Dear Fellow Children of God,
How are
you celebrating Christmas this year? Or,
ARE you celebrating?
“Christmas”
is the title for the day of Jesus’ birth, or the name of the holiday. Years ago I read that the word “Christmas”
came from the two words “Christ” and “mass,” or Messiah and worship
service. Even in the early days,
Christmas celebrated the birth of Jesus with a time of worship.
Many
Christian congregations have Christmas worship services today. My personal experience is that one of the
biggest, most festive worship celebrations of the whole year is the Christmas
Eve candlelight service. In this
services there are often readings of Christmas prophecies, and readings of the
Christmas story, or stories (Luke 2:1-20, or Matthew 1:28-25). These messages of good news are highlighted
by beautiful Christmas hymns, or carols, which proclaim peace and joy and
salvation because the Son of God became human to save the world from their sin,
from condemnation, and from death. However,
for this special occasion, there are often other additional special
touches. Often congregations arrange for
special music, And THEN, when the candles each person holds are lit, and the church
lights go out, and prayers are said and hymns are sung to candlelight (My
favorite is “Silent Night.”), the worship service proclaims the wonder and
mystery of the birth of Jesus. No wonder
many congregations hold more Christmas Eve Candlelight services than they hold
on a normal Sunday.
To me,
Christmas Day worship is special too.
The crowd is usually much smaller than on Christmas Eve. There might still be special music. We often celebrate the coming of Jesus as we
receive the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus also gives Himself, His body and blood in
the bread and the wine. (Actually, many congregations celebrate Holy Communion
on Christmas Eve also.) But the service seems
quieter since there are fewer in attendance.
I would not call Christmas Day worship somber. My experience of Christmas Day worship is
that of a quiet, peaceful, joy.
While
these worship services observe God’s special gift of love with special worship,
our worship surely does not reproduce the setting of the first Christmas, the
birth of Jesus. Looking at the last
minute for a place to give birth only sounds hectic, if not frantic. Laying the new-born baby in a feed trough
does not meet modern standards of cleanliness.
Everything surrounding Jesus’ birth, from the conception by a virgin
through the Holy Spirit, to the trip to register in a census for tax purposes, to
the singing of angels, is different than our planned, joyful, celebrations of
worship.
Almost
all also join in social and cultural celebrations of Christmas, such as Santa,
and parties, and trees, and decorations, and gifts. While these can point to the Christmas mystery
of the birth of Jesus, they can also distract from the real reason for
celebrating.
According
to Scripture, God’s salvation plan through Jesus has always been a wonderful mystery,
even for the prophets, even for the angels!
Please read 1 Peter 1:10-12. 10
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was
to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what
person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted
the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was
revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things
that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to
you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” What WAS that first Christmas like?
What IS a proper response?
One of
my now favorite decorations is an electric Christmas scene my daughter-in-law,
Erin, gave my wife in a recent Christmas.
It is like a snow globe, with contrasting features. Mary, and Joseph, and Jesus are pictured with
some animals, an angel, and lots of blowing snow – snow with PALM TREES in the
background. Go figure! The scene is lighted, and lights on top of
the display also flash. But, in the
midst of all this Christmas glitz, the light shines on JESUS. In the midst of the mystery of the birth of
God’s promised Messiah and Christ, Jesus stands out!
The angels
told the shepherds and told us what we need to know, “For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
And this birth of Jesus is such an amazing mystery, and good news, it is
worth CELEBRATING!
How are
you celebrating Christmas this year? Or,
ARE you celebrating? I have a suggestion
you are free to accept or ignore. Why
not attend Christmas worship this year?
Maybe attend Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day. In the midst of our crazy, mixed-up, sinful
world, we need God’s help. We need a
Savior. Again, the angel proclaims the
reason to celebrate. “For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.”
A Child of God, Awestruck by the Mystery of the Birth of
Jesus, Worshiping my God and Savior!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Here is a
picture and a video of Kathy’s Christmas decoration! https://photos.app.goo.gl/DNbmXkeLL68HW1rX9
P.P.S. I am now
serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
· New
Members – On Sunday, December 21, Our Redeemer received 2 new adult
members, received through attending adult confirmation classes. Justin Hall and Mollie Vukelic were received
as adult communicant members. We pray
that Our Redeemer is a blessing to their faith, and that they find ways to
serve their Lord at Our Redeemer.
· Pastor
Craig Schultz will begin serving Our Redeemer as Interim / Vacancy Pastor
in January. Pastor Rockey’s last Sunday
at Our Redeemer is January 4. Then he
will go to Gainesville, FL, and serve there where he was scheduled to return
this past fall. Pastor Schultz will
preach at Anchorage Lutheran Church on January 4, and then Our Redeemer
Lutheran on January 11, 2026.
· SPECIAL
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: In
addition to regular Sunday worship at 10:00 each week, Our Redeemer has planned
special worship services through the Holidays.
There are services every Wednesday, AND Christmas Day. You might note these on your calendar
o
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
§
Focus on Children – Wednesday, December
24, 5:00 p.m.
§
Christmas Eve for all – Wednesday,
December 24, 7:00 p.m.
o
Christmas Day Worship – Thursday,
December 25, 10:00 a.m.
o
New Year’s Eve Worship – Wednesday,
December 31, at 6:30 p.m.
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee includes
Elder and chairman, Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis,
Scott Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins. They
have met numerous times.
The first step
in the call process was to complete a congregational self-study we received
from the Northwest District. The
committee asked for and received input from ORLC for this study. Nomination forms for names for a new pastor were
also distributed. The self-study, and
nominations for pastor, were indeed sent to the Northwest District by October
1, 2025.
Our Redeemer
received a list of names of possible future pastors for Our Redeemer from the Northwest
District on Wednesday, November 26. The committee met on Tuesday, December 9 to
clarify their responsibilities, and they will meet again in early January to prepare
to contact the pastors whose names we have received.
OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AT OUR REDEEMER:
·
There are two opportunities a week for exercise
and wellness.
o Matt
Keith leads Chayon Ryu Martial Arts Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30
a.m. in the Our Redeemer Fellowship Hall
o Matt
then teaches an Elder Momentum Class, attended mostly by seniors, at 10:00 a.m.
in the fellowship hall.
·
A “Mom’s Group” meets on the first and
third Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer.
·
An Adult Fellowship Potluck is held the
first Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
- Youth Group
meets after worship on one Sunday each month. The
will NOT meet in December, but return in January.
·
A Memory Café for families dealing
with the issues of dementia was held at Our Redeemer on Friday November 14. There was good attendance, including some
families from the community. The next
Memory Café is scheduled for Friday, December 12 at 11:00 a.m..
·
There are other events planned as
well. Watch the Our Redeemer calendar
and newsletter for information.
Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
·
Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday
mornings at 9:00 a.m. The class FINISHED
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” We are now be enjoying Bible Study’s
based on Garrison Keillor monologues, specifically for holiday issues. On Sunday, December 28, Keillor’s monologue
is entitled, “A Christmas Story Retold!”
Come and join us!
· Sunday
School is held each Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m.! This is a blessing for ALL children and
adults.
·
“Deeply Rooted Small Group” Is held at
Our Redeemer on the first and third Sunday evenings at 5:45 p.m.
·
Confirmation classes began on Sunday,
October 12, after worship services. We
finished fall Confirmation classes on Sunday, December 7. This fall we studied about the Lord’s
Prayer. Confirmation Classes resume on Sunday,
January 4 after church. We will study
about the Sacraments. Watch for more
information.
Other Activities of Faith:
· MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using
the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, December 23, we read
through Revelation 15. We will soon have completed reading the Scriptures
in a 2 year period!
Feel free to
contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
recently received questions and comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
P.P.P.S. Family Fun
and Fishing! I got to go fishing 3 TIMES after the
wind let up, some!
·
On Friday, December 19, I tested Seventeen Mile Lake
for a possible fishing trip the next day.
I caught 4, and could have caught more if I stayed. I released all fish. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CumnNcEg1gkpJq937
·
On Saturday, December 20, I took Our Redeemer
Member, Jacob Lewis, and son Nathan, fishing on Seventeen Mile Lake. We were able to drive onto the lake which
provided some shelter as . . . THE WIND was starting again! Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xbNwjJSZ1xZvC83r8
·
On Monday, December 22, I went fishing with Kym
Miller and with Mary’s boyfriend, Brandon Holmes. It was about -10 and COLD. But, we caught fish. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/sH1XqxvGNnRRiP6m6
*******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I
retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of
St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion
previously entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired
many asked me to continue writing these devotions. So I have continued
writing. However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion
"Journeys Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer
senior pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those
who asked to receive it. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
So, if you
stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you understand.
And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them,
please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution
list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is
that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy Pastor, Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK
Pastor Emeritus, St. John
Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
“How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
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