Pastor Mitch McDonald
The lights are up. The malls are filled. The Hallmark Channel has already worn out every Christmas favorite, and it’s just the first week of December.
Hallmark isn’t the only one who began getting ready for Christmas back in October, though. Our music ministry also started preparing Christmas music to be ready for the season. They will be leading us in worship during our 9:30 a.m. Sunday Services throughout December, as we will be celebrating the “Hope of Christmas,” including a musical presented by them on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 9:30 a.m.
As I look ahead to these coming weeks of worship and think about the Hope of Christmas, I realize that if there was ever a time that our world needed hope, it is now. One definition for hope is “grounds for believing that something good may come or may happen.” Our world needs this. In fact, each of us probably needs this.
Hope, especially at this time of year, can come in many forms. For some, it can be the wonder of Christmas. As kids, we were fascinated by the colorful lights, beautiful decorations, Christmas greetings, and gathering of friends. As adults, it has become so easy to lose that. In the hustle and bustle and busyness of this season, we can reclaim that wonder and hope that people, including ourselves, will be a little happier, a little lighter, and somewhat kinder.
Our Christmas memories also play a role in our hopes this season. Some memories we enjoy reliving each year because of the joy and happiness that filled so many of our Christmas memories. But perhaps the memories of Christmas bring heartache. It is my hope that your memories will be pictures of significant moments filled with happiness, tender childhood memories, smiles, memories of perhaps a much simpler time, and that you will find yourself filled with hope for the future memories you will be making.
A large part of our hope at Christmas comes from miracles. There’s even the classic movie Miracle of 34th Street. It’s hard to think of the hope at Christmas without remembering the true miracle of Christmas. The miracle of a journey to Bethlehem. The miracle of a star in the sky. The miracle of a virgin birth which introduced humanity to the Son of God.
Along with that comes the promise of Christmas with the arrival of Jesus. This Redeemer was introduced to the world offering to wash away sins and redeem our lives. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to us. This year, if your heart is hurting, if your memories of past Christmases aren’t the merriest, if your hope for Christmas leaves you hoping for more, remember that His promises are true. Jesus can be your true hope. He is our “grounds for believing that something good may (and has) happened.”
Please feel free to join us as we celebrate the Hope of Christmas. I look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday!