Dear Friends,
John Killinger, in his book, Christmas Spoken Here, writes,
"One day I was staring through the window of a beautiful little Christmas shop. It was packed with Christmas items, even though Christmas was still six months away. There were exquisite crèches from Italy, Germany and Norway. There were fuzzy-fazed elves and jolly old Santa Clauses, sleighs and reindeer of every size and description, bells and trees, and music boxes. There were nutcrackers and candles and electric lights, angels and wise men and little drummer boys, stars and snowmen and gingerbread cutouts. The little shop was fairly bursting with Christmas, and a loudspeaker broadcast a medley of Yuletide tunes. It was infectious, even in the summertime. And down in the corner of the front door, where no one could miss it, was the neatest touch of all. It was a small sign that said, “Christmas Spoken Here".”
The little shop Killinger describes sounds a lot like the Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan, only Frankenmuth is a much larger store. Denise and I have been to Frankenmuth twice, and on both occasions have been impressed with the Christmas spirit of the shops and the people, no matter what time of year it is. (We visited in Fall and in Summer.) The huge Christmas store in Frankenmuth, may or may not have a sign, but it certainly has the spirit of “Christmas Spoken Here.”
I don’t know who said it, but a wise person suggested that “Christmas Spoken Here” is an appropriate slogan for the church. Think about that for a moment – Christmas brings kindness and gentleness. It creates good will and courtesy. It promotes peace and joy. These are attributes that seem to be prevalent during the Christmas season. Yet they are attitudes that Christ, “the reason for the season”, creates in us as those who follow Him. It started with the words of the angel, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” And each Christmas we share that joy with one another, even with people we don’t know. We give more freely, love more deeply, and care more sincerely than at any other time of the year.
Of course, Jesus did not mean to limit our Christmas spirit just to Christmas. Which gets us back to the slogan, “Christmas spoken here.” Such language is not reserved just for Christmas. Rather, like the small Christmas shop Killinger wrote about, and like the huge Christmas store in Frankenmuth, our Christmas speaking is to be year round. After all, the miracle of Christmas is the basis of all we do.
One person wrote: “The church ought always to speak Christmas. We ought always to be reminded of the Word God has spoken: the intelligible, important, and loving Word of His concern for us.” And then we need to speak it to others – throughout the year. Christmas is spoken here at WCBC. May it always be spoken clearly and lovingly in all we say and do.
Peace,
Pastor Jim
John Killinger, in his book, Christmas Spoken Here, writes,
"One day I was staring through the window of a beautiful little Christmas shop. It was packed with Christmas items, even though Christmas was still six months away. There were exquisite crèches from Italy, Germany and Norway. There were fuzzy-fazed elves and jolly old Santa Clauses, sleighs and reindeer of every size and description, bells and trees, and music boxes. There were nutcrackers and candles and electric lights, angels and wise men and little drummer boys, stars and snowmen and gingerbread cutouts. The little shop was fairly bursting with Christmas, and a loudspeaker broadcast a medley of Yuletide tunes. It was infectious, even in the summertime. And down in the corner of the front door, where no one could miss it, was the neatest touch of all. It was a small sign that said, “Christmas Spoken Here".”
The little shop Killinger describes sounds a lot like the Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan, only Frankenmuth is a much larger store. Denise and I have been to Frankenmuth twice, and on both occasions have been impressed with the Christmas spirit of the shops and the people, no matter what time of year it is. (We visited in Fall and in Summer.) The huge Christmas store in Frankenmuth, may or may not have a sign, but it certainly has the spirit of “Christmas Spoken Here.”
I don’t know who said it, but a wise person suggested that “Christmas Spoken Here” is an appropriate slogan for the church. Think about that for a moment – Christmas brings kindness and gentleness. It creates good will and courtesy. It promotes peace and joy. These are attributes that seem to be prevalent during the Christmas season. Yet they are attitudes that Christ, “the reason for the season”, creates in us as those who follow Him. It started with the words of the angel, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” And each Christmas we share that joy with one another, even with people we don’t know. We give more freely, love more deeply, and care more sincerely than at any other time of the year.
Of course, Jesus did not mean to limit our Christmas spirit just to Christmas. Which gets us back to the slogan, “Christmas spoken here.” Such language is not reserved just for Christmas. Rather, like the small Christmas shop Killinger wrote about, and like the huge Christmas store in Frankenmuth, our Christmas speaking is to be year round. After all, the miracle of Christmas is the basis of all we do.
One person wrote: “The church ought always to speak Christmas. We ought always to be reminded of the Word God has spoken: the intelligible, important, and loving Word of His concern for us.” And then we need to speak it to others – throughout the year. Christmas is spoken here at WCBC. May it always be spoken clearly and lovingly in all we say and do.
Peace,
Pastor Jim
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