Fear Not!
Fear not? The pandemic drags on with new letters of the Greek alphabet scrolling by in a litany of fear. Will the new variant be more deadly? Will vaccines still work? Will we see something we recognize as ‘normal’ again? Some days it feels like there is little to celebrate and much to fear. The gatherings we are so deeply longing for are the places where illness and danger lurk.
But the angel says: “Fear Not!” We are moving ahead. The great and beautiful gift of medicine and of modern science gives us tools. We know that masks and distancing, and vaccines work. We immunize our children and set them free from fear. They can visit elderly or immune-compromised family and friends. The risk of spread of severe disease is not eliminated but vastly and dramatically reduced.
This is a type of incarnation: God among us. Science is a gift, Human wisdom and learning are gifts. Those who do good for others are inspired, filled with spirit. We who live in the wealthy parts of the world can share these gifts with our neighbours. As we work to reduce the damage we are doing to our atmosphere, we can work to ease illness and suffering among the world’s poor. This could be the gift of our generation. We can repent of carelessness and selfishness. We can feed the hungry and free the captive. Christ has come! Bring gifts! Take courage and Fear Not!
- Rev. Carlton K. Larsen Strasbourg Sk
Christmas of Distraction and Discouragement
It seems the first Christmas was one that came amidst discouragement and distraction for Joseph and Mary as they were awaiting the birth of Baby Jesus. Knowing the time for Mary to give birth to the Son of God was getting very close, the announcement from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman World (the first of its kind while Quirinius was governor of Syria) would have appeared to be the worst timing! Now everyone had to go to their own town to register, which meant a trip to Bethlehem for this young couple.
Chaos ensued as travellers from all over descended upon Bethlehem looking for a place to stay. With Joseph and Mary’s arrival, there was no room in the Inn, but there were able to stay in a stable.
We know how this story continues, the birth of Jesus, the announcement to the Shepherds, the word spreading like wildfire as the Shepherds departed from Bethlehem and Mary treasuring all these things and pondering them in her heart.
Fast forward to 2021. Again, there seems to be a lot of distraction and discouragement as we process COVID and every new variant that shows up just as the last one seems to get “under control.” I wonder if our enemy, Satan, is just as active today, seeking to bring distraction and discouragement to a world longing for peace and hope. God sent His Son into the world to bring us lasting peace and hope that is not dependent on government decrees. Let us prepare Him room in our hearts this Christmas. We have been given the greatest gift already.
- Heather Block - Layperson
Wise men, and women, “still” seek him
Throughout the eons, God has extended His love, forgiveness and peace to humankind. Mention of these gifts run like a crimson stream through the Holy Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. What has been man’s major search through this time? Is it not the seeking of peace for heart, mind and soul? Recently a historian on peace stated that in the past 2000 years, there had been only 228 years of relative peace. Why is this? As nations, we seek peace through treaties, mediation, arbitration, and military intervention, to no avail. Peace, where is it? Peace for our nations, homes, and most of all for our hearts and minds. This desperate cry has rung throughout the ages. We really want, and need, peace of mind. Peace of mind- can this treasure really be found in a world of so much conflict and despair, trouble and turmoil? Thousands seek peace in fame and fortune, or in pleasure and power, or in education and knowledge, or in relationships. We try to fill our heads with knowledge and our purses with wealth, but our souls remain empty. Others try drugs and alcohol to no avail. We find ourselves empty and lonely in a troubled world with a troubled mind. We fail to look within our hearts. Some of the accolades given to the Babe in the Manger at Bethlehem were, “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” It is most ironic, but humankind will never find true and lasting peace until it acknowledges and accepts this, “Prince of Peace!” He offers peace for strife, joy for sorrow, hope for depression, light for darkness, and life for death. He tells us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In this day of high-speed internet, we need reminding of a wireless mode of communication that has existed since the dawn of time. It is called “Prayer.” Communication is instant and direct. Millions use it every day, seeking peace of heart and mind. “Dial-up” this Prince of Peace. He is only a prayer away.
Dennis Kresier, layperson, Last Mountain Anglican Parish
Anticipation and excitement
As a child, the countdown to Christmas fanned such anticipation and excitement! With each passing day, our eagerness grew exponentially. But as an adult, that countdown to Christmas elicits a very different set of emotions! As the calendar ticks off successive days in December, stress and panic now build. The list of what still needs to be accomplished casts a long shadow across the shrinking amount of time to accomplish it all.
We are reminded that Advent is a time for preparing the baby of Bethlehem and King of Kings. Christmas preparation calls us to let this divine light shine in our hearts. And as this light fills the darkened crevices within, our lives reflect its compassion into the world.
John proclaims his message in the wilderness. The crowd senses that something extraordinary is going on. They come to listen, and they heed his message. “What shall we do?” they ask. It’s the same question each of us must ask in our own Christmas preparation.
John’s message of repentance is as relevant for us as it was for the crowds and tax collectors and soldiers who heeded his word. John calls us to turn. He points us in the direction of our neighbours. Share what you have. Be content with what is yours.
In finding our neighbour, we shall see the face of Christ. And with it, the joy of the Lord will be ours. May we rekindle our child’s spirit, with the anticipation and excitement the Lord is coming again! Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice
Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year, brothers and sisters in Christ
- Murray Patzwald, Raymore, Quinton, Govan and Duval
Primary reason for Christmas
Have we lost the primary reason for Christmas? As I was watching TV, what came to mind while listening to some commercials was that we were being groomed into believing that if we got this or that product for ourselves or others, it would make us or them happy. It would bring you or them hope, peace, joy and love. Somehow that didn’t align with my understanding of where hope, peace, joy and love come from. Christmas is a time to celebrate anew the coming of Christ, the one who brought us hope, peace, joy and love.
Preparation for Christmas should not be a commercialized affair; otherwise, we’ve lost the real meaning. Jesus came as our Saviour. What was he saving us from? Sin and death. He brought us eternal life with God and God’s mercy. How are we celebrating anew his coming and the endless gifts of healing, hope, peace, joy and love he has brought? How are we paying forward or spreading these gifts? Commercialism, capitalism, consumerism, and secularism would like us to think that it is through what they are selling that brings these gifts rather than Jesus. It is by bringing Christ to others that each and every one of us spread healing, hope, peace, joy and love. Let’s be conscious of how we go about celebrating Christmas and not lose the primary reason we celebrate. Merry Christmas to all.
-Deacon Norbert Gaudet, RC church, Raymore
A Christmas Message for 2021
In psalm 68:3 are these words: “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be ever happy and joyful.”
Christmas 2021 finds the world again still caught up in the clinging hands of the COVID variants and compounded by a horrific year of natural tragedies with record forest fires, floods, tornadoes and droughts.
Into this maelstrom of pain and suffering, God sends us a hope for restoration and renewal, the reason for us to be happy and joyful. It comes not from human hands but by the divine intervention of the Lord of Love.
It is shown not through the power of force but in the form of an innocent child born out of wedlock through the deep trust of a simple woman who said yes to God.
Angels heralded his arrival with the words a world of suffering longs to hear; “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:10,11)
That news was transformational for the people of that time and place, and it remains so for us if we dare to trust, as did Mary, and live out the love for each other her Son, Jesus, our Saviour, would ask of us.
Although once again, we appear to be walking through the valley of the shadow of death, in faith, we are not afraid, for we have the Good Shepherd to guide us home. The “Light of the World” who promises us: “whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Merry Christmas to all, Rev Ray Purdie, St. Andrew’s United Church, Imperial Sk.
“For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross.”
Hebrews 12:2. HEAVEN was not foreign to Jesus Christ. He knew the glory of heaven before He came to earth. That knowledge enabled Him to endure the shame of the cross. Matthew 1:21 declares “She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” A great sacrifice without blemish was necessary to redeem all God’s people from their sins. God gave His Son Jesus Christ to be our Redeemer! Jesus knew he would be our sacrificial lamb and came willingly to be our Saviour. From the glory of heaven to a lowly stable, to a cruel cross, to the Resurrection and back to the glory of heaven. What a demanding road for our Saviour!
Thank you, Lord, for your love, care and mercy!
Happy birthday Jesus!
Luke 2:10-14 - “Do not be afraid. I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’”
Merry Christmas to all! God be with us all!
Submitted by Rev. V. Young – Retired - Raymore
John 1: 1-14
This is where John’s gospel begins--in the beginning. This is John’s nativity story; it is not with shepherds and angels or a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. In this nativity story, this Christmas story, John takes us back to the beginning. He echoes the words from the book of Genesis: In the beginning, God created; God moved over the chaos and darkness and said, “Let there be light.” In John’s gospel, the light of the world takes on flesh. John says, “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” Christmas is about the almighty, powerful, transcendent God who comes near to us; in, with, through and under all the darkness of our lives and shines as a light that permeates the dark days of life’s experiences. At Christmas, we celebrate God who takes on flesh, our flesh, and becomes one of us, and lives among us. In the midst of the chaos of our lives, Jesus comes announcing life and light for the world. He is that Word spoken in the midst of our chaos and darkness and creates life where all may seem impossible. In Jesus, we are shown how we are meant to be, full of life, hope, and joy that even as God has poured upon us the new light of God’s incarnate Word, we are to allow this light to shine forth in our lives. May this light shine for you this Christmas as you trust in Jesus, the light of the world. Amen
- Rev. Glenn Shore, Pastor Zion Lutheran Church, Jansen & Grace/Aarnes Lutheran Church, Wynyard
Together at Christmas
Trees strung up with lights, songs in the air, happy faces; it is Christmastime. This is a time of year that absolutely needs other people. Perhaps the hardest part of the last two years of COVID is the separation we have endured. Being pulled away from each other, being unable to greet each other properly, We’re missing those smiles, a casualty of the mask. These are serious complications of these last two years. They are also a reminder of how much we need Christmas.
Christmas is a reminder that God loves each one of us. Indeed, He sent His son to live among us. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth. That origin gets lost in much of the hustle and bustle of the season. It is important to remember Jesus coming to the Earth. It tells us that God believes in community. He cares for us and wants to be in fellowship with us. We are even made for community.
Christmastime is for connecting with family and friends, a time to have fellowship with others, whether with coffee or a meal. If you are worried about COVID in your house, connect in a restaurant. Time spent with each other matters. It is caring for others and will lighten your spirits as well. Video calls and phone calls are not bad, but nothing can compare to meeting in person. Being together is part of why Jesus came down among us. Merry Christmas.
-Rev. Rick Shott, Nokomis Baptist Church
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Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.
