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[2354.22 --> 2358.06] We thank you for the joy and celebration that we felt in this time of Advent. |
[2358.72 --> 2362.08] We thank you for this church family and everyone who has gathered here. |
[2362.86 --> 2364.82] We thank you for the leadership of this church, |
[2365.10 --> 2368.54] with Pastor Chris, Pastor Kevin, and Josh. |
[2368.84 --> 2370.36] We thank you for members of the council. |
[2370.36 --> 2376.70] We pray for wisdom for them, that they may provide good leadership and decisions for us. |
[2377.22 --> 2379.60] We thank you for the many ministries of this church, |
[2379.98 --> 2384.66] the nursery, children's worship time, gems, cadets, youth, young adults, |
[2384.98 --> 2388.58] the Mexico team, coffee break, care groups, seniors ministry. |
[2389.14 --> 2391.12] We ask that you bless the work that they do, |
[2391.36 --> 2395.42] that they may meet the spiritual and physical needs that we see around us. |
[2395.42 --> 2401.70] Father, as a church community, we think of the joys and needs that we have as a Christian community. |
[2402.24 --> 2405.54] We pray for those who use this time to travel, to be with extended family. |
[2406.02 --> 2408.42] We pray for safe travels and a meaningful time together. |
[2409.90 --> 2412.12] Father, in the midst of all the joy and celebration, |
[2412.38 --> 2414.70] we realize that this may be a time that is difficult. |
[2415.36 --> 2417.80] We pray for those who experience hardship or loneliness, |
[2418.28 --> 2420.38] and for those who grieve the loss of a loved one. |
[2420.80 --> 2424.28] We pray that they may feel your comfort, your peace, and your presence. |
[2424.28 --> 2428.22] And we pray that all of us may be a source of light and compassion. |
[2429.10 --> 2432.74] We pray for Elise Wagenau's father, Doug, as he continues his health struggles |
[2432.74 --> 2434.56] and the news of a tumor on his spine. |
[2435.08 --> 2438.50] We pray for patience and strength as the family takes this journey together. |
[2439.16 --> 2443.04] We pray for Amanda Hogan's sister and Klaus Tessamacher's daughter, Tanya, |
[2443.58 --> 2446.62] who is experiencing stage 4 breast cancer that has spread. |
[2447.24 --> 2449.20] We pray for her and her family, |
[2449.54 --> 2453.40] that they may feel your comfort, peace, healing, and hope. |
[2453.40 --> 2460.18] And Father, we pray for Pastor Chris as he leads us again in the study of our word |
[2460.18 --> 2462.62] as revealed to the prophet Isaiah. |
[2463.26 --> 2467.94] We thank you that, unlike Isaiah, we don't have to wait for the coming of the Messiah |
[2467.94 --> 2473.62] because he has already come, the word made flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. |
[2474.40 --> 2477.28] May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God |
[2477.28 --> 2480.28] and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. |
[2481.04 --> 2481.30] Amen. |
[2481.30 --> 2481.38] Amen. |
[2483.40 --> 2513.36] As we begin this morning here in a reflection on God's word on Christmas Day, |
[2513.36 --> 2516.50] I just want to take a moment right at the outset |
[2516.50 --> 2519.94] and acknowledge something with you this morning. |
[2520.02 --> 2523.84] Something strange, weird, and mysterious. |
[2523.84 --> 2529.34] Because when you get right down to it, Christmas is weird. |
[2530.58 --> 2531.64] Christmas is strange. |
[2532.70 --> 2537.54] Honestly, pull back all the 21st century dressings, |
[2537.54 --> 2539.68] the music and the malls and the parties, |
[2539.68 --> 2542.20] the lights and the turkey dinners. |
[2542.20 --> 2545.52] Most of the time, good things, depending on who's cooking. |
[2546.32 --> 2548.06] Pull all of that back, right? |
[2548.14 --> 2551.58] Pull the history of Christian cultural influence. |
[2552.08 --> 2557.74] Pull back pop Christmas music and music specials, Christmas specials. |
[2558.00 --> 2560.96] Pull back the sleigh bells and the Christmas trees. |
[2560.96 --> 2564.10] Look behind that curtain of cultural Christmas. |
[2564.10 --> 2568.10] And Christmas should be impossible. |
[2568.10 --> 2568.66] Impossible. |
[2568.66 --> 2577.70] Now, very aware of the fact that enough of you here this morning |
[2577.70 --> 2582.74] have grown up in the church or are at least church adjacent. |
[2582.74 --> 2587.56] And what I mean by that is that we have family or friends |
[2587.56 --> 2590.06] who invited us to come here this morning |
[2590.06 --> 2591.98] and we came because we love them |
[2591.98 --> 2596.30] or because it was a condition for opening presents later on in the day |
[2596.30 --> 2598.64] or for eating Christmas dinner, and so we're here. |
[2600.32 --> 2604.94] Most of us here this morning have been around long enough |
[2604.94 --> 2608.48] for this truth that Christmas is strange |
[2608.48 --> 2611.12] is easy to miss. |
[2612.66 --> 2617.22] It's easy to miss the impossible nature of this day. |
[2617.52 --> 2619.68] We can become numb to the miracle |
[2619.68 --> 2624.02] or we can take for granted the majesty of this mystery. |
[2625.82 --> 2631.94] Or maybe you're not even sure what you believe about this Jesus guy, |
[2632.12 --> 2635.24] but you still like Christmas, right? |
[2635.24 --> 2639.02] For so many people today, Christmas has become a reason |
[2639.02 --> 2640.76] to take a few days off of work, |
[2641.08 --> 2644.58] to give a couple presents, maybe even to give one or two. |
[2645.02 --> 2648.14] Christmas has become a time where you can go up the mountains |
[2648.14 --> 2649.78] to ski or snowboard, |
[2649.86 --> 2653.28] or maybe you're lucky enough to go off to Mexico or to Hawaii. |
[2654.92 --> 2658.12] Christmas, for so many, is about family traditions, |
[2658.34 --> 2660.62] about peppermint lattes and eggnog. |
[2660.98 --> 2663.06] It's about palm dauphine if you're French |
[2663.06 --> 2665.48] or malva pudding if you're from South Africa |
[2665.48 --> 2667.36] or panettone if you're Italian |
[2667.36 --> 2670.08] or peppernotin if you're Dutch. |
[2671.56 --> 2673.78] For so many of us, Christmas isn't spiritual, |
[2674.06 --> 2674.72] it's physical. |
[2675.48 --> 2677.60] It's about good food and good rest. |
[2679.78 --> 2682.92] Now, I suspect that if you're here this morning, |
[2683.58 --> 2688.42] you're somewhere in the middle of this range of possibilities. |
[2688.42 --> 2688.98] Right? |
[2690.50 --> 2692.74] Christmas comes, and we love it, |
[2693.32 --> 2696.06] but life goes on to the next thing. |
[2697.42 --> 2698.24] All right, after today, |
[2698.34 --> 2701.06] we're pretty quickly counting down to New Year's Eve parties, |
[2701.46 --> 2704.20] and then it's back to school or back to work, |
[2704.92 --> 2707.64] back to life as usual. |
[2708.60 --> 2710.64] Life as it was a few weeks ago |
[2710.64 --> 2712.86] and as it will be a few weeks from now. |
[2712.86 --> 2716.48] Christmas, the impossibility of it all, |
[2716.88 --> 2719.66] can easily be missed. |
[2721.60 --> 2724.34] And it's easy to miss in the midst of all that. |
[2726.70 --> 2730.46] We haven't even talked about the very real circumstances |
[2730.46 --> 2732.34] that some of you are in, right? |
[2732.36 --> 2733.54] Of disease and death. |
[2734.56 --> 2736.00] Of worry and work. |
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