santa, remember this story

Our friends invited us to their church Christmas concert the other evening, their church choir was doing a little Christmas concert. They sang a really nice selection of Christmas music accompanied by piano and violin. It is a rather small country church and for a small group their voices were strong and filled with holiday spirit. Many from our community came out to support them.  This event however had a duel purpose the second being it also served as a fund raiser for the local battered women's home called Madeline's House, where my friends daughter serves as outreach coordinater. We were so proud to see her get up in front of us all and speak such compassion about those she helps on a daily basis. It is so great to see our young people fresh out of college all filled with such passion for their work.What a blessing!

Being in the south, there was of course a dinner to follow the festivities! Far be it for all of us to come out on a Saturday night and not get in some proper socializing.

The church also set up a room off the dining area where many of those who belong there donated their nativity sets for display.There were so many unique sets on display, big and small, old and new, hand made and store purchased. We hear so much around this time of year about Santa so as I entered this room and saw the many many different interpretations of our Lords birth it was a solemn reminder of what this season is really about.  So next time you take a glimpse at that manger under your Christmas tree pull out your bible or bring up this post and remember this story.....

The Gospel of Luke 2:1-20

2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph 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. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And 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. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³And 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 favours!’

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.’ ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.