All Our Religious Experience Is for Naught Unless We Know and Experience Emmanuel – God With Us.

For many of us, Christmas can be a confusing time, can’t it? 
Bright lights, crowded stores, parties and obligations to keep track of, ads for this and ads for that – there is much that vies for attention, isn’t there?

In the midst of all of the busyness, it is difficult to know which way to turn. 
We may want to experience the joy and peace of the season, and yet we often don’t know were to begin.

Within the ever-present cacophony of the world around us, our church tries to focus attention on the real reason for the season.

Especially these days, I think, we are called to be alert, to watch out, to look around, to keep hoping, and to be proactive in welcoming Emmanuel. 
For indeed, all our religious experience is for naught unless we know and experience Emmanuel – God With Us.
That’s what Christmas is all about. 
That’s what we affirm.
That’s what we celebrate.

This year, promise yourself to take time periodically to read the stories of Emmanuel:
the stories of John the Baptist,
the story of Mary the mother of Jesus, the story of Joseph, the stories of the birth of Jesus,
the story of the wise men, the story of the shepherds,
the story of old Simeon,
the story of old Anna.

Once again, I ask, where are these stories being told today? 
Not on TV.
Not in school. 
Not in many family gatherings. 
It is so important to make church a part of our schedule – especially at this time of year. [Perhaps there should be a rule: no opening of presents until after the Christmas Eve Candlelight service of stories and songs.]

Children need to hear these stories. 
Adults need to hear these stories. 
We all need to hear these stories. 

Churches all over the country will be telling the story with song.
We will be telling the story with words.
We will be telling the story with prayer.
We will be telling the story with communion.
We will be telling the story with visual symbols.
We will be telling the story with graphic symbols.
We will telling the story with candlelight.
We will be telling the story in a hundred ways.

Yes, we affirm Emmanuel!
We celebrate Emmanuel!
Our God is with us!
Don’t miss his presence this year!

See you in church –
and bring someone with you.