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Did you already forget Christmas? The department stores have begun selling the leftovers for a discount because “Christmas is over.” For the same reason, formerly decorated Christmas trees already line the streets as refuse for disposal. Even though Christmas songs speak joyously of “the twelve days of Christmas,” many, if not most, people seem to think of them as a countdown rather than an extended celebration. Remember? Today, December 29, is but the fifth day of the twelve! We are not done yet. Or did you forget?

Did you already forget Christmas? The department stores have begun selling the leftovers for a discount because “Christmas is over.” For the same reason, formerly decorated Christmas trees already line the streets as refuse for disposal. Even though Christmas songs speak joyously of “the twelve days of Christmas,” many, if not most, people seem to think of them as a countdown rather than an extended celebration. Remember? Today, December 29, is but the fifth day of the twelve! We are not done yet. Or did you forget?

Did you already forget Christmas? The department stores have begun selling the leftovers for a discount because “Christmas is over.” For the same reason, formerly decorated Christmas trees already line the streets as refuse for disposal. Even though Christmas songs speak joyously of “the twelve days of Christmas,” many, if not most, people seem to think of them as a countdown rather than an extended celebration. Remember? Today, December 29, is but the fifth day of the twelve! We are not done yet. Or did you forget?

At Christmas, our lives and attention are often occupied not only with the smaller details of the season— the decorations, the gifts, the special menus, the schedule of events— but also with those details of greater importance: family, parents and grandparents, children and grandchildren, as well as those of more distant relationships. Greater than that, as Christians we center our celebration here in God’s presence to hear God’s Word, to attend to what is most important, which alone can give all the other details of life its most solid foundation. That Word puts everything else in its proper perspective, including our place and participation in the kingdom of God. The “big picture” includes God’s amazing creation from the beginning, as well as our part in mankind’s fall into sin and struggle with Satan and death. Then enters God’s great remedy: our salvation from sin and death through the redemption that is in God Himself, in the person of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. His incarnation and birth from the virgin Mary was a great miracle— God taking on our human flesh and blood. Greater, however, was His own sacrifice in our flesh, by which He has cast down Satan and his lies and raised up a new creation to new, eternal life. On this day, amid any and all distractions and details, the familiar hymn has it right: “How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!” (LSB 728:1).

Imagine a person unfamiliar with Christmas. How would you explain it? To truly grasp Christmas, they must know that God, the creator, exists. They must also understand that all people have sinned against God, resulting in the consequence of “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Christmas is the revelation of God’s deep love, offering forgiveness, return to Him, and eternal life despite our sin. In Old Testament times, faith in the promised Christ saved people. Today, faith in the same Christ, born of the virgin Mary, saves us through His sacrificial death, as evidenced by His resurrection. Paul prayed for their salvation, asking how they could call on Him without belief, believe in Him without hearing, hear without preaching, or preach without being sent. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. It’s not hard to imagine someone who’s never heard Christmas, even us who have. We often live as if we’ve never heard, struggling with sin until we’re delivered from its power. We need to hear this story repeatedly. Tonight, we recall the beauty of Christmas and the Gospel of our salvation, a message to be cherished and believed over and over again.

Imagine a person unfamiliar with Christmas. How would you explain it? To truly grasp Christmas, they must know that God, the creator, exists. They must also understand that all people have sinned against God, resulting in the consequence of “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Christmas is the revelation of God’s deep love, offering forgiveness, return to Him, and eternal life despite our sin. In Old Testament times, faith in the promised Christ saved people. Today, faith in the same Christ, born of the virgin Mary, saves us through His sacrificial death, as evidenced by His resurrection. Paul prayed for their salvation, asking how they could call on Him without belief, believe in Him without hearing, hear without preaching, or preach without being sent. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. It’s not hard to imagine someone who’s never heard Christmas, even us who have. We often live as if we’ve never heard, struggling with sin until we’re delivered from its power. We need to hear this story repeatedly. Tonight, we recall the beauty of Christmas and the Gospel of our salvation, a message to be cherished and believed over and over again.

Imagine a person unfamiliar with Christmas. How would you explain it? To truly grasp Christmas, they must know that God, the creator, exists. They must also understand that all people have sinned against God, resulting in the consequence of “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Christmas is the revelation of God’s deep love, offering forgiveness, return to Him, and eternal life despite our sin. In Old Testament times, faith in the promised Christ saved people. Today, faith in the same Christ, born of the virgin Mary, saves us through His sacrificial death, as evidenced by His resurrection. Paul prayed for their salvation, asking how they could call on Him without belief, believe in Him without hearing, hear without preaching, or preach without being sent. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. It’s not hard to imagine someone who’s never heard Christmas, even us who have. We often live as if we’ve never heard, struggling with sin until we’re delivered from its power. We need to hear this story repeatedly. Tonight, we recall the beauty of Christmas and the Gospel of our salvation, a message to be cherished and believed over and over again.

This time of year can bring back memories of past pain and sorrow. For some, this time of year is filled with difficult times, humps to get over, gatherings to endure, varieties of pressures and a flood of memories that darken and dampen the days. This service allows ourselves to acknowledge that this season is not a joyous one for everybody. This service is designed to recognize and acknowledge these feelings, to give us comfort and support and to think about how this Christmas season could be different. This is a place and time when we can allow feelings of pain, loneliness, worry, sadness, experiences of dark memories, anxiety and fear to be lifted up in faith to our Lord who can help us bear the burdens and relieve our pain. We are hopeful that we find peace in this service and comfort in knowing that we are not alone.

We often hear it said, and even say it ourselves, that “things aren’t like they used to be.” We can see it around us in our world, our culture, and even among our own families and homes, whether for better but often for worse. People sometimes have the same impression of the Lord. But our Lord remains unchanged (see Malachi 3:6), and Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Since the beginning, our holy Lord has always desired and even demanded holiness. Holiness comes only by the one perfect bodily sacrifice. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us holy through Himself alone. Because of and through Him, we do not have to be like we used to be; rather, we live in that grace and love as He first loved us.

We often hear it said, and even say it ourselves, that “things aren’t like they used to be.” We can see it around us in our world, our culture, and even among our own families and homes, whether for better but often for worse. People sometimes have the same impression of the Lord. But our Lord remains unchanged (see Malachi 3:6), and Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Since the beginning, our holy Lord has always desired and even demanded holiness. Holiness comes only by the one perfect bodily sacrifice. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us holy through Himself alone. Because of and through Him, we do not have to be like we used to be; rather, we live in that grace and love as He first loved us.

We often hear it said, and even say it ourselves, that “things aren’t like they used to be.” We can see it around us in our world, our culture, and even among our own families and homes, whether for better but often for worse. People sometimes have the same impression of the Lord. But our Lord remains unchanged (see Malachi 3:6), and Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Since the beginning, our holy Lord has always desired and even demanded holiness. Holiness comes only by the one perfect bodily sacrifice. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us holy through Himself alone. Because of and through Him, we do not have to be like we used to be; rather, we live in that grace and love as He first loved us.

This is the story of Jesus told through the eyes and hearts of our little ones. The children explain how Jesus was born for me and for you. From the angels, to Mary and Joseph and to the shepherds, God sent His Son to the world as the wise men found when they followed the bright star. We sing and rejoice!

Are you feeling the joy? At this point in the month of December, studies show that many people are not feeling joy. Many people are feeling overwhelmed as they approach Christmas, feeling stressors that include not having enough money, missing loved ones, and anticipating family conflict. No matter how we come to our time of worship today, even if stressed, distracted, and frazzled, what great timing to hear what God speaks to us in this season and each day. From all our Readings today, we hear of joy! It is a joy not based on our own momentary perspectives of how things should go, but rather a joy from God’s eternal perspective for our sake and what has freely been done for us. As our Advent season continues, may our true joy be found in the one for whom we prepare—Christ, who was born for us and who is with us and for us and is today in our midst as He comes to us in the means of grace.

Are you feeling the joy? At this point in the month of December, studies show that many people are not feeling joy. Many people are feeling overwhelmed as they approach Christmas, feeling stressors that include not having enough money, missing loved ones, and anticipating family conflict. No matter how we come to our time of worship today, even if stressed, distracted, and frazzled, what great timing to hear what God speaks to us in this season and each day. From all our Readings today, we hear of joy! It is a joy not based on our own momentary perspectives of how things should go, but rather a joy from God’s eternal perspective for our sake and what has freely been done for us. As our Advent season continues, may our true joy be found in the one for whom we prepare—Christ, who was born for us and who is with us and for us and is today in our midst as He comes to us in the means of grace.

Are you feeling the joy? At this point in the month of December, studies show that many people are not feeling joy. Many people are feeling overwhelmed as they approach Christmas, feeling stressors that include not having enough money, missing loved ones, and anticipating family conflict. No matter how we come to our time of worship today, even if stressed, distracted, and frazzled, what great timing to hear what God speaks to us in this season and each day. From all our Readings today, we hear of joy! It is a joy not based on our own momentary perspectives of how things should go, but rather a joy from God’s eternal perspective for our sake and what has freely been done for us. As our Advent season continues, may our true joy be found in the one for whom we prepare—Christ, who was born for us and who is with us and for us and is today in our midst as He comes to us in the means of grace.