Reflections, Christmas 2014

AugustZine
The Zine of Augustine United Church, December 2014

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, God saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to God’s mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit, God poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by God’s grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Paul wrote these words to his colleague, Titus, and they have become a scripture text often read
at Christmas. For the gift of Christ to those who believed then, and for those of faith today, is nothing less than the outpouring of God’s Spirit refreshing, renewing, even resurrecting our lives.

On the first Tuesday of almost every month, Augustine’s “Bunch for Lunch” seniors’ group gathers in the Guild Hall. On December 2 we gathered for our Christmas Celebration. It was a wonderful afternoon. With joy we greeted one another and especially were thrilled to greet one individual who had been away for quite some time due to health reasons.

We shared together the Sacrament of Holy Communion, then enjoyed a tasty meal, followed by some exuberant singing of Christmas carols and songs. The music sparked memories of past Christmases. One told of the time 50 years ago when several Augustinians went for a ride on a horse drawn sleigh. “It seems like it was just yesterday,” he said. We shared a great time, eating, singing, sharing stories and conversation buoyed by the gospel proclaimed in the opening worship and by the gospel proclaimed in familiar Christmas hymns. For people of faith there is a deep rooted joy in the gift that God gave the world in Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate in this season.

And yet, the season is also one that we may find difficult; one that can sadden us.

Families of limited financial means, who can barely make ends meet during ordinary times of the year, struggle mightily to make life a little more festive. The season heightens our emotions as we recall those persons who once shared Christ- mas with us, but do not any longer for one reason or another.

Our troubles and difficulties sometimes seem heightened. The season may leave us feeling as cold and lifeless as winter itself.

I have experienced such extremes of thoughts and feelings at this time of year. But whether it is in joy, or sadness; in health or illness; in gain or loss, the Christmas story proclaims the will and power of God to be in the midst of life in all its variety of experience, born into the filth and noise of a stable; born to a poor family, within a nation oppressed by despotic rulers and crushed by cruel armies. “Emmanuel” meaning “God with us,” is the essential message of Christmas. Imagine that – in our joys, in our sorrows, in our triumphs, in our tragedies in real space, real time, “God is with us” – pouring the Spirit upon us to comfort us, challenge us, refresh us, renew us, resurrect us.

At the ‘Bunch for Lunch’ gathering I sensed how in sharing life together in the context of Christmas – I was catching glimpses of the divine. I saw them – in the twinkling eyes, and smiling faces; I heard them in the laughter and shared stories, in our singing with and to one another.

I realized that all of us in that gathering, by virtue of our length of life, have all known heartache and pain, loss and hurt, disappointment and sorrow, and yet, I had a deep conviction of the Spirit continuing to be poured out and into our lives – richly blessing us with an abiding hope and a deep joy – for the beauty and power
of the Christmas story – a story which tells us that in all places and all circumstances our loving God is with us - offering us abundant life – even eternal life.

I pray that this Christmas you might have many ‘glimpses of the divine’ and a strong sense of God’s loving presence working in you, through you, and for you.

- Rev. Bob