Merry? Happy?

Merry Christmas! It is the time of anticipation, preparation and celebration. While this is a time of joy, it often turns into a time of strife and complaint as well. One of those common complaints is about how we greet one another during this season. There is a faction of people who want to be inclusive of everyone who celebrates any occasion this time of year. They use the words, "Happy Holidays!" There is another faction of people, mostly all Christians, who insist on "Merry Christmas!" I find it intriguing and amusing how militant both sides of this issue can get. I see emails and facebook posts all the time telling Christian people to lighten up and just understand the well wishes. About ten years ago I was restrained from leaving a locally owned Christian book store at Christmas time because when the owner wished me a Merry Christmas I replied with, "You too." She would not allow me to leave until I wished her a Merry Christmas too. Silly...it's all pretty sill if you ask me. We live in the most tolerant society on the face of the planet and people feel like they have to argue and get offended when someone doesn't know their particular beliefs and respond accordingly. I don't care if the WalMart greeter says "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas." Why should a publicly owned company limit its customer base during the most popular shopping season of the year by celebrating only one holiday? I don't care if there's a nativity and a menorah or nothing at all on the town hall's front lawn. Personally, I'd rather that the government at all levels just keep their noses out of Christmas. Folks, there's no war on Christmas. The War on Christmas is a figment of the overactive imaginations of some very conservative, probably well-meaning, individuals. They want us to "keep Christ in Christmas." I agree, but only for Christian people. Why would it be the obligation of K-Mart or Sears or Costco to keep Christ in Christmas? That's my job. That's the job of every Christian in the world. And frankly, we're not doing it as well as we are able. The truth is, when we participate in the mobs fighting over cheap TVs and toasters on Black Friday, we're not keeping Christ in Christmas. When we spend beyond our means because little Johnny needs some new plastic stuff, we're not keeping Christ in Christmas. When we are less than generous when we could be so much more, we're not keeping Christ in Christmas. Do you want to keep Christ in Christmas this year? Spend less and give more. There was a family of four in one of my previous appointments who understood this idea. Each year at Christmas mom and dad bought nothing for their boys. Instead, they sat with them and decided where they would send the money that they would have spent on Christmas gifts to support a needy charity or ministry. Their boys never wanted for anything and they grew to understand the needs of this world and how they could make a difference. Do you want to keep Christ in Christmas this year? Squabble less and love more. Make amends with a family member or friend with whom you've been at odds. Hold the door for someone. Let someone else have that parking spot or that last item on the shelf that you were looking for. Do you want to keep Christ in Christmas this year? It really is up to you. There are several ways you can keep the Christmas spirit this year through the ministries of Central. - This Sunday Dec. 8th will be music Sunday with a special focus on the sounds of this season. Included will be the once yearly performance of the handbell choir.- Saturday Dec, 14th is the UMW annual cookie sale. Save yourself the baking and buy in bulk!- Sunday Dec. 15th we will have only one worship service at 10AM, the presentation of our yearly cantata performed by the Fidelis Choir.
- Sunday Dec. 22 we will have only one service at 10AM in which the Sunday School will present their program and pageant. - Tuesday Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Family Worship service at 5PM. A special focus will be on families and children. We will worship early for those who are meeting with family in the evening.- Tuesday Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 11PM. Traditional service with the lighting of candles and the singing of Silent Night.Also throughout Advent we will be focusing our messages during worship on "Expecting the Unexpected" about the nativity story.So no matter whether you say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, take a little time to experience the joy of this season, and take a little time to spread that Joy around.Grace and Peace,