Christmases past.

 

    A.  I can remember waiting with anticipation for Christmas as a child.

         1.  December was one of the longest months.

         2.  Our neighbors would have a birthday party for Jesus.

         3.  We let it be known what we wanted for Christmas.

         4.  We waited. . . .

         5.   We decorated with a Silver Christmas tree and a color wheel.  I think the silver

               represented ice on an ever green tree!

 

    B.  Here are some of the traditions around Christmas that I grew up with.

         1.  I’m sure my parents told us about the true meaning of Christmas.  They were Christians.

         2.  My grandmother wrote us letters and notes about it.  Usually in or on whatever she got

              us for Christmas, there was a message about it being Jesus’ birthday!

         3.  We had the Birthday Party for Jesus next door.

         4.  The Church taught us about the meaning of Christmas.

         5.  At school plays, we sang Christian Christmas songs, maybe even had a manger scene.

         6.  For our family Christmas, we got up and opened gifts.

         7.  Dad always Ho! Ho! Ho! a little bit.  Which I didn’t understand, but I later have come to

              understand it was a subtle hint!

         8.  We watched Christmas shows like Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer, Frosty the

              Snowman, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

         9.  Mom fixed a Christmas meal that usually included ham and a lot of pies.

        10.  It was a special time and holds many special memories.

        11.  But as I think about it today, I think it is even more important to incorporate some  

                traditions into our home Christmas that show the real meaning of Christmas.  Why?

                Let’s look at that.

 

II.  What about Celebrating Christmas today? 

 

      A.  It is a different time.

            1.   Our country is becoming more and more pluralistic.

2.   Our kids and grandkids get more and more different messages about Christmas than 

                  in times past.

            3.   We can’t count on our kids or grandkids hearing the true meaning of Christmas at

                  school or on the T.V.

            4.   We need to do something to make sure our children and grandchildren really know

                   what Christmas is about.  We can’t just rely on the church to do that.  If we don’t

                   endorse what the church says, our children may question which of the opposing

                   stories they are hearing about Christmas is true.

 

     B.    I challenge you to incorporate some traditions into your family Christmas to do that, if

             you haven’t already.  Suggestions:

            1.   Read the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and the part about the Magi in Matt. 2 and use a

                  small nativity to move the characters as you read it.  Or Let them dress up and be the

                  characters and move around as you read it.  (You could dress them in robes and a

                   towel on their heads)

           2.    Have a birthday party for Jesus.

           3.    Talk about the meaning of the Christmas decorations.

                  a.  Evergreen reminds us that Jesus brings everlasting life.

                  b.  Lights remind us Jesus is the light of the world.

                  c.  Stars remind us of the star that led the Wisemen.

                  d.  Angels remind us of the angels that proclaimed Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.

                  e.   Candy canes remind us of the shepherd’s staffs.

                  f.   My kids left cookies and milk for Santa and a note; Santa always wrote back and

                        said something about the true meaning of Christmas and why he gave gifts!

                  g.   Any ideas you have??

 

III.   Christmas starts tonight!

 

         A.   You have 12 days until Epiphany to celebrate!  That is the Christmas season.

 

         B.    You don’t have to do it all tonight or in the morning.

 

         C.     Things tend to settle down after Christmas day;  that gives you an opportunity to

                  plan something through this time when things are not so busy to reinforce what

                  Christmas is about.. 

                  1.  We still have the 12 days of Christmas.  The secular Christmas has not encroached 

                        on that because they can’t sell anything during that time!

                  2.   Leave the tree up.

                  3.  Take the opportunity to continue the Celebration of Christmas with your children

                        or grandchildren, and talk about why we’ve done what we’ve done.

 

        D.    I invite you to kick off the celebration of Christmas with me, as we hear a selection of

                Christmas music, by coming up and bringing your Christmas offering, and pick up a

                 candle.

                   1.    After you have returned to your seats, we will sing “Silent Night” as we pass a

                          flame that represents Jesus being the light of the world through the congregation!

                   2.    What began as that small baby that we are celebrating tonight has spread

                           throughout the world.  Thanks be to God!

 

Candlelight service