Being raised in the Midwest, Christmastime means family traditions, annual celebrations, and usually too much feasting.  My plans tend to be very similar from year-to-year.  Except, one year out of seven tends to bring great distress to my annual festivities.  This year happens to be one of those years... for this year, Christmas falls on Sunday.

I know you might expect a Pastor to be greatly excited at the thought of spending Christmas in church.  Even I know that should be my reaction.  But this reaction would be more truthful: "Be in church on Christmas?  But I have plans!!" I want to scream.

And then, during last week's service I was convicted of my own hardness of heart concerning the matter.  I fear that perhaps I had lost the true meaning of Christmas somewhere along the way… 

Christmas: the day we remember and celebrate the arrival of Jesus Christ.  The birth of a baby in Bethlehem to an unwed mom.  Jesus interrupted many people's lives that day.  And yet, most people ignored it altogether rather than be bothered.  This season, I'm trying to see that interruption in normality as a blessing.  Won't you join me?

On Christmas Day we are having a single service at 11:00am with the sole purpose of celebrating Jesus' birthday.  And this year, I am excited that Christmas falls on a Sunday. 

Perhaps next year, for the first time in my life, I'll be disappointed that Christmas isn't on a Sunday.  I mean, who wants to celebrate Jesus' birthday on a Tuesday anyway?!