There really is nothing in life like the Christmas season. Of course it is filled with hope and peace and good will but what is really important is that as I sit here writing I have polished off an entire package of M&Ms and two bags of Gummi Lifesavers. (At this point it must be obvious that this is Tom writing and not Sue.)
Indeed, Christmas is a completely unique time of year when we get to take extra time away from school and work while spending that time with family and friends we don’t get to see as often as we would like. Christmas also carries the amazing phenomenon of incessant shopping and buying completely for the sake of others, at least that’s what most people do. It also holds many family traditions whether that is caroling, special meals, church services together, or whatever other traditions may exist, of which there are many I’m sure. Regardless of your family traditions there is one reason for which Christmas exists, that being the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
To celebrate Christmas one of the traditions in our family (on Sue’s side) is attending the Moravian Lovefeast at Kernersville Moravian Church where Sue’s sister and brother-in-law are members. This year’s service was no different then past years when we had attended, besides going to an earlier service to accommodate Savannah’s schedule. Perhaps the other great difference this year was my attitude heading in to service. Personally, I have always loved Christmas Eve services and I imagine that is true for many people. I especially love candlelight ceremonies, which the Lovefeast is. Maybe I just didn’t feel as into the Christmas spirit as normal because it wasn’t late in the evening. Maybe it was the lack of snow on the ground. Or maybe it was that darned car in the parking lot.
You see there was this incredibly sporty and shiny silver Mercedes-Benz sitting in the parking lot. I noticed while driving in and looking for a parking spot in the already full lot. Of course the lot may not have been full if the expensive car wasn’t perfectly placed on the white line and therefore taking up two spots (and book-ended by two other Mercedes-Benzes). The car simply bothered me and I started making comparisons in my head to the story of Jesus’ birth where there was no room in the inn for the poor family, only for the rich. Now I don’t have a problem with being chafed at the excessive wealth and comfort that is so cherished by so many in our culture and which is such a part of the American church even. But what should really be more troubling is my concern with that issue on the eve of celebrating Christ’s birth, for not understanding the context of Christmas. The overwhelming love of God that would allow him to send his Son to earth as the light of truth, hope and salvation should be evident to all who were leaving the Lovefeast on Christmas Eve. As the candlelight service aims to share, Christ said,
“I am the light of the world,” and “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
And finally, to sum up the car vs. Christ dilemma I like what the CD jacket from Caedmon’s Call album Share the Well has to say. “In John 4, Jesus breaks social taboos and drinks after the Samaritan woman at the well, and then he offers her the living water, ‘A well of water, springing up into everlasting life.’ At first, this may seem like a call for social justice, and as followers of Christ we are commanded to look after the poor and week, but in the end, it is a call to evangelism. We are bearers of the well that will never run dry…will we share the well?”
Indeed, Christmas is a completely unique time of year when we get to take extra time away from school and work while spending that time with family and friends we don’t get to see as often as we would like. Christmas also carries the amazing phenomenon of incessant shopping and buying completely for the sake of others, at least that’s what most people do. It also holds many family traditions whether that is caroling, special meals, church services together, or whatever other traditions may exist, of which there are many I’m sure. Regardless of your family traditions there is one reason for which Christmas exists, that being the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
To celebrate Christmas one of the traditions in our family (on Sue’s side) is attending the Moravian Lovefeast at Kernersville Moravian Church where Sue’s sister and brother-in-law are members. This year’s service was no different then past years when we had attended, besides going to an earlier service to accommodate Savannah’s schedule. Perhaps the other great difference this year was my attitude heading in to service. Personally, I have always loved Christmas Eve services and I imagine that is true for many people. I especially love candlelight ceremonies, which the Lovefeast is. Maybe I just didn’t feel as into the Christmas spirit as normal because it wasn’t late in the evening. Maybe it was the lack of snow on the ground. Or maybe it was that darned car in the parking lot.
You see there was this incredibly sporty and shiny silver Mercedes-Benz sitting in the parking lot. I noticed while driving in and looking for a parking spot in the already full lot. Of course the lot may not have been full if the expensive car wasn’t perfectly placed on the white line and therefore taking up two spots (and book-ended by two other Mercedes-Benzes). The car simply bothered me and I started making comparisons in my head to the story of Jesus’ birth where there was no room in the inn for the poor family, only for the rich. Now I don’t have a problem with being chafed at the excessive wealth and comfort that is so cherished by so many in our culture and which is such a part of the American church even. But what should really be more troubling is my concern with that issue on the eve of celebrating Christ’s birth, for not understanding the context of Christmas. The overwhelming love of God that would allow him to send his Son to earth as the light of truth, hope and salvation should be evident to all who were leaving the Lovefeast on Christmas Eve. As the candlelight service aims to share, Christ said,
“I am the light of the world,” and “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
And finally, to sum up the car vs. Christ dilemma I like what the CD jacket from Caedmon’s Call album Share the Well has to say. “In John 4, Jesus breaks social taboos and drinks after the Samaritan woman at the well, and then he offers her the living water, ‘A well of water, springing up into everlasting life.’ At first, this may seem like a call for social justice, and as followers of Christ we are commanded to look after the poor and week, but in the end, it is a call to evangelism. We are bearers of the well that will never run dry…will we share the well?”
Check out this album. We liked it so much we sent it to Turkey and had to buy another one. Also, about the lovefeast…the lovefeast was a familiar practice in the first century Church. The early Christians celebrated the Holy Communion to maintain their vertical fellowship with God, and the agape meal, or lovefeast, to symbolize their horizontal fellowship with one another. For more on the Moravian Lovefeast and its delicious coffee and buns check out http://www.moravian.org/faq/lovefeast.phtml.
Stay tuned for updates from North Carolina and Indiana!
1 comment:
What a good reflection Tom - just a great reminder that you and I still have a need for the Savior, just as much as the Mercedes owner.
Lovefeast...interesting concept. I think these things of our Church history are important and need to be learned about, experienced, and understood. Thanks for sharing about this faith practice!
Happy 2008!!
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