Celebrating Christ's Birth Through Christmas Giving

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

How do you celebrate Christmas?  We all know about the trees and the decorations and the lights and the Santas.  There are times that the celebrations of Christmas become so elaborate that those celebrating can forget why they celebrate.  But, there are times that the celebration can help point, not so much to Christmas as a holiday, but to Christ, to God’s gift of His Son.  Then the celebration can be helpful to a Christian seeking to grow in their faith.

 

One practice that can help us remember the gift of God’s Son, Jesus our Savior, is the sacrificial giving of gifts to those in need.  I expect most people remember the story in Matthew 2 of the visit of the magi, or the wise men.  These foreign dignitaries famously brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus.  Some scholars suggest these gifts later helped Mary and Joseph pay for their flight into Egypt, escaping Herod’s efforts to kill Jesus.  But, these were no small gifts.  It took a sacrifice by the magi to travel to Bethlehem, and it took a sacrifice by the magi to give these expensive expressions of worship to the promised Messiah and King.

 

There are also other Scriptural examples of gift-giving as part of a celebration of God’s goodness.  Do you know the story of Esther, which the Jews celebrate today as the Festival of “Purim?”  In this event from History, Haman, the second in command in the Persian kingdom, had set a day to exterminate the Jewish people.  But, working through Esther and through her uncle, Mordecai, God turned the tables on this evil man, Haman.  This was such a great deliverance from such an imminent danger that Mordecai, now acting in a role of leadership, commanded the people to celebrate.  Here is what we read in Esther 9:20-22.

 

20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

 

It always strikes me that the celebration which Mordecai called for to remember God’s deliverance in Esther, is similar in many ways to how Christians celebrate Christmas today.

 

So, do you give gifts to the poor?  In all honesty, many who are needy do not want others to think of them in that way.  Yet, there are still many opportunities to share with others the blessings God has given us.  Maybe you have put money in a Salvation Army bucket over the holidays.  Such giving is a gift in the tradition of Esther.  Maybe you have sent a check to an organization that helps those with various needs.  Kathy and I really enjoyed the “Gift Idea Book” from Compassion International this year and gave a gift to provide training and Bibles to children around the world learning about Jesus.

 

There truly are many ways to share God’s abundant love with others.  For example, this past Wednesday our Confirmation students decorated Christmas stockings.  For many years we have given these stockings to agencies that help people during Christmas.  By this personal attention to decorating the stockings, these 6^th-8^th grade students are sharing themselves, and sharing Jesus with others.

 

Also, at St. John we are taking an offering for our “Local Mission Fund”h which funds our efforts to help those in need throughout the year.  And, this Sunday, December 11, we will have a group going Christmas caroling.  Those singing are not professional singers.  But we will be in the homes of people who struggle to get out.  Again, we will have the opportunity to share Jesus in song, and to share ourselves with those who have physical struggles.

 

Christmas is about Christ.  When the celebration of “Christmas” is bigger than the Savior then we need to make some changes in the way we celebrate.  But, when the celebration points to the greatest gift of all, to the gift of God’s promised Savior for those hopelessly lost in sin, then the celebration can bless us and bless others.

 

I encourage you to find a way to give to help others this Christmas, and by giving to remember the greatest gift ever given, God’s Son, Jesus!

 

A Child of God, Finding Joy in Giving to Others,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here are some pictures from the Confirmation Christmas Stocking efforts this past Wednesday, https://goo.gl/photos/sDKct8urjGjq5fwD9

 

P.P.S.  I did go fishing last Monday, but in spite of standing in the below zero weather in the wind, I did not get a bite.

 

P.P.P.S.  Another way to give this Christmas is to make a special gift to your congregation.  Please see below.

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

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