We have some people – specifically some young people – at our house who are very excited about Christmas. Sometimes, when he wakes up in the morning, the first thing our three-year-old says will be something like, “Is it Christmas?” Now, from a human-development point of view, it is difficult to explain the concept of time to a three-year-old. They don’t quite understand what it means to say, “Christmas will be next week” or “Christmas is in six days.”
Most three-year-olds definitely don’t understand a statement like, “Later” or “In a little while.” So, to get around all of this, when asked by our three-year-old if it’s Christmas, I will usually say, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” It’s not Christmas yet, BUT it IS beginning to look – and sound! – a lot like Christmas.
I know that there are some people who began decorating for Christmas on the day after Halloween, so it began to look a lot like Christmas more than a month ago, but in these final days before the actual date of December 25, it is REALLY beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Last Sunday, was a very fun day in the life of our church.
In the morning, the Christmas Musical in the morning featured the youth and children of our church in a wonderful way. For a lot of folks at BPC, it really isn’t Christmas without the annual tradition of the Christmas Musical and this year’s funny and heartfelt message of making room for Christmas was a lovely way to mark the season. Thank you to everyone involved in the rehearsals, planning, building, and performance!
In the afternoon, the Fellowship Hall was filled with people for the inaugural concert of BPC’s new Concert Series. A Hickory Horned Christmas! was a whole lot of fun. Speaking for the band, we enjoyed putting the songs together. Partway through the concert, I couldn’t help but think about the wide range of styles that we somehow managed to pull off. The Mission Committee was able to start something that, we hope, will be a self-sustaining offering to the community for the building up of the community through music.
This coming Sunday, December 21, be sure to join us for the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols with scripture readings and songs that span the story of God’s Holy purpose – from our need for grace to the incarnation of Jesus.
Next Wednesday, December 24, join us for one (or both!) of our Christmas Eve services. The 4 PM service is geared toward Children of all ages. The 7 PM service is more Traditional, but both services include the lighting of candles and the singing of “Silent Night.”
These last days of Advent are full of anticipation and it truly IS beginning to look (and sound!) a lot like Christmas!
Thanks be to God!
See you in church!
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
This Week: A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Read Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
Read Genesis 22: 15-18
Read Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Read Isaiah 11:1-9
Read Luke 1:26-38
Read Luke 2:1-7
Read Luke 2:8-16
Read Matthew 2:1-12
Read John 1:1-14