Christmas 2018.

Dear friends, in Christ Jesus, our Lord,

As we move through to the end of our calendar year, our thoughts turn to Advent and Christmas soon to come.  The hope of Advent brings us to the fruition of the nativity, the incarnation, of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the Son of God who saves us from our sins, and saves us for life now and eternal life to come.

There has been much in the news lately about “Christmas” songs.  “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has been debated this year … endlessly … or so it seems.  Songs such as this one, and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” are not really Christmas songs anyway.  They are winter songs.  Songs, hymns, and carols which lift up Christ as the Lord born for us are Christmas carols, yes.

That helps put things into perspective.  We praise God the Father for sending us His Son.  Christ, born into a poor family and a humble manger, is our savior, and we show Him our worship when we sing, read the Scriptures, pray, and worship Him.  We acclaim God the Holy Spirit when we follow and obey and put our God first in our lives.  We provide for the poverty stricken with our gifts, out of our love for God, and thus serve Rabbi Jesus, the Messiah.                 

At St. Jacob, we have Christmas Eve Worship.  On Monday, December 24, Family Worship is at 7 p.m.  This includes a Children’s Story as well as carols, candle light, the Christmas story in Holy Scripture, and a sermon.  The Festival Worship is at 11 p.m. and has carols, candle light, the birth of Jesus story from the Bible, a sermon, and Holy Communion.  Join us, won’t you, at 8697 Mudbrook St. NW, Massillon, OH?  That’s in Jackson Twp.              

Come and experience the true meaning of Christmas … the Christ child born … for us.  Pastor Lynn T. Williamson