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Christmas Day
Minute for Mission
Walking in the mall, I saw a beautiful Christmas tree in a store window. The lights, decorations, and Christmas carols pulled me into Christmas in wonderland. In the store, black and white, young and old, male and female were showing kindness toward one another. In the middle of July, the spirit of Christmas was falling afresh on us. I heard myself wishing “Merry Christmas” to those I met as I sang “Joy to the World.” The cliché “Christmas comes but once a year” had been proven untrue.
The Gospel narratives give us reasons to discount this cliché. The story of Jesus’ birth reminds us of several truths: Christ the Savior is born; Jesus came to save us from our sins; and Emmanuel, God is with us. In the middle of July, I experienced anew the reason for the season—Jesus.
On July 27, 2008, I preached from Matthew 1:18–25. You should have seen the uncertainty on the faces of the congregation upon hearing the title “Christmas in July.” Hearing and experiencing the good news: “Do not be afraid,” “He will save his people from their sins,” “God is with us,” and “His name is Jesus,” they began to sing “Joy to the World” joyfully. Suddenly, one member stood up and proclaimed, “I was diagnosed with cancer, ready for surgery, when the doctor said there was no sign of cancer in my body. That was Christmas for me.” Through our witness we are able to share the joy of Christmas throughout the year.
On that first Christmas, some 2,000 years ago, unto us a Son was born. Therefore, every day can be Christmas for us. So, let us sing “Joy to the World”!
—Rev. Dr. Ella F. Busby, moderator, Presbytery of New Harmony; pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alcolu, South Carolina; founder, Hallelujah Anyhow (HaHa) Ministry
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Elder Andrew Yeager-Buckley, PPC
Elder Gina Yeager-Buckley, GAMC
Loving God, we thank you for the gift we received on that first Christmas: Jesus, Savior of the World, Light of the World, Joy to the World. We thank you for the gifts that are ours every day: family, friends, faith, laughter, life, and love. Bless us to witness and to share with others what we have received through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ps. 2, Ps. 148 Ps. 98, 96
Micah 4:1–5, 5:2–4
1 John 4:7–16; John 3:31–36
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