Oh, that we were there? He is Immanuel!

Walking in the Truth during the 12 Days of Christmas

Note:  The 12 days of Christmas run from Christmas Day, Dec. 25, thru Epiphany, Jan. 5. [I'm an English major, not a math major, but I think I'm correct.]

A Meditation Inspired by a Christmas Eve Service

Lois & I attended the 3:00p, "Lessons & Carols Worship Service" on Christmas Eve at our home congregation, Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. We've come to truly appreciate this special worship service. The traditional scripture readings from both the Old & New Testament . . . special Christmas carols & hymns, both familiar & new . . . a Christmas homily that always seems to touch our hearts in a special way.

Throughout Thursday's service I experienced many thoughts, memories, emotions, some of which I'm sharing in this meditation.

Stanza 2 from the opening hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful:"

Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal,

Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;

Son of the Father now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

An insight shared by our associate pastor, Rev. Chris Asbury, during his homily:  "I've heard of many babies who grew up to be kings. He was the only King who became a baby."

Memories of a special Christmas Eve service, many, many years ago.

Lois & I spent Christmas Eve with her parents in Ulysses, KS, located about 80 miles about 80 miles west & south of Dodge City. If memory serves me correctly, her brother John was there; her sister Anita, too. Maybe her brother David. Can't remember if we had any of our children yet. [Like I said . . . many, many years ago.]

      This special "service" took place inside her parents' trailer home, & there was a certain degree of indignation that accompanied it. The pastor of their church had taken their congregation by surprise when he had announced some weeks earlier that he would not be present to lead worship on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. What? Unheard of! After many years serving many congregations at this time of year, he decided it was time to spend Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with his family.

      Not everyone in his congregation understood or accepted. There were hurt feelings, my in-laws' feelings included, & I don't remember doing anything to ameliorate those feelings. [As I look back, it strikes me that I was looking for specks in someone's eyes when perhaps their were planks in my own eyes that needed fishing out.]

      In any case, Lois & I came prepared with Christmas carols, hymns, & scripture readings. And you know what? It was okay. It was better than okay. It was reverent. It was intimate. It was worshipful. It was family. Better than a "real" worship service in a "real" church? I can't remember or recall how my in-laws felt, but I felt that I was part of something special that Christmas Eve. Immanuel with us in His Word & in our hearts.

A prophecy from Isaiah:  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; & the government shall be upon His shoulder, & His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Another special Christmas Eve memory.

My brother Mark & I accompanied my dad to a candlelight communion service at our home congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO. I can't recall the specific year, but it must have been after Mom had gone into the Good Shepherd Nursing Home because of her stroke.

      I remember some generic details . . . at least I think I do. [When you've been to as many Christmas services as I have, one service & its details tends to run into another.] Where was I? Oh, yeah . . . the larger-than-life Christmas trees with the traditional decorations up front on either side of the altar . . . the additional, festive decorations throughout the church, the hymns & carols, the readings, the liturgy, the Eucharist.

      And here's what I remember with the warmest of emotions . . . sharing that special worship service with my brother & father--my father who was celebrating what had to be a most lonely & difficult Christmas with his dear spouse of so many years absent from church, absent from home. We sat by him, stood with him, sang with him, prayed with him, took communion with him, worshipped with him, walked to & from church with him . . . Memories that I will always treasure. Immanuel with us in His Word & in our hearts.

Stanza 3 from "O Little Town of Bethlehem:"

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav'n.

No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.

The Christmas Truth Recorded in Matthew

Matthew 1:18-25 [Sorry--you gotta follow the link.]

The Christmas Truth Recorded in Luke

Luke 2:1-20  [Ditto.]

My closing thoughts are not my own

Stanzas 1 & 4 from "Now Sing We Now Rejoice:"

Now sing we, now rejoice, now raise to heav'n our voice;

He from whom joy streameth poor in a manger lies;

Not so brightly beameth the sun in yonder skies.

Thou my Savior art! Thou my Savior art!

Oh, where shall joy be found? Where but on heav'nly ground?

Where the angels singing with all His saints unite,

Sweetest praises bringing in heav'nly joy & light.

Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!