CHRISTMAS REMINISCENCE I

After our mom entered the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Concordia, MO, following her stroke, we made it a point to get together for Christmas with my brother & sister & their families. We would get together with Dad & Mom in one of the common areas of the Home, enjoy Christmas goodies, & exchange presents. Then came the year when we all got gift cards. We decided, somewhat reluctantly, that our gift exchange would be ended. There was also the year when my dad, my brother Mark & I, went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Although we were sad that Mom couldn't join us, it was a very special worship service for Mark & me, as we were able to worship with our father.

CHRISTMAS REMINISCENCE II

One Christmas we found ourselves at Lois' parents in Ulysses, KS. The pastor of their church had decided to spend Christmas at his parents, so there was no Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service at their church. So, I ran off copies of Christmas carols & hymns, & we had our own "service" in their trailer home. While it may not have been our desired setting, nevertheless it was a special time of worship & fellowship with Lois' family.

CHRISTMAS REMINISCENCE III

Then there was the time when we visited Lois' parents for Christmas, maybe the same year. There was no Christmas Day service at her parents' church, so we traveled 50 miles on snow-packed roads for the Christmas Day service in . . . I don't remember the town. We sat in the last pew, since Nathan was a baby & Lois was still nursing him. As I remember it, there was only one other family in church, most likely due to the inclement weather.

GOD SENT HIS SON

"God defines us differently Whereas God created the rest of creation by the words of His mouth, He got His hands dirty, so to speak, in the creation of man:  'Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground & breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.' (Gen. 2:7) Thus, for the vast majority of history, Christians have talked about humanity using a two-part structure:  body & soul. Luther said, 'I believe that God made the whole man from the dust of the earth, for the text (Gen. 2:7) says that God made man. 'Man' doesn't mean the body alone but always means the body & the soul, & accordingly the Scriptures call soul 'the breath of life' (Gen. 2:7)

"Christians view man as a complete whole, as body & soul together. We do not reject the body as inferior trash to be forgotten or denied in preference to the soul--or the mind. Christianity gets its hands dirty by affirming the physical goodness of God's creation. Even though the creation struggles in bondage to sin, as 'in the pains of childbirth' (Rom. 8:22), it remains true that 'God aw everything that He had made, & behold, it was very good' (Gen. 1:31). The reality we see, though damaged & corrupted by sin, is still worth knowing & studying. And when we do learn & know it, we see how the heavens proclaim the glory of God & the skies declare His handiwork (Ps. 19:1)

"God also sent His Son into the flesh of mankind, to be born a man with a physical body. Christ did not become incarnate as a disembodied mind, but He took on physical human flesh. That is the joy & miracle of Christmas . . . " Roy Askins, The Lutheran Witness, Dec. 2022

PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

O God, because You once caused this hoy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light, grant that we who have known the mystery of that Light here on earth may come to the full measure of it joys in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lies & reigns with You & the hoy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen. Lutheran Worship

O great & glorious Redeemer, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, we praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory. O Lord God, Lamb of God, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, King of kings & Lord of lords, Emmanuel, God with us! For You only are holy; You only are the Lord; You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are the most high in the glory of God the Father. But chiefly on this most holy of nights we adore You for leaving the glory that You had with the Father before the world began. We humbly ask You, by the holy mystery of Your incarnation & nativity, to deliver us, good Lord. You who came that we might have life & be saved from our sin, be gracious to us & save us. Let the glad tidings we commemorate this night be made known to all people. Amen. Lutheran Book of Prayer

Almighty God, heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unspeakable gift to mankind in the birth of the Christ Child at Bethlehem, as announced by the angel this holy night. May the mystery of the Word made flesh fill our souls with wonderment & yearning that like the shepherds, we may hurry to worship at His manger bed. Change our hearts from a busy inn that has no room for Your Son, that they may be a quiet chamber kept for Him.

Help us in the spirit of true repentance to rejoice in our Savior's birth that in genuine faith we may join in the song of the angels, share the delight of the shepherds, & adore Him with the Wise Men. Grant that Christ may be born again to us this holy night that the truth, love, & redemption He brought may henceforth abide in our hearts & lives. Like Mary, may we keep all these things & ponder them in our hearts always.

And as You have made us partakers of His glory here, grant that we may share His glory there. In Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. My Prayer Book

A GRADUAL & VERSE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

To us a child is born, to us a Son is given, & the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done marvelous things.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. Alleluia. Lutheran Worship

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

O Sing of Christ (LSB #362) Sung to the tune of "O Little Town of Bethlehem

O sing of Christ, whose birth made known The kindness of the Lord. Eternal Word made flesh & bone So we could be restored. Upon our frail humanity God's finger chose to trace The fullness of His deity The icon of His grace.

What Adam lost, none could reclaim, And Paradise was barred Until the second Adam came To mend what sin had marred. For when the time was full & right God sent His only Son; He came to us as life & light And our redemption won.

He came to that which was His own, But He was not received; Yet still through Him God's glory shone, And some His name believed. To these He gave the right to be The heirs of heav'n above, Born not of human ancestry But born of God in love.

Lord Jesus Christ You deigned to dwell Among us here on earth As God with us, Emmanuel, To bring this holy birth. Though rich, You willingly became One with our poverty, That we might share Your wealth & name For all eternity!