December 24

Peace be with you!  This afternoon we will celebrate the great Mystery of Christmas! Our liturgical color is about to change from blue to white. Our children’s Godly Play Advent story says, “when you come to the Mystery of Christmas, everything changes.  It becomes the color of pure celebration.”

This afternoon we will celebrate the great Mystery of the Incarnation—the arrival of the omnipotent Creator of the universe into our world as a newborn baby, Jesus the Christ Child. Emily Greenfield, one of our children’s chapel leaders, recently gave me a Christmas card which really spoke to me about the significance of God coming to us as a little child.  This card has a young child on the front and the words inside say, “it took the heart of a Child to reach the soul of the world.”

As we enter the celebration of the birth of our Savior, may we remember that God possesses the heart of a little Child who wants to play with us and be our friend.  A few years ago the Rev. Dr. Cheryl Minor, Godly Play Trainer and Director of the Center for the Theology of Childhood, shared a beautiful image of the Holy Trinity during a children’s ministry conference I attended.  This Trinitarian image was a video of three children playing and laughing together.  I give thanks for Jesus, the Christ Child, and for all of the children in our community who teach us to play and to be in joyful friendship with God and others.

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We hope to see you at one of our Christmas Eve services today!  Christmas Eve services will take place at 4 pm, 7 pm, and 11 pm. Children’s chapel and nursery care will be offered at our 4 pm & 7 pm services.

Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful families!!!