You have to understand that everything is new for me here at RB Community. As someone who enjoys discovering and learning new things, the joy of putting up all the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary and the fellowship hall surprised me. I am sure that after five years, the same level of enthusiasm may not hold at this level, so in the meantime, I am determined to enjoy working with our church family in this first venture.
During our weekly meeting, one of the staff members noticed how much fun I was having putting up snowflakes and said that it brought her joy as well. I thought, "What an honor to share the joy of Christmas with others!" An equal honor was being compared to Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf.
Remember when we had this kind of joy and wonder during Christmas as little children? Last week, our preschool children toured the library where Bill Emarine's spectacular train set was on display. The way they soaked in the miniature winter train scene with wonder gripped me. As people grow older, it is common to lose that wonder for both Christmas and God. We may think, "It's for the kids," or "I have too many serious things that I cannot do childish things." But Christmas in particular is the time to fall into wonder. That sense of wonder isn’t just personal, but communal. I researched why church attendance peaks at Christmas, and some of the top reasons were the sacredness, nostalgia, emotional markings of childhood, and grief. The memory of the warmth of family and the story of Christ the Savior's birth bring us back to childhood wonder.
This Christmas, would you give yourself the permission to wonder and to feel the nostalgia of the past? This familiar story is not just one of many stories, but it is THE story because it is true and it is good news! God is a God who genuinely cares for the lost and redeems humanity in Jesus Christ. This is incredible at any age. Christmas is wondrous because God is Emmanuel, God with us.
I look forward to worshiping with all of you through the carols, the readings, and the visuals that point us to our Savior's birth. Join us for the worship services. Let us wonder and marvel together in exaltation of the Savior who has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:11)! Merry Christmas!
Pastor Jason Ko