God’s Grand Arrival
The birth of Christ was and continues to be Good News for all people.
The story of Christmas is one of the most well-known stories ever recorded. Without reading Luke's account, you could probably tell the story yourself.
The hectic scene in Bethlehem brought together a diverse and unlikely group of people. The Holy Family, shepherds, an innkeeper, angels, and heavenly hosts all arrived in the same place, having completed different journeys and having different reasons to be there. While being different and then returning to different lives, those present at the manger shared a common experience - they shared, even if for a brief moment, the Peace of God.
One of the reasons songs like Silent Night make more sense on nights like tonight than any other night is because when else can you find a group of strangers, people who most likely disagree on a wide range of issues, come together, lifting candles high worshipping and praising God and proclaiming that in the manger redemption began. In the not-so-silent hymn, the bold unifying story of Christ is proclaimed.
We will gather tonight to worship with candles lit and hymns, not unlike the group that found themselves gathered around the manger in Bethlehem. This world's tension, chaos, disunity, and conflict will pause tonight, even if for a brief moment, as we gather to worship Emmanuel and share a meal around his table of grace.
The peace of God, the "great joy for all people," overcomes the darkness that tells us we cannot gather with a group as unlikely as we gathered tonight to worship and experience God's Peace.
The birth of Christ was and continues to be Good News for all people.
Good News to the faithful and the skeptic.
Good News to those in need of healing.
Good News to those who long for the status quo to change.
Good News to all who are searching for hope.
So, alongside angelic voices and heavenly hosts, bathing ourselves in the peace of God, let us worship and praise Christ together, as an unlikely group of people, on this holy night and in the time to come.
A great joy, the Great Peace, has come for all people, including you.
As lights are present in this holiday season,
Let there be a light within our hearts,
As we turn on lights to our trees,
And to our homes,
We express hope for the light of Christ to be more and more evident in our world.
May the light of Jesus' presence
Shine in our forgiveness towards others.
May it shine in our expressions of justice and equality to all.
May the light shine in the care we provide for each person.
Let there be light,
In our cities,
In our families,
And in our souls.
God, thank you for providing the light that dispels the darkness.
Amen.