2008 Christmas Message

26 December 2008

Christmas Message

To 0ur dear congregational family

The day after Christmas is generally a time for reflection. There are those that love Christmas, the traditions, smells and tastes and family connectedness. The whole sense of Immanuel. “She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”. Then there are the gifts. Starting with the wise men to the present day exchange and expressions of love and affection, with the little people moving in excitement from the unwrapping of one gift to the other. Somehow this group seem to embrace all these things together and fiercely guard “He is the reason for the season”.

For others this is a confusing time. Traditional symbols and their meaning become sources of debate and conflict. The struggle with historical accuracy, was it three or more wise men, why Dec 25th. Santa and Coca Cola, to strangely decorated trees. The questions abound with a challenging “does it really matter?”. Then there is the identification of baby Jesus, vulnerable and so human, with the Messiah, the Christ, hanging on a tree, our Saviour, and the resurrected Jesus Christ, interceding on our behalf in the presence of the Father, Jesus the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. The season itself is also filled with the awareness of limited resources, seemingly endless expenses and fear of unmet expectations. Old and familiar family problems and disappointments, too much food, too much everything. For others too little too often.

This Christmas we took home a six week old baby boy who is being cared for by Abba House. Generally the babies are taken out to give the staff a break for the day. Looking at him I realized how much God loves us. While I have always known this, just looking at his vulnerability brought a new awareness that Jesus understands our humanness.

We can take the risk of being real with Jesus and be vulnerable and insecure, questioning and lacking in confidence. He can identify. He knows how to let suffering flow into patience, endurance and hope, hope in the Holy Spirit.

So be blessed and know that he has a plan for you and that plan makes full allowance for you to be real. Don’t be afraid of suffering. Let it flow to the cross. Your areas of insecurity and lack of confidence are the places where you best get to meet Him. It is where the Spirit can be displayed as he moves us from fear to faith and hopelessness to encouragement.

Much Love Robert and Gail