Text Box: The vault of the heavens is illumined by the star. The assembly of the angelic hosts comes to proclaim on earth the glad tidings of the birth of Christ. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! “Merry Christmas!” I mean that. Did you know that there are some Presbyterians who do not observe Advent or Christmas? They argue that Christians should not celebrate because our consciences are bound to Scripture alone and there is no biblical mandate to observe Advent and Christmas. But my question has always been, “Well, why wouldn’t we celebrate the season?” Text Box: Volume 2008, Issue 12 Text Box: December 2008 - January 2009 Text Box: Centre News Text Box: LYCOMING CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Text Box: Merry Christmas!

             If the season of Advent means anything, it signifies the season to proclaim the announcement of Christ’s birth with unbridled joy and celebration.   Obviously, the occasion for our great and exuberant joy is not a particular season or even a special day, but a glorious Person who came and is coming again. The angels said it well: “‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” The same glory that the angels could not contain at his birth was released all around them and has passed down to us 2000 years later.  Again, why wouldn’t we celebrate the season?

 

             By the time you will receive this newsletter we will have finished the Living Nativity.  What a glorious gift both to God and this community.  Countless times I heard our guests comment on the beauty, generosity, and the sheer excellence of this ministry.  Once again my heart was blessed by seeing our church family come together, work hard, and reach out to over a 1,000 visitors with the Savior’s love.  The ancient Christmas story was proclaimed, God was glorified, and many were blessed.

 

             Another way to celebrate the season is by attending our Christmas Eve service.  I invite you and encourage you to come to either the 6:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. service.  Again, what an opportunity to celebrate and to invite family and friends to worship the Savior in the wonder of candlelight and carols.  I know I can’t wait to see all of your there on that special night.

 

             Finally, I charge you to have fun this Christmas.  Yes, have fun. Charles Dickens once wrote that it is good to be children sometimes, and never better at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.  So would we dare to be a child this season?  Would we, could we, drop our stuffy sophistication and our mawkish maturity and be captivated with a sense of child-like wonder and awe?  After all, the God of all creation came because he knew you needed a savior.   What is more, the holy and majestic God of the universe came because He loved YOU!   So would you be happy and joyful this season?  In the words of Steve Brown, “Don’t forget to dance, have fun and laugh.  It pleases God and makes you feel better.” 

 

             And so as this Advent season continues on, my prayer for you is that you would end this year strong.  Seize it as the blessed season it is--- a time of joy, grace, fun and laughter for you and your family.  May God grant you a truly joyous Christmas and a happy New Year.

 

Billy