It has been a busy week here at the church as volunteers gather to sort and wrap and prepare the Christmas boxes that will be delivered next week. There is something amazing about seeing the tables that are lined with food and goodies and presents waiting to be delivered to families in our community so that their Christmas will be a little brighter.

The Generosity of This Faith Family

I celebrate the generosity of this faith family that is evident not just at Christmas time but throughout the year! This generosity is not only evident in our own church but in so many other churches and organizations in this community who rally together to make sure that there is food on the table of those who need it and who bring just a little joy into the hearts of children who wait, in anticipation, for Christmas morning.

When We Leave the Stable

While I celebrate this, I think that we also need to be reminded of the fact that Christmas is about so much more than this.

It is about kneeling at the manger and embracing the light that comes in the birth of a child.

It is about something that will shape and change our way of being.

It is about who we are called to be when we leave the stable and continue the journey.

In the United Church Hymn Book ( Voices United) there is a hymn called “I am the Light of the World” by Jim Strathdee. He captures what the real work of Christmas is and what the journey to Bethlehem really means.

‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

1 When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds have found
their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun: R

2 To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth
and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above! R

3 To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God’s children everywhere! R

4 To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby’s new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth! R

May we be so empowered and transformed by the light that we not only pack boxes at Christmas but work to eradicate poverty so one year there will be no need.

Blessings
Valerie