How to approach Christmas

 
It’s easy to just plan Christmas events because that’s what we do.  But what are we aiming for?  Why are we tiring ourselves out at a time when there’s already lots of other things on?  Why would we make the Tab events a priority in our diaries?  And what attitude should we pray for as we come?

As I’ve sat down to think about all this I’ve been helped by the wise men and the shepherds. 

The shepherds remind us to make Christmas a time for witness.
Luke 2.17-18 says: “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Just as the angels can’t keep the news to themselves neither can the shepherds and neither can we!  So we want to be praying.  And perhaps God will lead us to:

• Use Christmas as a first chance to meet some neighbours.  You could knock and just say “Merry Christmas.”  You might plan a small mince pie party.
• You could invite to our Carols by Candlelight service (7.30pm Sat 17th), or the Christingle (11am, Christmas eve).  All our services over Christmas will be partly focused on reaching out.
• You could join Barnaby doing some door to door and street inviting.

Following the shepherds, we can’t make Christmas solely an in-house thing.

The wise men remind us to make Christmas a time to worship
Matthew 2.11 says: “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.”  This was a long journey for them (from the East).  It was dangerous (defying Herod).  And it was humbling (grown men bowing to a baby).  But they knew that Jesus was God’s King and that all glory, praise and honour was his.

So with our Christmas services we want to come to worship, or as the carol puts it, “oh come let us adore him.”  We hope the traditions and the changes all serve to raise our worship of Jesus.

So as you look at the events coming up and wonder – is that one for witness or worship - the answer is – “both.”  All the events we’re running can and should be both.  When a non-Christian stands in a carol service and hears people all around singing and praying like they mean it, it has a big impact.  When a whole church turns up for a Christingle because they want to support the witness to children that has a big impact.  When you invite friends and they all say “no” (as often happens to me), you’ve still honoured and worshipped Jesus.