Sermon + Missing at Christmas

 This is my general sermon outline for our Christmas services. I did not use a specific text, but referenced the nativity lessons. The story about Paul Harvey's Christmas Eve messages was a last minute add, and the source information came from here.

May the joy of the angels, the wonder of the shepherds & the faith of Mary & Joseph be yours forever.

AMEN.

You knew this Christmas wasn’t going to be like all of the others.

When the pandemic hit in February, we hoped we’d be back in church for Easter.

Then we thought schools could start as usual in the fall.

As more things were postponed or cancelled, we held out hope for Christmas, but deep down, we had doubts.

With all of the travel warnings at Thanksgiving, we knew it could be worse for Christmas.

Add in the impact of the recession, and it was obvious travel would be limited.

You knew a lot of people would miss loved one and miss traditions this Christmas.

So in planning for Christmas, we set a theme of “Missing at Christmas” because for many of us, someone or something would be missing at Christmas.

You may not be able to go where you want, or you may be having a houseful this year.

It’s not just travel, but some loved ones have passed away, and families are dealing with an empty chair and broken hearts.

We miss the traditions that make Christmas Christmas.

It is hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year.

Maybe it is Covid fatigue and being tired of what we have to do and not do to stay safe.

Maybe we are tired from everything being a battle and we have no desire to have a holly jolly Christmas.

Maybe we aren’t ready to commit to embracing that this Christmas will be different.

Although we’re singing Deck the Halls, It doesn’t feel like Christmas at all

Someone else has to make Mom or Grandma’s famous INSERT NAME OF DISH. While they will try valiantly, it won’t be the same.

Group photos, gift exchanges, and singing carols won’t happen or won’t be the same because not all of the regulars are around.

We miss hugs.

We miss getting a gift that will be back in the store as soon as that store opens.

We miss having Granny call us by the wrong name. Again.

We even miss the fights and forgiving. That annoying uncle, cousin, or family member with whom you don’t agree on anything with won’t be there to fight with.

This Christmas, we will just have to muddle through somehow.

All of the unique, quirky ways that we show love to our loved one are what we are missing this Christmas, because we can’t do it the way we want, or the way we’re used to doing.

The one thing we can not be missing at Christmas is love.

But we have an opportunity to try something new.

Because that is ultimately what today is a celebration of.

God did something new.

God became a baby boy, born of a teenage mother to let us know how much we are loved

After centuries of prophets and rules and commands, God tried something different

God became a person, with all of the wants and needs we all have

In his life, Jesus told, taught and showed us how to love one another

In his death, Jesus promised us our sins, even our denial & rejection of Him and His love, was forgiven

In his resurrection, Jesus defeated death, so we will be with our loved ones again

With all that we are missing at Christmas, remember what was, is and will always be here, the Love of God in the person of Mary’s baby boy, Jesus Christ

This day we celebrate as his birth is a day to celebrate God’s love for us, and our love for one another.

So in this most different Christmas time,

My wish for you this Christmas is love:

Love in the form of a baby born in poverty and seen as a threat to political stability. Love shown to all the wrong people. Love grounded in the reality of a harsh and brutal life, fighting for survival, beating the odds, and making all the difference.

Not a sentimental or mushy love, but love that gives of itself because love is of God.

With love, God send us into the world: to be Christ to each other, to see Christ in each other and to serving those most in need.

This Christmas, we need to do what God did over 2,000 years ago, make sure love is not missing at Christmas.

I pray that you find love, feel loved, share love and be love this Christmas and every other day.

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Merry Christmas and Amen.