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Below are some thoughts I shared at last Sunday's Questioning Evangelism Adult Elective at Elizabethtown Brethren-in-Christ.

Around what will your family gather this Christmas? Our local congregation, by the power of Spirit seeks as a particular people of God called to the particular place of Elizabethtown at the particular day/time of 10am on December 16, 2006 to reproduce the likeness of Jesus in our world.

But as many of us have experienced, centering Christmas around Christ in the context of one's family, local congregation, neighborhood, or workplace, and institutions of education can be quite challenging. Why? Because to extol the Rock of our Salvation with music and song is out of place in many of our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and institutions of education. In Psalm 95 we are called to bow down in worship, to kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture. It's never been easy. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts about something as simple as food and water . . . how could it be that the Israelites in the desert, confronted with the daily physical Presence and provision of God choose another direction again and again? Such is the human heart as we continually seek our own self-focused purpose and direction guided by self-righteousness, materialism, and the abuse of power, as noted by Pastor David Hall this morning.

But God came to us, became flesh, suffered the mundane, daily walk on this earth with all its ups and downs. As a matter-of-fact, he couldn't have experienced a deeper down than the limitations of becoming flesh, betrayal by disciple who then went out and hung himself, being crucified -- not that was unique -- but upon the cross bearing all the evil, darkness, and sin of the world. Even creation cried out in despair as her Creator suffered and died. On the other hand, He couldn't have experienced a higher high than launching the kingdom of God, ascending to the Father (something not given as much attention in our tradition), and waiting with expentency for the blessing which He will bring through the Spirit by the People of God. Philippians 2:5-11 gives the following summary:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

How do we translate all of this into a Christ-centered Christmas in the mundane? How many of you have seen Chevy Chase' Christmas Vacation? Christmas Vacation charicatures a number of American tribal traditions such as Christmas trees, lights, shopping, extended family gatherings, and the meaning of the Christmas star. Let's take a moment to watch and reflect upon this scene. How do you reproduce the likeness of Jesus in the mundane racheted up by issues of control, expectations, anger, traditions, family members which have passed away, family members which have moved from the area and cannot be with you, when family members you've hoped to not seen again show up, and when relating to family and friends which have lost some of their faculties?

Christmas Vacation: 39:07-43:55 [Chevy Case's anger at the lack of ability to pull off full house exterior illumination kicks Santa in the head and karate chops Santa's reindeer in front of the whole family including children, parents, and in-laws. The Hallelujah Chorus breaks out as his wife remembers the relationship between the garage light and outlet. As Chase' character hugs all his relatives and receives various comments he shockingly finds his Cousin Eddie's family].

Imagine your Christmas interactions at home, at our local congregation, in your neighborhood, at school, at the workplace. What do you anticipate? How would you reproduce the likeness of Jesus in the mundane racheted up by issues of control, expectations, anger, traditions, family members which have passed away, family members which have moved from the area and cannot be with you, when family members you've hoped to not seen again show up, and when relating to family and friends which have lost some of their faculties? Close your eyes and imagine, enter the context or you may journal. This is not a time for verbal processing, sorry, that's my favorite mode of contemplation :-) I was at a seminar recently where the pastors discussed how difficult it was to find more than a moment of silence after the prayer of confession, one pastor has worked his congregation up to 3 minutes. Let's try a few minutes. I'll close our time of reflection.

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After members of the Adult Elective had the opportunity to share and pray for one another, I shared some of the following . . .

As you know the Celebration of the incarnation of Christ is not primarily about feelings, family, or even traditions, although these are all of great value. Christmas is about God coming to be Present with us, to empty Himself into humanity, to serve us through His life, death, and resurrection. And to point toward the full outworking of His Redemptive Kingdom. Christ being born in us cannot not have an affect on us