Bethlehem
Pre-amble
Just before we enter Holy Time, I wanted to offer a few thoughts about Christmas. We're going to get to the activities asap, so hold on.
Christmas means different things to different people. Each culture has chosen to celebrate different ideas, both religious and secular, often with tension between the two. The emotions of the season begins with what you expect. Anticipation is birthed from hope. Angst from pain or fear.
In America, it is easy to see Christmas as a time to get things. Why not splurge on stuff? After all, "tis the season", right?
So, is Christmas about Jesus or Santa? The age-old question.
Western culture has championed a figure of Christmas to be a large jolly man who flies around giving people what they want if they are good - Santa Claus. The original person behind the facade was quite different and worthy of attention.
Born in 280 A.D., St. Nicholas was a Catholic Bishop in modern-day Turkey. He was an activist of sorts, resisting the status quo and spent years in prison for defending Christianity. He was famous for two main stories.
On one occasion he allegedly paid the dowries of three girls to keep their indebted father from selling them as sex-slaves.
On another occasion St. Nicholas supposedly resurrected three boys who had been murdered.
Regardless of whether these stories are true or not, St. Nicholas ended up becoming a legend and over the ages. The picture we see of Santa was completely fabricated by poet in 1821. It is nothing like the real man. His roots as a Christian were replanted with elves from the North Pole.
American culture also loves to focus on some great components of Christian love, such as being generous, spreading cheer, and generally looking past differences in a very Christ-like manner to see people more as God sees them - humans. As Christians we can take hints and encouragement from our culture without too much harm, but have the incredibly rich soil from which to pull our Christmas roots.
In today's session
You will need:
Scripture
People to sing with
20 minutes
Candle (optional)
We will be experiencing:
Silence
Reflection
Corporate singing
Are you ready?
Prepare
We begin by acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is here, with us praying to Father on our behalf, and guiding us as we seek God (light a candle if available).
Close your eyes and take a deep breath, and as we sit in silence together, begin to focus on God.
Begin to let go of all the things you're worrying about, all the things that might make you think that God doesn't want you to come to Him, and intend to meet with Him.
Let’s open our eyes.
The Gospel
Christmas is a main point in the story of the Gospel. The Gospel is described in brief by a handful of creeds, but is always centering around Christ. In overview there are three big parts:
1. The Fall & The Curse
God made man perfect
Man sinned against God
God can't be with sin (or with sinful man)
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
2. The Story
The entire Bible is God's story
A main plot is giving us a way back to Him
There are many prophesies foretelling Christ's coming
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3. The Win
Christ was perfect
He Died as a sacrifice in our place
He rose again, broke the curse.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Christmas is all about anticipation. The shepherds, the wise men, the Israelites we're all expecting a Savior for hundreds of years.
This is why we sing! This is why we celebrate!
Corporate Singing
People used to sing together all the time. Not so much anymore. Did you know that it's good for you? Studies have shown that making music together creates community bonds and alleviates pain. Singing together actually syncs up your heartbeats and helps people see eye-to-eye. (www.artofmanliness.com)
The Song - O Little Town of Bethlehem
Let's unite together in celebration as we consider and sing a familiar Christmas song, O Little Town of Bethlehem. Look for the Gospel in the lyrics. Sing out-loud without fear of sounding odd (because everyone will be doing singing with you).
Follow along via Spotify or YouTube.
Lyrics
Verse 1
Oh little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above the dark and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonightVerse 2
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earthVerse 3
How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still
the dear Christ enters in.Verse 4
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
The Conclusion
So we see that God's good story makes a huge exclamation point at with Christ. Let's celebrate together!
The Declaration:
Let's declare together, out-loud:
"Your Church waited for You.
We have you, now.
Merry Christmas!"
The Challenge
Each day this week do one or more of the following:
Sing a Christmas song with someone
Look for the good news in Christmas songs
Read the scriptures
Share the good news with someone
Consider briefly journaling or posting about your experiences.