Because Christmas day is on a Sunday this year, those of us who serve in technology ministry likely will find ourselves needing to be on call Christmas morning to get everything prepped for the services that will be happening. This is obviously a tension with our desire to be with family and not to have this sacred time interrupted by "work". But is this really a conflict?
The birth of the Christ child is nothing less than beyond our comprehension. From the announcement of the news by the angels to the shepherds, to the incarnation celebrations throughout the church age, this miraculous event, and its incredible significance, have inspired mankind to respond with awe. In our current context, the North American Church of the 21st Century, we often strive to communicate and share this sense of awe with one another and with our communities through our Christmas services.
Different churches handle this different ways: some churches go big with elaborate productions while others have simplified minimalist services. Some churches may even choose not to have services when Christmas falls on a Sunday. While these are important issues for discussion, the real key to experiencing the awe of Christmas does not rely on how your church celebrates the incarnation. The key is the degree to which we allow the significance of Christ's coming to impact us. Here are some reflections and questions to aid you this week as you prepare to celebrate the incarnation of Christ.
Christmas is the celebration of the second member of the Trinity coming among us as a man, to rescue us from sin and death with his own death on a cross.
Are the most important Christmas traditions of your family Christ-centered ones?
However your church is celebrating Christmas together this Sunday, we as tech folks should strive to gladly serve while maintaining the joy and responsibility of leading our families to celebrate Christmas meaningfully.
Are we slowing down to process the significance of Christmas such that we experience the awe of the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20?
Find a family who is going through suffering this Christmas and reach out to them - for example if they are struggling financially, help them buy presents for their kids; if they have experienced the loss of a loved one, mourn with them and spend time with them. Surely this is one very practical way we can experience the Awe of Christmas.
Let whatever service you render on Sunday be worship unto the Lord as we celebrate the coming of Christ the rescuer together!
How are you striving to experience the miracle of the incarnation this Christmas?
