Pastor’s Corner – December 22, 2022
Many years ago, I remember participating in my first Blue Christmas Worship service. I was grateful that Blue Christmas services had started and am grateful they continue. They create additional space for remembering that the holidays can be really hard times for folx for a multitude of reasons.
This year, I’ve been thinking of a rainbow Christmas. At the beginning of covid, I asked the children on zoom children’s ministry what color they were feeling. One response has stuck with me, and it is one that I have asked permission to repeat – I use it all the time now. I am feeling a rainbow because I’m feeling everything (all the emotions) or many feelings all at once. As I’ve been meditating on this idea of a rainbow Christmas, I have been listening to all the different emotions that seem present to me in some of the scripture passages often read during the Advent season (Isaiah 2:1-5, Isaiah 11:1-9, Matthew 1, Luke 1) and then those often read on Christmas Eve (Luke 2:8-20). Then if I continue on and meditate on those passages sometimes use for Epiphany, the myriad of emotions continues (Matthew 2 and Luke 2:8-52). Perhaps even from Genesis 1 through to the last words of Revelations, a variety of feelings is present.
Friends, no matter what you are feeling, you are not alone. At Christmas (and throughout the year), we celebrate Jesus as Emmanuel (God with us). Jesus sends us God’s Spirit. God breathes God’s Spirit into us. Others may flee when certain feelings are mentioned or experienced, but God does not. No matter who you are, where you are on life’s journey, and with whatever feelings you are experiencing this season, you are loved. You are precious. You are a child of the Maker of the heavens and the earth. You have been designed with a unique personality, gifts, strengths, perspectives, growing edges, and experiences for the blossoming of God’s community of shalom and deep and comprehensive wholeness, wellness, and peace for all. May you know you are treasured this Christmas season and always.
With gratitude~
Sarah
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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 heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
