December

What we celebrate at Christmas is not so much the birth of a baby, as important as that is, what is significant about the birth of this particular child is that in this birth we have God Himself coming into our world taking on human flesh. John in the prologue of his gospel will simply say, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) The story of Christmas is God’s quite mysterious decision to become human, like you and me. 

The Christmas story begins with really good news. God has decided to accompany us in history. Because of Christmas we know that the Crucifixion and Resurrection are good news. Human history, our history, matters, because of that original gift of the Father. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” (John 3:16)  

The purpose for Christ’s coming into our world is the story of redemption. Jesus makes Himself of no reputation. He allows Himself to become subject to human hostility, human criticism and denial. The apostle Paul explains, “He took the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men.” Jesus doesn’t merely come as a man, He comes as a slave. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the point of death,” the shameful death of the cross." (Philippians 2:7-8)

The story of Christmas is quite simple. Mary and Joseph are on the road with almost everybody because of a clumsy census.  (Today, we simply mail in the forms!) That’s why there is no room at the inn. Then there are those shepherds, caretakers of sheep, who are the first to get the message to rejoice. Then come the wise men from the East who, remarkably, follow the star to a stable and, without a moment’s hesitation, they enter, pay homage and give gifts. Then they return home. 

The story leads to a message - that God is with us; in every circumstance, in every instance. Christmas recalls the day God first appeared to us as one of us.  The purpose of Christ’s coming, that God Himself would renew all things. Thus Paul would remind us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). copyright © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. 

December

O God, our Maker and Redeemer, Your wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us;

Jesus was born on a "Silent Night, a Holy Night" He came to a people who walked in darkness. He came as a light to eliminate the darkness. 

There is darkness. It is the darkness of the world - caused by sin. "If we say that we have fellowship him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not have the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin".1 John 1:6-7

Jesus has come to be the light of the world - The prophet reminds us; "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shines." – Isaiah 9:2

Christ has removed the darkness of sin. As He spoke the universe into existence with His Word saying "Let there be light" so He came into this world to shine His light upon a dark and sinful world to take away our sin and misery. 

He is the eternal light and has come to rescue and save. He does not overlook your sin. He eliminates it. He has entered time and space to be your substitute. He takes unto Himself all of the world's misery. He will carry it to the cross where He will suffer, die and rise again to be victorious.  The miracle of Christmas is that God has made it clear that He is in the business of redeeming and saving His people. As light eliminates the darkness so the coming of Christ bring the dawn of a new day; full of light and life. Upon us the light of Christ has shown brightly eliminating all darkness.

As the Lord began the world's creation by producing light on the first day He has shined brightly on this earth once again by sending us His Son. In glory there is no need of sun, moon or stars for Christ will be the eternal light that lights up the entire city.  As He draws us toward His light once more in this Advent/Christmas season may the brightness of Christ burn in your hearts ever more until we are each ushered into His glory.

December

December  4      Advent 2 Divine Service Setting 1

                                Matthew 3:1-12 “Announcing the New Reign”

December 7       Mid-week Advent 2

                                Characters of the Nativity -Shepherds

December 11     Advent 3 Choir Service

                                Matthew 11:2-11 “What do you expect this Christmas?”

December 14     Mid-week Advent 3

                                Characters of the Nativity –Mary the Mother of our Lord

December 18     Advent 4 Divine Service Setting 2

                                Matthew 1:18-25 “God is with us”

December 24     Sunday School Christmas Eve

December 25     Christmas Day with Communion – A Service of readings and carols

Isaiah 9:2 Jesus came to be a light to the people who walk in darkness.

January 1 2017   1^st Sunday after Christmas Divine Service Setting 3

                                Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 God’s Promises fulfilled”                            

Jesus is the light of the world - The prophet Isaiah reminds us: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shines."

Christ has removed the darkness of sin. As He spoke the universe into existence with His Word saying "Let there be light" so He came into this world to shine His light upon a dark and sinful world to take away our sin and misery. 

He is the eternal light and has come to save us from our sin. He does not overlook our sin He eliminates it. He does not blink at sin, but He has entered time and space to be our substitute. He takes unto Himself all of the world's misery and sin and He will carry it to the cross where He will suffer, die and rise again to be victorious.  The miracle of Christmas is that God has made it clear that He is in the business of redeeming and saving His people. As light eliminates the darkness so the coming of Christ bring the dawn of a new day; full of light and life. Upon us the light of Christ has shown brightly eliminating all darkness of sin and error.

The miracle of Christmas finds its basis in the truth that Christ has come to eliminate sin. As He began the world's creation by producing light on the first day. He has shown brightly on this earth once again. In glory there is no need of sun, moon or stars for He will be the eternal light that lights up the entire city.  As He draws us toward His light once more during this  Advent and Christmas season may the brightness of Christ burn in your hearts ever more until we are each ushered into His glory. A Blessed Christmas!