Pastor’s Monthly Message - December 2007

An Open House

The following cute story came to my attention the other day:

It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking at the Manger scene, when he noticed that the baby Jesus figure was missing from the cradle. He immediately turned and went outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon walking down the street. And in the wagon, was the figure of the infant Jesus. So he walked up to the boy and said, “Son, where did you get that little baby Jesus that’s in your wagon?” The little boy replied, “I got him from the church.” “Why did you take him?” asked the pastor. The little boy replied, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed and I told Jesus if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride in it!” (From Dr. Thomas Lane Butts’ weekly column, An Encouraging Word.)

The story is kind of a reverse of the Mexican tradition of “Las Posadas,” a series of parties celebrated every evening from December 16 to 24: These celebrations commemorate Mary and Joseph’s cold and difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. “Posada” in Spanish, simply means lodging or shelter. Nowadays, the posada has evolved into a religious and social celebration, paying a festive homage to the journey.

Each one of these nights before Christmas, a party is held in a home in the neighborhood. There is plenty of food and drink, with candies and fruit for the children. At dusk, all the guests gather outside the house. A small child dressed as an angel leads, followed by children carrying figures of Mary and Joseph. Boys and girls dressed in silver and gold robes constitute the procession, followed by the adults and musicians. Everyone sings melodious songs as they walk slowly along, carrying their lit candles. When they reach the house, the group divides in two. One half remains outside and begs for shelter from the other half, which is inside the house. The doors are then opened, the religious part of the celebration ends, and the fun begins.

The happy end to each posada has always been the piñata. A piñata is a fragile earthenware jar covered with paper mache, traditionally made in the shape of a star, to recall the one that so mysteriously guided the Three Kings to the newborn Jesus.

How are you preparing for Christmas? If you are like us, decorating the house and making arrangements for visiting family and friends are at the top of the list. I remember my grandmother’s annual tradition of Christmas Eve open house; it was a great gathering of family and friends that was only interrupted by the need to go to church. My grandmother was a great host, in that everyone felt welcomed and I never saw her get overwhelmed. Her secret: she earnestly enjoyed her guests, from the cursing Pennsylvania State Trooper to the whole lot of us grandchildren vying for attention. We all have wonderful memories of those gatherings.

Christmas is a time for hospitality, and this goes beyond the parties at work and in the neighborhood. Like the tradition of las posadas, we have to make a place in our homes and hearts for the coming of the Christ-child. I encourage you to pay as much attention to your spiritual preparation as you do to your other preparation this Christmas.

As a church we also need to be aware of the increased opportunity for hospitality during the Advent and Christmas season. It is during this time that our friends and neighbors are more receptive to invitations to worship and other church activities. Take a look at all that is going on in this newsletter and consider whom you could invite to join you to: the children’s Christmas Pageant, the Living Nativity or Christmas Eve services, for example.

And we will be ready for our guests! Plan to see new faces and offer a friendly welcome. Scripture reminds us:“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”

We’ll have a hint as to who the angels are, they will be singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth.”

Peace,
Pastor Matt