A HISTORY-CHANGING BIRTH
Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. Definitely it has nothing to do with the origin of “Happy holidays.” It is one of the most popular birthdays, for it is celebrated by all the peoples of the world. Jesus' birth day is not only unique and popular but also history changing. It is because His birthday has divided human history into two, namely, before Christ and after Christ, BC and AD. As we know time is defined as the “counting of a movement with reference to a before and after.”
All of us are aware that we live in 2016 “Anno Domini” -- the year of the Lord. Pretty soon we will be celebrating New Year 2017. What does it mean when we say 2016? It means that it is two thousand and sixteen years since the birth of Jesus.
Interestingly, when we talk about the year of our own birth we have to refer to, whether we like it or not, Jesus' birth. That is the way the Lord has ordained it whether we believe in Him or not.
Besides, it is highly impossible to write human history without referring to Jesus' birth. All these tell us the fact that Jesus is so very much part of human history as well as He is someone especially unique and transcends history. It is in and through Jesus, God brings his love and mercy to us. “Jesus is the reflection of God's Glory and the exact imprint of God's very being.” Heb. 1:2-3.
Most of the people who seriously encountered Jesus have a “divided life story.” It has a before and after the encounter.
A few examples could be: the shepherds, the wise men and the apostles. We know Saul became St. Paul after his encounter with Jesus; Augustine, a public sinner, becomes St. Augustine. The feast of Christmas is an invitation to encounter God in the person of Jesus and transform our own story.
Merry Christmas
Fr. Thomas
St. Agnes parish Carstairs
THE BEGINNING OF LIFE IN HEAVEN
As I write this piece, we're awaiting my mother's funeral later this morning. Once again we'll be staring death in the face.
We dare not soft-pedal death. At funerals some prefer to reflect only on the past—the joys and accomplishments that marked the life of our loved one. With both eyes on the past it's easier to avoid the present. Some claim that death is necessary, even good. After all, the argument goes, it's the tool that God used to create our species over millions of years, right?
But when we face the death of a loved one, we know that something terribly unnatural has happened. The last time I saw my mom, I didn't recognize her. I thought I had stumbled into the wrong room. No, this was mom, and we talked. She knew the end was near.
Ninety-three years earlier she had been born to live, not to die. She had embarked on a life filled with promise and hope, only to have it end like this. By all appearances, there was nothing natural about her death and certainly nothing good.
At Christmas we celebrate an event that also seems unnatural and would not end happily. On Christmas a Saviour was born into the world in order to die.
The Son of God became a perfect human being and could have lived forever. But that night in Bethlehem He purposely began a journey to a death He chose to endure. He took on Himself the guilt of our sins, and He suffered for them. The penalty for sin is death, and He endured that penalty in our place. But Jesus rose from death to prove that our sins, our guilt and our death had been conquered.
And so, in a few hours I and the members of my mother's congregation will celebrate the life we have in Christ. Mom's life on earth has come to an end. But because Jesus was born to die for her, mom's death this week is the beginning of life in heaven with her Creator.
- Pastor Robert Koester
Morning Star Lutheran Church
Carstairs
UNWRAPPING THE GIFT
This might sound odd to you, but one of my four daughters does not like Christmas. OK, more accurately, there are parts of Christmas she dislikes so much that it spoils Christmas for her… somewhat.
You see, she worries that people won't like the gifts she buys them. This makes shopping a pressure, wrapping a worry and the gift opening a time of anxiety. Maybe she cares too much. She probably imagines her gifts lying around unused and unappreciated because they were not what people wanted.
Come to think of it, God's gift of a new kind of life in Jesus may not have been the first unappreciated gift, but it certainly ranks as the greatest. Imagine not wanting eternal life. What could be better than having a new life now and heaven forever? Yet many people who have been offered this gift let it lie around unused and unappreciated. They've never even unwrapped it. Hmmm, I wonder if God likes Christmas.
We invite you to join us for The Call of Christmas Dec. 24, 7 – 8:15 p.m. at Crossfield Baptist Church. The evening will “unwrap the gift” for us.
- Crossfield Baptist Church
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
As the congregation at Cremona United Church has lit their Advent candles representing hope, peace, joy and love this year, it is with the recognition that these Advent and Christmas Eve services will be the last ones we have as the church property has been sold.
This brings both memories of other times we have met together at this special time in the liturgical year, and the recognition that no matter where we gather and who we gather with, that we do so with the Light who came over 2,000 years ago and continues to be present with us always.
Our greeting to all is that the Light that we celebrate on Christmas will continue to shine as brightly as the Advent candles do. Our prayer is that the hope of anticipation for this nativity be rekindled in our hearts; that the peace that passes understanding be a presence in our lives; that the joy of meeting with family and friends continue in our days; and that the love we share will be known far and wide, not only at this time of year but always.
Our Christmas Eve service will be at 7 p.m. at the church with many carols and the story of the nativity once again being heard. All are welcome to join us at this special time when we once again celebrate the coming of the One who was laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. May our own inns be welcoming as we light the candles and sing the familiar carols of this season.
Blessings for this season and in the coming year from Cremona United Church.
- Rev. P. Marie Wedderburn
Minister, Cremona United Church
WAITING IN HOPE
Christmas is all about expectant waiting! We count down the days until Christmas with delicious Advent calendars, not only wondering what treats are behind the little doors but more so, what delightful gifts are inside the colourfully wrapped boxes.
The gifts we give and receive at Christmastime are symbols of the greatest gift mankind ever received, namely the Incarnation of God himself as the person of Jesus Christ some 2,000 years ago.
His coming was foretold in the opening pages of the Bible and for millennia people looked forward to this blessed event. It is hard for us to fully comprehend the depth of this desire because we live on this side of Christmas, but Isaiah 64:1 captures the longing that God's people had for God to come down to our world: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.”
Christmas is all about celebrating this historical fact with a month-long celebration of this most momentous event. Please join us for a candlelight Christmas Eve service beginning at 6 p.m. where we will be celebrating the first coming: God with us!
Advent is a season which focuses on the activity of waiting and for us living in the year 2016 AD, it also means waiting expectantly for the promised return of Jesus Christ as Lord and King when He will bring history to a glorious fulfilment, restore all things and usher in the fullness of God's just rule.
We wait, not for something vague and uncertain, but rather for something promised and guaranteed by the One who, having been with us, has gone away for a short time in order to make preparations for an eternity with us.
My question for all of us is this: will we welcome Him into our world now so that He will welcome us into His?
God bless you and your family in this sacred Advent season.
Merry Christmas!
- Reverend Harry Hoehne
Carstairs Church of God
SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR
Can you remember the excitement and anticipation of opening Christmas presents when you were a child? As children, there were usually some specific toys that we really, really wanted. When I was younger, I really wanted some GI Joe action figures, Transformers and Star Wars toys. Do you remember the disappointment of opening up a Christmas present, only to discover that it was socks and underwear? Or a sweater. Or mitts and a tuque. Even though it might be something that you needed, it wasn't really what you wanted.
That was the same kind of reaction most people had when Jesus was born. He wasn't really what they wanted. They wanted someone who would be powerful, impressive and majestic. They wanted a mighty king in a palace... and they got a tiny baby born in a barn. They wanted someone who would lead a military revolution... and they got something different than that. They got what they needed.
Another name for Jesus is the name Immanuel. Immanuel means God with us. This was the gift that we needed. This is the gift that we still need today. Jesus is the gift that brings purpose and meaning to our lives. Jesus is the gift that removes our shame and regrets. Jesus is the gift who restores our honour and reputation. Jesus is the gift we need.
The Bible says that on that first Christmas, God “became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14). In the difficulties and challenges of life, it is so comforting to know that God is with us. We receive strength and guidance and help because God is with us. I trust that you will open your life to receive Jesus this Christmas. He is the gift that we need.
You are invited to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Bethel Church located 10 minutes west of Carstairs on Highway 580. Our service begins at 6 p.m. and will include Christmas music, reflection, and treat bags for children. (www.bethelemc.org).
Merry Christmas,
- Pastor Kelly Sikstrom
Carstairs Bethel Church
