This was the pastor's letter for Christmas at our church.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Mix family’s Christmas tree has been a great source of amusement for us… because our cat, appropriately named Noel, keeps climbing and attempting to undecorate the tree. The truth is we don’t have many ornaments up yet… but we did put up the Hallmark Starship Enterprise decoration that Gay bought me back in the early-90’s. It plugs in and lights up.
Although not particularly Christmas-themed, it was a Christmas gift back before we were in ministry, when our family was just Gay and I. And it’s become a little part of our family tradition. The point is: the little blinking light on the starship has entranced the cat. She climbs and bats at it with her paws. She has tried to bite at it. She has successfully dislodged it several times. (I can almost hear Captain Picard shouting “Battle Stations… We’re Under Attack!”)
But I’ve also seen a spiritual lesson here as well. As Christians, we do more than just put up Christmas decorations, right? Hopefully, we put them up to also be a way of drawing attention to the real story behind Christmas… the message that Christ has come and God is With Us. The parties, the trees, the lights, the tinsel, and even Hallmark ornaments, are merely ways to help get people interested in Christmas… and then we, through our personal involvement, can share the rest of the story.
And like our cat goes out of her way to investigate our Christmas tree, our friends and neighbors (and kids and co-workers) are just as keenly aware of what we do. Just showing the Christmas spirit can be a ministry. People can get interested in what we’re doing… and maybe even want to know more.What are you and your family doing this Christmas to involve your family in the celebration of Christmas? Can the people around you see and feel the joy you have in your music, your decorations, your giving, and the festivities you choose?
How about joining us, and invite someone to come with you, to experience the rest of the story this Christmas? Join us for Sunday worship at 8:15 am, 10:45 am, or 7:00 pm or for Christmas Eve worship at 7:00 pm, December 24th. Let’s make worship one of those festivities that become part of the ongoing family traditions of our Christmas.
Let’s celebrate Christ together!
3 comments:
Love your cat picture. My family loves Star Trek too. We have a single parent friend who will not attend worship, she has been "burned" and needs time to heal. Her son is disabled and needs understanding and compassion. We had a special Christmas feast them on "Boxing Day" (the 26th) as we were with other relatives earlier. In the meantime, some bridges have been built and I think 2008 might be the year she becomes reconnected. Keep her in your prayers.
I love the story of the Christmas tree!! I had to stop putting up a tree when we had our cat for the same reasons - plus he was so heavy he pulled the whole tree down a few times. I started hanging the ornaments that had special meaning on a lighted garland on the wall. We now have a tree and an ornament with a picture of the cat hanging in the spot he liked most in the tree!
I hope you had a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. Blessings,
Dorie
and I thought I wanted to kill our cat at times this Christmas season
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