It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas time, baby! Christmas presents! Excited children and grandchildren! Christmas trees, lights, and decorations! Cookies! Parties! Family! It is arguably the biggest time of celebration of the year. And of course, the real excitement is that Christmas Eve worship as we anticipate the birth of Jesus. Memories! It is just an awesome and exciting time for everyone!
Well, actually, not for everyone. For many, Christmas is a very difficult and sad time of year. For a number of families, this will be the first Christmas without a loved one. A father, a mother, brother, sister, etc. The first time that you won’t be buying a gift for that person or seeing them around the Christmas dinner table. Even if a loved one has been gone for a number of years, often Christmas scrapes open the scabs of grief. It is especially difficult when you look around and see everyone else happy and full of holiday cheer. The hurt and pain that we feel is often amplified. We feel alone. As if we are the only ones suffering while the rest of the world is going along happily.
For many, the holidays are a time of stress and depression. If not for family loss, the tempo of the season can be difficult. There can be a lot of pressure to buy enough gifts for everyone. Spend enough money. All the while, you know that money and presents aren’t the point of Christmas, the cultural pressures overwhelm us.
For others, they become overwhelmed with the busyness of the holidays. We have to go to all of the parties. See all of the family members. Spend time with everyone. Decorate the insides and outsides of our houses like everyone else even though we don’t actually have the time or the money to do it.
I don’t know what pain or hurt you may be carrying this Christmas season. Hopefully you aren’t. But if you are, know that you aren’t alone. There are many others who are hurting and struggling right along with you. Many are trying to figure out how to get through Christmas dinner without crying. Many are showing a tough exterior while breaking down on the inside. If that is you, know that you are loved. Relish in the hope of Advent. They hope of a God who is coming (has come) to be with us.
I invite you to a time of worship devoted to this complexity. On Sunday, December 20th at 7pm, we will host a Blue Christmas worship. We will create space for all of the tensions and deepness of this holiday season. And, we will speak hope in the midst of that.
For see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people (Luke 2:10)
Peace,
Pastor Mike