Deep breath.
I don’t know about you, but it is very hard not to have a thousand thoughts running through my head this week … is this done? Did so and so get that email? How come some folks go hungry and I have too many chocolates? Did I take care of that? Have I picked up those things? Why am I warm and someone else is cold? Did I call her? What haven’t I done yet?
The week of Christmas can be such a paradox.
There is the part of the story that is filled with starry night skies, lowing animals, and a sleeping baby. We want to revel in that – to be warm inside all cozy lit by warm candlelight.
But there is also the part of the story that is stressful and dangerous – Mary and Joseph traverse unpaved, hilly trails, probably in harsh weather, with the threat of wild animals and bandits just to get to Bethlehem and find the whole place overcrowded.
Lots of noise, some chaos, uncertainty, threat. This isn’t the Christmas story we want to hear; but it is the Christmas story – and is a story that unfolds in our world today for many people.
So, let’s take a deep breath.
A breath of gratitude for all the blessings in our lives.
A breath of concern for those living in absolute turmoil right now.
A breath of action for what we can do to bring that starry night, sleeping baby feel to others.
A breath of remembrance for what this moment in time is about: God’s beloved arriving to shine light and bring peace and love to all the gloomy corners of this world, now.
A breath of thanks for our faith, for God, for Jesus.
And here are all the ways you can breathe on Sunday:
- 10am service will have communion, Re:Sound, hot apple cider and Christmas tea
- 4pm service will be the pageant with Genesis Too and God’s Free Spirits singing
- 7pm service is the traditional Christmas Eve service with Spirit Singers and Will reflecting on the wonder of God making possible what to us seems impossible.
- 10pm service is mildly reflective with Friends of Highlands Choir singing and Julie reflecting on what we can listen for in the silence.
If we don’t see each other at church, Happy Christmas!
Julie.
PS … no Friday message next week; here is the link for service on the 31st:
Links to Bulletins:
Bulletin 10 am Christmas Eve
Bulletin 7 pm Christmas Eve
Bulletin 10 pm Christmas Eve
Bulletin 31st of December