I am reminded again of Christ’s own words: “Let the little children come unto me.” Christ himself came to be born as a baby and live life to its fullest extent, but in the perfection of God’s own will for our sakes.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost here and 2009 is almost gone. It seems like the year just began. It is also hard for me to believe it has already been over two years since Mesquite Lutheran Church first opened its doors to all little children through our Childcare. God has blessed us tremendously with many new opportunities to share our faith in Christ.

And now we are ready to open the doors of our new Childcare building, built for children of all ages and to the glory of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, because he came to make us God’s children by his death and resurrection from the dead.

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We still use those words because we still worship him throughout the year. We also invite everyone to celebrate with us on Christmas Eve at 6:30 p.m. and on Christmas Day at 10:00 am. and also on New Year’s Eve at 6:30.

But our celebration does not stop there. On Sunday January 10 at 11:30 we will dedicate our new building to the new born Savior, and we invite everyone who has or continues to support our efforts to reach out to this community with the love of Jesus Christ.

We certainly want to thank God for his many blessings in these past years, but also our staff and all the families and children who have spent time with us. Special thanks also to the community leaders, businesses and donors who have given so much to help make this a success.

If you have not seen our facilities and especially if you need childcare, come and visit us at 450 Turtleback Road or give us a call at 346-3954.

HAPPY ADVENT! MERRY CHRISTMAS! ALLELUIA! REJOICE AND BE GLAD!

The birth of Our Savior is the rebirth of our Church. In these difficult times, the attack on the family, disruption of the financial stability of the family and the national and global economy, we are comforted with what happened in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. It gives rise to the stability of our faith. God is with us. God loves us all.

As Luke proclaims, “Every hair on our head is counted by our God.” He will never let harm come to us. We must never turn away from Him.

As we go forward into the New Year, we go confident that Our God will be with us always.

May God’s loving presence this Christmas season fill you with delight and peace.

I remember Christmas as a child. We were not allowed to wake up the whole house. We were allowed to have the things in our stockings and Santa used to leave out a toy or two unwrapped that we could play with. We had to be quiet until the others woke up naturally. It was no fun being the youngest of a bunch.

I still remember when I was 3 or 4 and my mother told me the realities of Santa Claus. I didn’t believe her! She told me as long as I believed that Santa would still bring me presents. I have to tell you, I still believe and I still have presents from Santa under my tree every year!!

I remember one Christmas morning in particular. I must have been about five. I got up early; well it was still dark outside. The lights were low in the family room as I crept in. I looked at the fireplace and some ashes had been kicked out and you could see a foot print in the ashes in the grate. I just knew that Santa was real and that Santa had been there! The presents were under the tree and the stockings were filled, and I couldn’t help myself – I woke everyone up to tell them Santa was real and he had been there and his footprint was there!!! I saw it, it was true!

My mother told me that there had still been the littlest bit of fire so they had left the flu open when they went to bed. She thought maybe a downdraft had come down the chimney and caused the ashes to come out of the fireplace and made what looked like a footprint in the grate. I understood what she meant. It was logical to her. BUT I know what I saw and I know the toys and stockings were there when they hadn’t been there before. I just knew it was true! There really was a Santa Claus, and he had come to my house.

Jump ahead 50-ish years. Now, while I still believe in Santa, I also serve and live for a God that I cannot see. I can see the actions and movements of the Holy Spirit, but I don’t actually see with my eyes God or Jesus Christ.

Does that mean that they are not real? No, I believe they very much are real and active in not only my life, but the lives of people around me. There is a line in a children’s story that goes something like, “Seeing isn’t what makes it real, believing is.”

There are things we take for granted, like gravity and electricity and then there is another category of things we believe. I believe people are basically good. I believe in the power of words, both written and spoken to move and motivate people. I believe that Jesus is the Christ and the only son of the living God. I believe the Holy Spirit moves among the people today to help change lives and hearts for the better.

At this time of year, and all through the year, my prayer for each of you would be that you continue to discover with me just how wonderful, loving, and grace-filled our lives can be when we allow God to be a part of all we do. When we have a special time everyday to read the scriptures and pray, to have a set apart time for daily devotions to God.

May you and your family discover again the child born in a stable and laid in a manger. May this birth be new and exciting and signal renewed hope, joy, peace, and love in each of your lives. Merry Christmas Every One.

A couple evenings ago we watched a DVD of A Christmas Carol. It starred George C. Scott as Mr. Scrooge who relished being a staunch tight-wad with no regard for Christmas and no room in his heart for God. His opinion of Christmas and the joyful atmosphere attending it was summed up in two words, “Bah, Humbug!” He uttered it unapologetically. A tough old bird he was; it took his dead friend and three spirits to turn him around, but turn him around they did.

I cannot say “Bah, Humbug!” with the same passion as Ebenezer Scrooge. It is not in my heart to berate Christmas. I love it and believe in it. I hope you do, too. If you have not had a good year I can readily see why you might not be in a festive mood. Perhaps you have suffered and you feel pain and stress from what you are now enduring. Perhaps there is some good news for you to believe and a new hope to draw from.

In Charles Dickens’s story, miserly Mr. Scrooge is visited by three spirits that gave him a glimpse of the past, the present and the future. He therefore gets to see life from each of these perspectives. Having realized some basic truths about life and about himself he has a revelation and is changed by what he comes to know. In light of his new found understanding he could not remain the same. A glimpse back, a look around today and a vision for the future could teach all of us valuable lessons.

The world in which Jesus was born into was bleak beyond our comprehension. The people of the Promised Land bore unspeakably heavy taxes and economic oppression. They were taxed, fined and charged for so many various and sundry things, it is almost comical to ponder. Space does not permit a listing of them. We have no perspective to help us grasp this. The load was simply staggering.

Add to this weight severe political and military tyranny. Various kings, governors, and rulers had oppressed and enslaved the once mighty children of Israel. Religious leaders were often of no comfort or service to their people. God’s chosen people were by now fractured, divided and defeated… many times over. Consider this statement in reference to their plight, Owing to perpetual wars, the Jews were no longer capable of revolting against anyone. When you no longer can muster the courage to fight your captors and resist your own subjugation, you have lost hope. The Jews had little to hope for and nothing to celebrate; Then Jesus came.

Like dear Mr. Scrooge, you would do well to look back, look around and look ahead to appreciate what God has done for you. He sent us hope bundled as a baby. He loved us enough to provide us what we needed; a savior. God told us how He felt about us by giving us His best, His only son, Jesus. This is your genuine reality, not your losses and hardships.

May God help you see from these perspectives how He loves you and why there is cause for celebration. May you find renewed hope during this Christmas Season.

Let’s get our facts straight. Just as many people believe the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden was an apple, the type of fruit is not actually given. Similarly, there are many popular myths and errors that have grown out of the Christmas story. Many of those myths involve the “Three Wise Men.” (Matthew 2) We often picture the Wise Men and shepherds gathered around the manger in a stable, with sheep and camels parked outside.

First, the Bible does not say how many Wise Men came, nor does the Bible give us their names. The Bible only states that “Magi came from the east.”

Magi were royal court officers, probably Persian (Iraqi) astrologers or perhaps Zoroastrians. We get the number three from the three different kinds of gifts they brought to Jesus. The Bible does not say what kind of animals they may have used to carry their supplies.

Second, the Bible says that the Wise Men came to see Jesus some months after Jesus’ birth.

Third, the Bible says that the Wise Men came to see Jesus in a house. Yet, my manger scene is a re-enactment of Jesus in a manger visited by three Wise Men. It would be foolish to assume that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus would have stayed resident in a stable, long after the crowds had left, after the Roman census.

Another Christmas myth is that Jesus was born in winter. The Bible doesn’t say what day or month Jesus was born. Early Christians began celebrating the birth of the Son of God on December 25 as an alternative to the Roman Saturnalia celebration of the annual “rebirth” of the sun at year’s end. They wanted Christ to rule over all, even Pagan holidays. So, Christians do not celebrate Christmas because they believe Jesus was born on the 25. They celebrate Christmas in recognition of His birth.

It doesn’t matter what day he was born. His birth is worthy of celebration no matter when He was born.

Finally, many historians assume that Luke’s reference to sheep out in the fields during the night is a clue that perhaps Jesus’ birth really was in the spring. However, ancient Jewish records indicate that sacrificial sheep were kept grazing in the fields near Bethlehem all twelve months of the year. Even today sheep are seen in the fields near Bethlehem at Christmas time. So it is possible that Jesus was born in winter, although not probable.

Just remember this Christmas that if someone shows up at your door to enlighten you that Jesus was not born December 25; no matter where or what date Jesus was born is of no significance. What matters is that he was born for you. The Son of God became a man, so that sons of men might become sons of God.

Merry Christmas from Pastor George Mather and the entire congregation of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.