Favorite Christmas Memories
What are some of your favorite memories of Christmas? What unique traditions or special symbols signal that your sense of excitement regarding Christmas is beginning to build. Our church wide study this year is based upon the book “Experiencing Christmas: Christ in the Sights and Sounds of Advent” by Matt Rawle. Chapter one opens with the question ‘what is your fondest Advent or Christmas memory?’ When I think of Christmas, I recall so many wonderful memories from receiving the Sears Christmas catalog known as “The Wish Book” to the school Christmas concert when we would practice for hours learning new songs and the Christmas program at church in which it seemed all the girls wanted to play the part of Mary and the boys were miserable because they either ended up with a speaking part with long lines to memorize or an embarrassing animal costume that didn’t resemble any animal we’d ever seen!
At every moment of life, Christmas was always a very exciting time. When I had my first job and I was somewhat expected to begin buying real gifts for others, Christmas began to produce a little more anxiety. I had a lot more experience and interest in receiving gifts than giving gifts. I put a lot more thought into the gifts I gave to my parents than anyone else in the family. However, there were always kind and generous relatives who eagerly showered my brothers and me with gifts.
The focus upon the real meaning of the celebration of Christmas began in high school, but the full appreciation of Christmas still feels illusive in some ways. The exciting proclamations about the birth of the Son of God and the angelic proclamations of peace on Earth and goodwill toward humanity never quite seemed to last long at all. It seemed that by noon on Christmas Day even the radio stations had resumed their normal format and immediately discontinued playing Christmas songs. It seemed that the calculations of business executives had already shifted to the next holiday and the next opportunity to simply maximize profits.
However, in so many homes and hearts, as long as the toys continued to be enjoyed, the good food was still abundant, the laughter of family and friends could still be heard, the seemingly endless stream of visitors continued to flow and the joy of parades and football games lasted, the memories of Christmas were still being made. Because I was born on a Sunday evening two weeks before Christmas, I can easily imagine that there was lots of conversation and excitement about my birth.
Recently, while I led the Bible study at Park Vista, I asked the participants to share some of their favorite Christmas memories. Almost immediately, before a single word was spoken, tears began to fill the eyes of many. Some recalled that even though their family didn’t have lots of money, their mothers or some other relative, would go to great lengths to make Christmas very special. Others recalled receiving a special toy they’d really wanted. I still have my paternal grandmother’s doll that she received as a young girl. She continued to make clothes for that doll even when my grandmother was an adult.
Sue Reamy shared the touching memory of her husband coming home from World War II on Christmas Day and meeting his oldest son for the first time! See her story here. What a powerful memory for her family and the community. As we prepare our hearts, homes, churches and communities to celebrate the birth of our Savior , how will your Christmas traditions reflect your journey of discipleship and growth? Rawle notes that the birth of Jesus invites us and reminds us of the things that God sees through the life of Christ—the pain of poverty, the brokenness of injustice and the liberating hope of salvation.
In this season of Advent, help others to see beyond the commercialization of Christmas into the possibilities of transformative ways of living that create communities where families experience the hope of peace on earth and the bounty of God’s matchless love. We are looking forward to seeing you not only in worship, but also in one of the weekly classes, the special presentation by the Chancel Choir during the worship service December 21, and the concert by Christian Gonzales Saturday, December 13, at 5:30 at the Silvis campus. We will have three services on Christmas Eve 5:00pm, 7:00pm and 11:00pm.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
