Grace Congregational UCC

“A Holy Celebration”
Luke 2:1-20
Isaiah 9:2-7

December 24, 2007 - Kim M. Henning

Let me begin by offering you a word of thanks for one of the most valuable gifts I have ever received in 51 years. Last fall this congregation gave a sabbatical. It was a gift and I spent four months at Eden Seminary in St. Louis. Back in August, I was a little nervous about leaving. I love the courage that is here and the commitment that is here and the mission that is here. But a sabbatical gave me time to do something different. I am grateful.

For four months, I lived in a small studio apartment. I registered for four classes. I read more in four months than I have read for a long time. The librarian knew me on a first name basis. As Minister in Residence, I became acquainted with many students. It was wonderful—wonderful—wonderful.

Along the way I became friends with some international students—one of whom was Stephen. Stephen is from Southern Sudan, a region in Africa that is very poor. Average salary: $1/day. Stephen’s about 30 years old. He is studying at Eden Seminary so he can teach the Christian faith to other pastors. Stephen is very polite, very kind, very hospitable. I would love for you to meet Stephen.

I asked Stephen about Christmas in Sudan. A huge smile came upon his face. Do you decorate with lights? What do you do? No, Stephen said, electricity is scarce. We decorate with flowers. Flowers, flowers, he said, inside our homes, outside, our streets. Are your children told about Santa? No, Stephen said. No money. No money for gifts like that.

So I said to Stephen, tell me about your Christmas. He replied, `It’s just beautiful.” Our church comes together—the whole week, maybe even more. We’re so happy. Every day. We sing. We worship. We eat. And then we sing some more. And we worship some more. And we eat some more. It is beautiful, Stephen said. It is just so beautiful.

At its heart, Christmas is celebration!

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Can you feel his power. The words of the prophet Isaiah are a call to be glad. And should we listen to the story of Jesus’ birth, it is clear that this is one grand celebration.

Did you hear? When Jesus is born, an angel from heaven initiates the celebration. It is so outrageous. It is a decisive moment in history. It is so outlandish on the part of God that an angel appears—almost as if heaven could not the contain the joy. The dark sky became bright with glory. Then the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

And then as if one angel wasn’t enough, a multitude began praising God, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, among those whom he favors.” Celebrate, my beloved. Later when you leave---look upward into the sky and imagine for yourself the angels—singing! Christians have always been invited to ‘look up.’ Contrary to the downward gaze that is so prevalent because of death, because of divorce, because of depression, because of violence, because of anger, war, hatred...... ‘look up.’ The darkness of this world is real. But Angels are also real. Jesus is also real. Look up....to the place where angels dwell. Look up.....that is why we have a window < > up there, and that is why we have windows < > up there, and that is why we have clear windows < > here and < > there because the beginning of faith is the direction in which we point our eyes.

Tonight’s celebration begins in the sky. And who should be the first to join that celebration—but shepherds. Country folk. Probably uneducated. The shepherds realize that they–though poor–are invited to the celebration. And what should they say, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste....

Understand, the.....Shepherds want to celebrate. I’m told shepherds were poor. ‘Poor, Poor.’ When Stephen talked about the poverty in Sudan, isn’t it stunning that their celebration should not be an hour or even a night but a whole week. When’s the last time....that any event had such a powerful pull in your life that an hour or a night......just wasn’t enough?

Perhaps from the poor, we can learn again that Jesus is a matter of life and death, Jesus is the difference between despair and hope, Jesus is the difference between giving up and reaching deeper, Jesus is the difference between making believe we’re happy and being truly happy. The poor have often been the ones who have led us closer to God. The poor have often been the ones who have taken us close to the heart of God. From the shepherds and the poor in Sudan, we can learn the power of this evening’s event—‘and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’. What is real tonight....is real every day. The Apostle Paul never tires of talking about ‘Christ in me.’

Tonight is pure celebration. We have the angels. We have the shepherds. And finally, we have the Mary. Scripture says that on the eve of Jesus’ birth.....after the shepherds had left, she treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Isn’t that beautiful.

I don’t think I’m saying anything you don’t already know. Celebrations begin in the human heart. Mary ‘treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.’ Your heart. Tell me about the celebrations therein? Tell me about the pulse within you. It is one thing to celebrate when surrounded by people.....in football stadiums, in churches, we celebrate wherever those gatherings of human community are that are meant to lift the human spirit. But tonight’s celebration....takes us to another level......to Mary....to the heart.....to the treasury of words.

There’s a time for this. There’s a time also for solitude. Martin Luther said that as we must die alone, we must also come to faith alone. Alone, does you heart know the joy that has come to this world? Inside, does your heart know that you are loved unconditionally, and you are forgiven generously, and you are called to live abundantly? When the crowds have gone and the music is but a memory, when the angels have returned to heaven and its time to return to the mundane does your heart know that life is about holiness?

Let me close with a story of Stephen from Sudan. Stephen came with no money. The local Episcopal Church gives him a humble food allowance. And Stephen, in turn, takes half of his food money, and sends it to his wife and his son. Stephen does not have much of anything, but if you could see his face you would understand that he had everything. Stephen is spending two years here....away from his wife and one-year old son. But with a smile he says, ‘It’s for the Lord.’

Be glad. Again I say, be glad.

“I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” And that’s the best news I can ever bring to you!