Dear Church Family,

It’s time to celebrate that most wonderful time of year. There is nothing like the Christmas Season. I personally enjoy March Madness and all the thrills of the NCAA Basketball Championship Playoffs. But, there is nothing that really compares to the feelings of Christmas.

I love to go shopping for family and friends. I enjoy the sensations of the beautifully decorated malls and the hustle and bustle of the frantic and frenetic Christmas shoppers that surround me. I thoroughly enjoy cooking our traditional family Christmas morning breakfast of omelets and all the trappings. I look forward to preparing the prime rib roast we enjoy for dinner. I even enjoy wrapping all my gifts to others with tissue paper, a lot of scotch tape and red or green ribbon. I love it all.

All that being said, what’s the best way of celebrating Christmas? The Christmas narrative in the Bible is very helpful and really the final authority. What was it like the very first Christmas? What can we learn from the scriptures?

Here are few things from Luke 2:1-20 that may help us fully enjoy Christmas:

First of all, Joseph and Mary spent the first Christmas together with baby Jesus as a family. There is nothing better than spending the Yuletide Season with those whom you love and who love you. Being with family is so very special. There are some who do not have the ability to be with family. Hopefully, there are opportunities to spend time with a surrogate family or the Church Family.

Secondly, there was a proclamation of a message of “good news of a great joy… for all the people.” Another way of spending a blessed Christmas is by somehow sharing the message of Christmas with others.This can be done through Christmas cards with a message, a devotional before Christmas festivities or simply sharing Jesus with someone you love.

Thirdly, there was the giving of gifts on the first Christmas. By all means, give and receive gifts on Christmas. But at the same time, think about giving a special gift to God. After all, the gifts given on the first Christmas were given to the Christ Child.

Finally, the first Christmas was wrapped in worship. Angels appeared to herald the coming of the Messiah and to worship God, the Father. The shepherds came to worship the Christ Child. So did the Magi. I can think of no better way of celebrating Christmas than worshipping the Lord.

Perhaps, you can have a time of singing Christmas carols and reading scripture before you open all your treasures under the Christmas tree or in your Christmas stockings. Join us for Sunday morning worship on Christmas Sunday and prepare your hearts for Christmas morning by worshipping with us on Christmas Eve (9:00 PM at Alhambra First Baptist Church, which is just south of the corner of Atlantic Blvd. and Main St.).

So have a very merry and blessed Christmas. May you and your loved ones experience the presence of God in your Christmas celebrations.

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Cory, d.v.