Every year I either hear the question, “Are you ready for Christmas?” This usually means “Are you through buying all your presents?” or “are you maintaining your sanity through all the stress and pressure, responsibilities and expectations?” Perhaps it means “Are you through cooking all of those special treats?" “Is your tree decorated?" or "Is your house ready to go with all those decorations that are buried in the garage for eleven months of the year?” The list goes on and on, but it usually centers on the busy-ness of the season coupled with the desire to have that “perfect” Christmas.
It is so easy to lose sight of what Christmas truly is. We lost a lot when roasting chestnuts on an open fire pushed to the side the celebration of the Feast of the Incarnation. All of those old movies and cheesy Christmas songs have a place, but they should never replace the truth of what Christmas really means.
That’s why Christmas Eve services at COTHA are so important. We gather to hear familiar Christmas carols, send our children to a wonderful Christmas program, hear the story of that first Christmas from the 2nd Chapter of Luke, and share communion with our family and friends. We need this reminder that no matter how delightful our children find the story of the one who came down the chimney, it pales in comparison to the truth of the story of the one who came down from heaven.
Our Christmas Eve services will be held at 5:00 and 10:30 and will help us all re-center ourselves on that cataclysmic event that took place over 2000 years ago. As we gather, sing, pray, listen and share communion, we will draw near to the One who showed us something on that first Christmas that continues to change women, men and children around the world, and experience in a fresh and uplifting way, that we are loved by God.
I invite you to be here and invite your friends, neighbors and family. Nothing is better than experiencing once again the life changing proclamation that “Unto us this day is born, in the city of David, a savior who is Christ our Lord.”