Keeping Christ in Christmas?

Every year I hear a number of people annoyed by the apparent lack of "Christ" in Christmas. They send emails, write blog posts, or just simply complain and rant.

On some level I can sympathize. There is only so many times you can listen to "Last Christmas I gave you my heart" before you want to smash the radio. "Driving home for Christmas" brought me closer to road rage like no other song. "All I want for Christmas is you" - don't get me started on that one. So yes, I can relate to the really BAD music secular culture is offering to us.

But the funny part is, that a lot of these annoyed people are not church goers themselves. And so I cannot but wonder what is the indignation about? Will hearing "Silent Night" on the radio suddenly make the season more "holy"? Is listening to "Joy to the World" in a car in traffic suddenly making the commute more "spiritual"? 

Christmas is about God coming to humankind. God's Only-Begotten son deigns to live, and love, and die like us. It its the ultimate proof of God-for-Us, a God who desires a communion with us, and desires us to be in Communion with God and each other.

Christmas is not about self-enlightenment, spiritual but not religious time - Christmas is about God with us, and calling us to be with each other in communion.

You want "Christ in Christmas"? Switch off the TV and Radio. Then stop complaining and come to church for service on Christmas Day.

May Christ be truly born in your hearts and minds this season!

This weekend First Church is inviting you to the following services:

Sunday 23rd - Last Sunday of Advent 10 AM

Monday 24th - Christmas Pageant 6 PM

     Service of Lessons and Carols 11 PM

Tuesday 25th - Christmas Day Rejoicing and Communion