12252016 CHRISTmas Day - "A Partridge in a Pear Tree"

December 25, 2016
“A Partridge in a Pear Tree”

This morning we gather here in the church on the mountain top one could say of one of the two most important celebrations for the church.  Christmas is the opportunity for the church to firmly and faithfully declare the entrance of Jesus Christ with our celebration of His Birth.  It is a day that many families hold as sacred for gathering together to share a meal and enjoy one anothers company.  And clearly it is the pinnacle of the 12 Days of Christmas Song.

For today is in fact, the First Day of Christmas.  Hence, why today we end our series with “A Partridge in a Pear Tree”.  We have throughout the season of Advent learned of the connection with the Apostle’s Creed, the faithful disciples, the law given by Moses, the fruits of the Spirit, the blessed teachings of Jesus, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and our personal connection with the days of creation.  We have heard of the history of man’s fall from grace, God’s answer in the Gospels, the virtues of the Christian life and how the two testaments trace the history of the promise of a Savior.  And today we are not only at the foot of the Christmas Tree, but the pinnacle.  Today we hear and sing about Jesus Who is “A Partridge in a Pear Tree”.

Unlike most of the birds to be sung about during the next 12 Days of Christmas, “A Partridge in a Pear Tree” not only is about Jesus Christ, but specifically how Jesus Christ was willing to be hung from a tree.  This reference to “A Partridge in a Pear Tree” is of Jesus willingness to walk to the Cross of Calvary for me and for you.  Yet, today since we heard and sung about Jesus appearance in the manger, why do we jump 30+ years to Jesus death, by referencing the Cross.

There is a simple explanation, because today is the one day we need to understand that this Baby Who was foretold in sacred story, Who lies in the manger on the hay that was to feed the livestock.  This Child wrapped in swaddling clothes that came into this world in a stable because there was no room in the inn.  This Child “A Partridge in a Pear Tree”.  He is the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.  He is the sacrificial lamb that comes in order that we might have eternal life.

Today we gather to celebrate the Greatest Gift of love, Jesus Christ, “A Partridge in a Pear Tree”.  Jesus Christ came to offer Himself out of His great love for each and every one of us.  For it is Jesus Christ Who gives of Himself willingly in order that we might have eternal life.  Hence why we have the greatest opportunity to remember for the next 12 Days the gifts God gives unto us, especially of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May our celebration today not stop with our stockings hung by the chimney with care, nor on our porches for the goodies left by friends, nor even in our mailboxes as we exchange Christmas greetings.  May our celebration not end with the gifts under the tree, but may each and every one of our hearts find true celebration that represents the real reason for the season, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ “A Partridge in a Pear Tree”.  AMEN.

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12242016 Christmas Eve Late - "His Bed is Made - The Straw of the Manger"

December 24, 2016
“His Bed is Made – The Straw of the Manger”

Tonight we gather to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.  We gather around a simple manger to peer in on a small innocent child wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a makeshift bed because there is no room in the inn.  Tonight, Jesus Christ, Savior of the World is surrounded in a lowly manger by simple straw.

Some use straw as bedding, others use it to feed animals and still others only encounter it in the wind as they drive down the interstate and see a blade pass quickly by or when it is pulled out of the grill of their car or truck.  But the straw that cradles the Christ child isn’t ordinary straw.  It’s meaning can be found in the annals of Creation, the bins of combines, hay rakes and even some kids hair or clothes that have played on the round bails or from the hay lofts in many a barn.  But tonight the hay that cradles the Savior of the World is the only cushion Jesus knows in a lowly manger in a small inn on a back alley in the City of David, Bethlehem.

For tonight the question should be asked, how have we who gather here prepared our hearts as we come on bended knee to the manger?  What do we bring to the manger as our gift and simply is it enough?

Once a family had come on hard luck, the sole bread winner had been let go right before Thanksgiving.  The parents of three children were uncertain what the future held, but decided that for one Christmas, their family would break from their tradition of giving each other lavish Christmas gifts due to the present circumstances.  While sitting around the table deciding what to do, Ann the mother received an inspiration.  Why not this Christmas give each other the gift of love and service that would be represented by small bits of straw that would be laid in the family crèche that they used every year.

This year, their Baby Jesus would not be placed in the manger until Christmas Eve so for the entire season of Advent the family would anonymously perform acts of love and service to one another.  By lot every Sunday the family would pick a name for whom the acts of love and service would be rendered.  And with every deed a small blade of straw would be placed in the manger.

During these few short weeks the house was full of kindness and love like they had never experienced before.  The love shared and shown was clear, because there were fewer spats’ and squabbles and less shouting matches.  Weekly the increase in straw would be noticeable only to the most discerning eye.  And with one day left before Christmas Eve the family gathered to pick names for the last time.  John the oldest was last and in an instant, his face became a rush of emotions.  You see John unbeknownst to everyone had picked his younger sister Julie’s name each and every week.  Like most siblings John and Julie had a strained relationship.  But this was the last straw, John couldn’t take it or do it anymore.  He shot from the table with the words, “I can’t”.

John’s mother Ann let him alone for a few minutes and finally found out the truth of the last four weeks.  In desperation to keep her family together for this last Christmas before John joined the military, Ann suggested she and John switch names, with the understanding this would not be cheating.  John surrendered and finally agreed.

That night as Ann went to Julie’s room to anonymously turn down Julie’s bed for the night.  In utter shock she found that Julie’s bed was already prepared for her tonight.  Turning to leave Ann thought, John did have one final straw to place in the manger to make Jesus bed comfortable and complete.  

Tonight, our culture would ask, what final straw do we need to place in the manger?  But tonight, we need to understand that the final straw isn’t placed in the manger by us, but it is found in the sacrificial gift of the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger named Jesus Christ. 

For the straw that Jesus places and finds the most comfortable in the manger is the gift He gives us with His entrance into the world to give us the gift of eternal life.  May the straw of the manger we find this night remind us of God’s gift of love in His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ Who comes to seek and save all of mankind, but especially each and every one of us who understand the last straw is found in Jesus Christ gift of love for us of eternal life as He is placed in the manger on the bed of straw.  AMEN.

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12242016 Christmas Eve Early Service - "Are you ready for Christmas?"

December 24, 2016
“Are you ready for Christmas?  Have you prepared your heart for the Greatest Gift?”

Tonight we gather on the holiest of nights for the church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Our families have travelled for many miles to ‘come home’.  The house smells with all the preparations for the celebration of Christmas, with freshly baked cookies and pies, hot punch, hams and turkeys ready to be prepared and devoured with all the traditional trimmings.

The church has been decorated, the wreaths placed around the altar and here in the sanctuary.  The lights have been lit, in the window sills, on the altar and very soon in our very hands as we sing our traditional hymn of “Silent Night”.

For some tonight Wal-Mart is the last stop before heading home for the night, because there is one item needed for the feast or one last gift that needs to be bought and wrapped.  Yet, the question remains, “Are you ready for Christmas?” 

Once there was a child that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.  He came from a family of hard coal mining workers, but the family barely scraped by.  One particular Christmas Eve the young boy had attended the early service at his church, since he only lived a few doors down from the church.  After the service, knowing he hadn’t placed anything in the plate when it was passed by, this young man so moved by the Christmas experience, returned to the open church with his beat up red wagon with his favorite nite-nite blanket.

Hours later, the Pastor returned and began to prepare for the late service.  To his great horror, he found that Baby Jesus had been stolen from the manger scene by the altar.  Thinking that one of the elders had placed Him in the choir loft in preparation for the procession, the pastor dashed and searched for the priceless piece of art.  As he on bended knee looked under every pew, he heard the thud of the heavy wooden doors and the squeak of a small figure with a little red wagon.

Frozen in time and space, unable to move, the Pastor on bended knee watched the small boy move quickly to the front of the church.  Unmistakably the small boy lifted out of the blanket the Baby Jesus and the Pastor heard this quick exchange.  “I’m sorry I couldn’t give any money this evening, but I hope you were warm enough when I took you out to see the stars.  I love you Baby Jesus.”  Quietly he kissed the figure and placed the wrapped Baby Jesus back in the manger and quickly left.

Still on his knees in awe, the Pastor understood that what he had just witnessed was the purest preparation for this Holy Night.  You see, tonight is not about gifts that will go under the tree, food that will be cooked in the oven, nor about the lights that our houses are decked with.  The question we need to ask ourselves, “Have you prepared your heart for the Greatest Gift?”  You see the greatest gift that we celebrate is the gift of Jesus Christ.  The preparation of our hearts isn’t about what is under the tree or in our ovens, but have we prepared our hearts for Jesus?

Jesus Christ Whom we find tonight in the manger is laid in the manger, because there was no room in the inn.  Jesus Christ, Who is laid in the manger freely walked on this earth to the Cross of Calvary in order to die.  Jesus Christ Who is laid in the manger took on Human form and willingly comes to offer us eternal life.  Jesus Christ, Who is laid in the manger tonight is clearly and unmistakably the Greatest Gift ever given.

Since Jesus Christ is the Greatest Gift, I return to the question, “Have you prepared your heart for the Greatest Gift?”  For the Greatest Gift has been prepared for you from the beginning of time, and no matter our home or personal preparation, it is not enough.  Simply, Jesus Christ came to offer us freely the Greatest Gift of eternal life.  Tonight, it is my prayer that we may receive the Greatest Gift Given in Jesus Christ and feel His Love, that we might receive the Forgiveness He clearly offers us with His presence in our lives, but especially in each and every one of our hearts.  For tonight we celebrate Jesus Christ entrance in a manger, but really tonight we receive the Greatest Gift with His entrance into each and every one of our hearts.  AMEN.

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