The answer is: Jesus is the reason for the season

Truthfully, I have always found the slogan, “Jesus is the reason for the season” a bit hokey.  Yes, I totally agree with the message but I thought the phrase was rather trite and glib — until this week.

I was talking to a mom about the subject of Christmas falling on a Sunday this year.

“Too bad you have to work Christmas Day,” she said sympathetically.

“No, I love being at church on Christmas morning,” I said. “I wish Amberlea had a Christmas Day tradition.”

The mom continued, “We used to go to a church that had a Christmas Day service. My kids hated it. I didn’t mind, but they hated it, and they are already making noise about coming this year, so I doubt we’ll be here.”

“Why do they “hate” it?” I asked.  Hate seemed like a pretty strong word, so I was curious.

She said, “They hated being pulled away from their new toys to go to church. Oh they just hate it.  It’s not worth the hassle.”

As a parent, I totally understand. We want our kids to have the perfect Christmas. Yet I was a bit shocked and honestly my heart broke a little when I heard her say that.

This conversation happened days ago and I still can’t seem to shake it. For days I have been thinking of all the things I could have said to her, like “but…Jesus is the reason for the season!”

It is so easy to get caught up in the trappings of Christmas — so many things to do, so many places to be and so many people to see.  Perhaps more so this year because of the last two! In the four weeks leading to Christmas there is a palpable frenzy. The reality is that if we are not intentional about focusing time on the real reason we celebrate Christmas then it just won’t happen and we can easily miss the amazing spiritual beauty of this season.

This year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.  I know many will come to church because it is Sunday and, “That’s what we do. We go to church on Sunday”.

Others will come to church because it is Christmas. Some families will be so fully occupied with opening presents and playing with new toys that leaving the house may seem like an impossibility. I get that.

But beloveds, if we focus on the gifts to the exclusion of focusing on the Giver, we’re missing out. Our children will be missing out too!

In the next 14 days or so before Christmas, I encourage you to spend some time observing and meditating on the true meaning of Christmas, and give serious consideration about how you can share it with others.

Perhaps you might do an Advent activity with your children each day, until Christmas.

Perhaps your family will have a special devotional time around the advent wreath.

Perhaps you will consider joining us at Amberlea for the various services we offer.

Perhaps you will sit quietly and read Luke Chapter 2.  As you do, picture Mary wrapping baby Jesus up. Her hands carefully folding each corner of cloth, like a precious gift.  A gift that was given to you.

My prayer for you and me is that this Christmas, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of creating a perfect Christmas for our families, we not neglect to unwrap the most important gift of all, the gift of Immanuel, God with us.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2 ESV)

The answer is: Coming or Arrival

The Christmas season seems to begin earlier and earlier each year, doesn’t it?  It is not unusual to see Halloween costumes and Christmas trees set up in the same store, at the same time! But that’s retail.

In the Christian world November 27 marked the first Sunday of Advent for 2022. Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas that is different from the retail world. The word advent from the Latin adventus, means “coming” or “arrival.” The season of Advent is focused on the coming of Jesus as Messiah (Christ or King).

It’s so easy to get caught up in the Christmas preparations fuelled by the retail sector. To be honest, I felt a bit of a frenzy this past weekend not wanting to miss out on any Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals even though I knew those sales would extend all week and likely all month! We can get so caught up, and I wonder if we really have a chance to stop and prepare our hearts and our minds to receive our Saviour. That is the whole purpose of Advent.

I get that it’s not always easy to stop and reflect. Carving out some time is difficult enough but then how? How can we reflect and prepare our hearts?

Well if you can figure out the time part, let me offer some suggestions regarding resources. There are a great number of Advent devotionals that you can access online or at your neighbourhood Christian book store.

Here are four I recommend:

1. God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe

My favourite Advent devotional by far. Gorgeous, full-colour art plates (both classic and contemporary) for each day of Advent and Christmastide. Devotional introductions and reflections on the weekly Scripture readings and prayers include authors like Eugene Peterson, Scott Cairns, Luci Shaw, Emilie Griffin, Richard John Neuhaus and Kathleen Norris. A beautiful addition to your Advent & Christmas decorations

2. In the Manger by Max Lucado

Through 25 Advent-themed selections taken from his most popular books, you'll feel as though you've joined Mary and Joseph at the feet of the King lying in the manger.

Family friendly:

3. Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

Love this!  This is an adaptation, for families, of her best selling book The Greatest Gift. It is beautiful to look at and it directs you to scripture, as well as including devotional reading and simple activities. It is truly written for all ages, so the entire family can join in.

4. Welcome Baby Jesus  by Sarah A. Reinhard

Perfect for families with young children of multiple ages. The readings are short and simple. There are three sections to each day’s instalment: Think, Pray, Act. Think provides a thoughtful devotional reading.

It’s my prayer that as you take some time to reflect, pray and respond during Advent that Christ will become even more special to you during the this very special time of year!

This Sunday is the second Sunday of Advent and we will begin a new series that will take us to Sunday December 25th, Christmas Day! Please plan to join us.

Also, because it is a time of preparation, anticipation and surprises I will have a surprise for two of you. When I ask: What does the word Advent mean?

Answer with the response “coming or arrival” and you will receive a lovely gift!

See you Sunday!

We're influential like a ripple, ripple, ripple

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. The Advent season includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, which means Christmas Day is not far away!

Advent is a time of expectancy and preparation for the celebration of Jesus birth.

I love the Advent season.  In amongst the busyness and materialism of the season, I so appreciate the privilege of having to sit down and remember the birth of Jesus as I prepare Advent messages for our Sunday morning and online services.

And I also carve out time to decorate and bake and watch cheesy and classic Christmas movies. This year I have already found my new favourite, Spirited. It’s a fun, modern musical version of the classic Charles Dickens story starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.  I know… I had you at Ryan Reynolds ;)

Brian and I watched it on Sunday night, so the message that I preached “We’re influential” was fresh on my mind.  Will Ferrell sings the song called Ripple…and if I had watched the movie on Saturday night I would have likely played you a clip on Sunday morning, it was perfect!   (And you would have thought that Will Ferrell could sing?)

“One person’s kindness can have a ripple effect…imagine how far the ripple can go.” - The Ghost of Christmas Present, Spirited

Ferrell (The Ghost of Christmas Present) belts out:

Consider the possibilities! Now if we choose this dude, one goes to two and four. And jumps from four to eight (Ripple, ripple, ripple)

Yes, soon you guys, it multiplies to thousands more. Can you hear it reverberate? (Ripple, ripple, ripple)

Then to millions and to billions and it never ends. All across the world the change is gaining some traction.

“One person’s kindness can have a ripple effect.”

I makes me think of Daniel from the Old Testament. You might recall that Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6). Daniel lived in a godless culture, yet he impacted nations, kings, wise men and his friends by living a life that pleased God. His ripples of influence expanded incrementally, leading to an impact he never could have predicted — one that extends to my family and yours almost 3,000 years later.

When we reflect God’s character through the gifts and opportunities God gives us, we’re like rocks tossed into a pond, producing ripple effects that inspire those in our sphere and beyond to think and act differently. “Imagine how far the ripple can go!”

You don’t have to be a celebrity, rich or successful. You don’t need an impressive degree or lots of followers on social media. A specific age, nationality or personality is not a requirement, and you’re not limited by your job, location or marital status. You, my friend, have the power to positively influence others, today, right where you are!

God uses ordinary people like you and me to be a part of extraordinary “God stories” — real-life narratives of purpose and influence. Although we’re all imperfect and inconsistent, we can still be influential because of God’s grace and power in and through us.

“Do you wanna make a ripple, ripple, ripple I think you wanna make a ripple, ripple, ripple”