Advent III 11th December 2005 Christ Church Morningside Putting Christ back into Christmas   Just moved from abroad… peculiar households that don’t have a TV – less than 4% 3 threatening letters from the TV license people already! Missed a few favourite programmes - avoided the barrage of adverts. I’ve never experienced a tidal wave before – but it feels a bit like it sometimes. Christmas has become a strange animal in post-Christian Europe An odd mix of the secular and the sacred Of the commercial and the religious   When I was at university in Wales ‘Religion gets into everything story’ The problem is that religion is excluded from so much these days, including, strangely enough Christmas.  Being religious is seen as an avocation for the minority (almost as strange as not owning a TV) – new law – religious hatred A couple of children’s ‘crib services’ – ‘jingle bells’, ‘I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus’ – baby Jesus hardly got a look in. Christmas has become a strange animal these days With seemingly two competing images Jesus – born out of wedlock, born in a stable, born as a stranger, soon to become a refugee in Egypt.  God incarnate in great humility.  Jesus becoming poor so that we might become rich Contrast that with: The modern Yule-tide/Christmas/party/shop-a-thon   Traditional response is to try to reject our modern day Christmas.  No carols… Now – don’t get me wrong.  I’m no Scrooge going round saying ‘humbug’. Not going to drone on about how Christmas has been ruined by commercialism. I’ve heard enough of those sermons Not terribly effective The prosperity of our whole nation – and our own households is based on commercialism   Besides which I happen to like the commercial side of Christmas I love the drone of merry Christmas songs that blear out as I walk through the shops I am delighted to see all the fake Santas, elves and reindeer Christmas trees in people’s front rooms Fairy Lights in the streets The parties – mulled wine! The cards, buying presents…   It is a great, it’s wonderful; it is a special time of year. Going back to the Welsh Christmas card story   The question is… How do we keep Christ in Christmas? How do we keep our focus as we wade through the shopping, the arrangements and all the tinsel?  Or when we are alone or grieving or struggling with ill health/finaces I don’t think we need to reject the commercial aspects of the season You can’t swim against the stream – the tidal wave! But how do we keep Christ in Christmas?  (at the risk of sounding twee – suggest) Send Christmas cards with a religious message Say a prayer for each person we write a Christmas card to or buy a present for Be especially generous in our giving to charities over the Christmas season Give a Holy Corner Christmas card to a friend, colleague, neighbour or family member – invite them to church! How do we keep Christ in Christmas? Put a problem right Be thoughtful of those who serve us this Christmastide. Shop assistants, restaurant staff, clergy?! Visit, call or write to someone who will be alone – invite them round, if you can Try to tell people – and look for – the Good News, rather than the bad news       Story:- Joe – “Is God real?” Can we strive to sense Christ’s presence in this most wonderful and often very odd and difficult season? Can we keep sight of Christ in the midst of all the mixed messages of our secular and commercialised Christmas? Can we share the love of Christ with a world that is longing to hear the Good News, that asks,  “What is all of this about?”   “Is God real?” Can we keep Christ at the very heart of our Christmas this year? Yes, I think we can!                           Simon Justice                                                                       11th December 2005 Home