Sermon: To You is Born this Day
First Presbyterian Church of Hallock, Minn.
Christmas Eve 2010
To You is Born this Day
Luke 2:1-14 & Isaiah 9:2-7
The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of a 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.”
The angel of the Lord in Luke 2 was surely good at many things, I trust he did very well in Angel School to be given the responsibility of speaking to the shepherds after Jesus’ birth. But this angel, bless his heart, was clearly not an English major. If he were an English major (or an English teacher, or just a good English student) he would have known that the good news he brought to the shepherds was imprecise and confusing. … Continue Reading
Christmas Eve Sermon: “Christmas Boots”
Adam J. Copeland
December 24, 2009
Adams Mountain Lutheran Church
Christmas Boots
Isaiah 9:2-7
Luke 2:1-20
Tonight, thousands of miles away from us here, pilgrims having gathered in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity. There they worship God at the site traditionally marking Jesus birth. Some will have traveled many miles to attend a Christmas Eve service at the ancient church. Some Palestinian Christian will just have walked a few blocks from their houses.
Parts of that church in Bethlehem date back to the 4th century, so it’s fascinating to think of the variety of Christmas Eve services celebrated within its walls over the years. From monks to knights, peasants to kings, the church has seen it all.
If you were there tonight, though, and were feeling a little playful I’d suggest playing a game. It’s called, “Spot the American.” My friends and I played it sometimes when I was studying abroad in college. To play you just sit back in a tourist hot spot and try to pick out the Americans. No listing to accents, that’s cheating. You have to do it by sight. After a few trips, it’s actually pretty easy.
You can almost always spot Americans tourists in one of three ways. One, they have their money or passport around their neck on a cord. Have you seen that type of travel wallet? Americans love them, nobody else seems to carry their money so close to their hearts. Another way to spot Americans while traveling is by looking for fanny packs. Yes, we invented the fanny pack so we claim it near and far. Finally, the easiest way of all to spot Americans while traveling is by their shoes, their footwear. I don’t know what it is about the American shoe manufacturing business, or Americans’ feet, but our shoes stand out. There’s the white sneaker that’s almost uniquely American, the black Reebok which makes many trips abroad, and the sensible brown travel shoe. I’m telling you, after a little practice you can spot American footwear a mile away. If you were playing “Spot the American” at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem tonight, you’d have no problem at all if you focused on the feet.
In that prophetic passage from Isaiah 9 tonight, we hear:
The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness–on them light has shined…For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
Perhaps this passage strikes us even more pointedly this year as 30,000 more troops head to Afghanistan. Isaiah writes that in the day of the Lord all the boots of the tramping warriors will be burned as fuel for the fire.
A few years ago now, Jim Webb ran for the U.S. Senate in Virginia. As a Democrat, he needed to appear especially strong on national security issues, especially considering he was running in the state home to so many who work at the Pentagon. For these political reasons, or just because of where his heart was, Jim Webb wore some very unusual footwear while he campaigned. Jim’s son was just back from a tour of duty in Iraq, and was returning soon. Jim wore his son’s combat boots every day of that campaign, whether now-Senator Webb was wearing jeans or a suit and tie, those combat boots made a statement that he supported his son, and he supported the troops.
Isaiah writes of a time when combat boots are no longer needed, for the enemy has been vanquished. Their boots are thrown into the fire and the people can rejoice for a child has been given to them called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah knew all those names, but he didn’t call him Jesus. Not until a few hundred years later did the world welcome God incarnate by that name. And even then, his birth was not what we might have expected, not the glorious loud triumphal birth of a king, not at all. … Continue Reading
Christmas Eve: Scrooge Edition
A few wonderings re Christmas Eve…
- I read multiple advertisements in today’s newspaper for churches’ “Traditional Candlelight Service.” Strange use of “traditional,” I bet. I don’t have the books with me to prove it, but I’m pretty sure candlelight services are a relatively new American tradition, certainly not more than 50 years old. Then again, in a church, it only takes doing something twice to become a tradition.
- If Christmas is all about celebrating Christ’s birth, then it seems to me that evening services on Christmas Eve celebrate it too early. With all the waiting of Advent, why can’t we manage to wait one more day and celebrate on Christmas Day? I’d understand a watch-night service, maybe, that went deep into the night and ended in celebrating the incarnation, but Christmas eve services jump the gun, if you will. Why isn’t our big Christmas celebration on Christmas Day?
- Let’s all make an effort to keep the Christmas celebration going through Epiphany, post-Christmas sales not withstanding.
- As I explored in my eschatological Advent sermon, I think its a good idea to keep eschatology in our minds and in our liturgy even on Christmas day. I think Mark Koenig does so well, saying:
On this night
bellies spasm with hunger
winter seeps into the bones of people with no homes
thoughts turn to Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and places between and beyond
people plot violence
children watch parents die of AIDS, wondering when their turn will come
relationships fray and come apart
children and women and men endure abuse
economic uncertainty undoes nations and households
walls divide people from their homes
nuclear sabers rattle and handguns bark
drugs surge through veins to allow escape from reality’s pain
death comes calling — sometimes welcome, sometimes not
sorrow and suffering spread around the world
trouble and turmoil touch us all
evil stalks the earthYet
in the midst of all that
in the face of all that
in spite of all that
because of all that
on this night,we gather
to sing
and pray
and read ancient words
and light candles
and celebrate again
the birth of a child —
— nothing more and nothing less
than the every day miracle —
except that this child — this Jesus —
tells us
teaches us
shows us
life does not have to be the way it is
but that it can be filled
with
hope and
faith and
grace and
sharing and
commitment and
community and
justice and
righteousness and
well-being and
wholeness and
peace . . .
. . . on earth . . .
. . . for all!Glory to God, may it be so.
image by Steve9091
Sermon: Food Trough Festivities, Luke 2:1-20, Christmas Eve
Here’s the Christmas Eve sermon I preached, well, on Christmas Eve. Actually, I didn’t feel particularly good about how it was received. Though the congregation was huge, they were mostly visitors or rare attenders so the atmosphere felt less like a friendly congregation worshiping and more like a gathering of folks seeing a concert. I could say more, but I’m off to Christmas lunch. Cheers.
Food Trough Festivities
Luke 2:1-20
How many of your know the television show Sesame Street? I used to love that show–still do, in fact (though Megan doesn’t like me to watch it). I’m a big Ernie fan. I find Elmo hilarious. And every time I watch it I learn something new. One of my favorite parts of Sesame Street is a segment in which they give the viewers a little quiz.
Four items will appear on the screen, each in a different corner. And then someone will sing the song:
Three of these things belong together
Three of these things are kind of the same
Can you guess which one of these doesn’t belong here?
Now it’s time to play our game (time to play our game).
And you’re supposed to guess which item of the four doesn’t belong. I’d like to play a few rounds with you this evening. So, since Tom refused to install a big screen TV in the pulpit, I brought along some low-tech sheets that will have to do.
Here’s four things, which one of them doesn’t belong with the others?
… Continue Reading
Christmas Eve Clicking
I need to write a sermon, preach a sermon, attend a wee get-together, and open some presents, though it will be against every fiber of my being to open them a day early. Boy, I’m a good husband.
Here are some links to keep you busy this Christmas Eve.
- Fun NY Times piece on US and UK Christmas desserts.
- A Slate slide show on creches.
- And I can’t believe I missed this for a few weeks. I barely deserve to be called a Tallahasseean. My perspective: the sooner the better.
Happy Christmas Adam!
Sometimes I worry…about myself.
So today at lunch Megan said to a church friend, “See you tomorrow.” Funny, I thought, Megan meant to say, “See you Tuesday as she’ll see her again on Christmas Eve which is Tuesday.” Well, Megan promptly corrected me. Tomorrow is both Monday and Christmas Eve, that’d be the 24th.
I don’t know how, but I somehow had it in my mind that Christmas Eve was Tuesday. That’s sort of crucial, because I had planned to write the significant portions of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sermons. Woops.
The worst part, however, is that I had already referred to today, the 23rd, with my favorite description: Christmas Adam (get it? the day before Christmas Eve…Adam and Eve) So I both somehow knew and advertised today is the 23rd without figuring out tomorrow is the 24th.
Unfortunately, these idiot moments are becoming all too common. Also this week I ate lunch of soup and cheese but no crackers as I was sure we had run out of crackers. Later, Megan said we hadn’t, and in no time flat produced the box of crackers. Either she had hidden them from me, or they were right in the cabinet where they always have been and where I looked for a good long while because I really wanted those crackers as they sure would have been good with that cheese.
The kitchen, especially, seems to be my downfall. I often lose things in the fridge, it’s like a black hole of my sight and memory–pretty amazing when the fridge only comes up to my waist. Leftovers, which I love, once they get put in the fridge somehow go into hiding for weeks until they are found, usually by Megan, moldy, inedible, and nasty even to throw away.
So now I’m off to write the Christmas Eve sermon, for tomorrow. However, at least I’m not the only one who has put things off. My sermon workshop post for Christmas Eve sermons has had a pretty good day as well. Over 75 hits and counting…
Update: So I just missed a record for most hits today. The Christmas Eve sermon workshop post alone received 98 views. I guess I’m not the only preacher who spent Christmas Adam working on Christmas Eve.
Sermon Workshop: Luke 2:1-20, Christmas Eve
Welcome sermon planners. Hits to this blog searching for Christmas Eve related posts sky rocket this time of year. For your planning pleasure, I’ve made easy links below:
- several helpful comments in this post (click on the little number button above)
- full sermon: “Christmas Boots“
- Family service sermon: “Food Trough Festivities“
- Recent reflection, “Does the Manger Matter?“
—— original post from Christmas 2007 ——
I didn’t think it would come this year, or even next, but here it is: I’m preaching on Christmas Eve. The service is the evening family service with lots of loud children, hungry parents, and thirsty grandparents (can’t drink too much sherry or egg nog before worship, you see).
I just surfed the net looking for ideas (remember I don’t have books here), and was disgusted by 90% of what I read. Christmas is not about “the gift of ourselves,” or “peace for our family,” or “Jesus is the best present of all,” or at least, Christmas is much much more than these over-simplified cliched versions.
So what is a young pastor to do for his 5-7 minute sermon?
My Columbia Seminary profs said, over and over again, on Christmas and Easter “just preach the story.” Don’t get too fancy or touchy-feely. Don’t try to impress or get mushy “awws” from the grandparents. Just preach the story.
Well, I’m sorry but I have no idea how to do that. And my impression of the service is they would much rather have something impressive, emotive, or touchy-feely. Now that’s not an indictment of my congregation, it’s a description of what most of us want on Christmas Eve. It’s so nice to sing carols and open presents, to drink wine and sit by the fire, rather than contemplating what we’re really celebrating: the scandal of God becoming human, for our sins, as described by a largely metaphorical story in Luke.
So what do you think? What would you preach? How do you write a 5-7 minute children-parent-grandparent inclusive address that is succinct but covers the Christmas Eve bases? What, indeed, is the Christmas story?
[Update: see the finished sermon here, but do also enjoy the conversation in the comments of this post.]
Luke 2:1-20
1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them
Photo credit (by permission): Hilde Vanstraelen
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