The Word

Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

Reflect

By Judy Grey

At Christmas time, my brother and I sometimes recount this story for its entertainment value. But it also shows the stark contrast between what we thought was important as spoiled young adults and what we know decades later as we await celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Following my graduation from college and my brother’s from high school, we went to Europe for a “gap” year. I went to Paris as a newly-minted French major, and he went to a school in England to “mature” before college. That Christmas, we were invited to spend Christmas in Munich by the president of my college, Dr. Sam Spencer, and his family.

Before leaving for Munich on December 23rd, my brother came to Paris so we could celebrate with friends from home. In fact, we celebrated so thoroughly that we boarded the train just as it was moving out of the station, throwing our mountains of luggage on the last car. Feeling the effects of the previous night’s revelry, we could only carry half of our luggage to our seats through the long, packed train. Once in our seats and meaning to rest a bit before retrieving our remaining luggage at the rear of the train, we fell asleep though I was aware of the train’s stops and starts. When we awoke, our walk to the back of the train was considerably shorter and once there, to the hilarity of train personnel standing by, we found the car with our luggage had been disconnected hours before in France.

This jolted us from our holiday making. We were mortified at the inconvenience we caused our hosts; embarrassed that we had no gifts for them and their four kids; shamed that my college president spent Christmas Eve on the phone trying to get someone to pick up. Layered on that was our irritation that we didn’t have gifts my mom had sent us and that we had to wear our hosts’ clothes, which neither fit nor were becoming. Thankfully, the story ended with finding our luggage in Frankfurt, remaining close friends with the Spencer family, and having the story of a German Christmas that remains special and unforgettable.

Reflection as adults on our inconvenience and loss that Christmas is dramatic as we observe this Christmas the serious needs of those who suffer around the world and in our own backyards. Those who will observe hungry, cold, missing loved ones, in pain, depressed, and at war. Those who wonder where God is in their despair. As Larry said in a sermon early this year – “There is something about our time that we have almost lost the ability to be hopeful about our world…We have lost faith that ‘the whole world’ is in God’s hands, especially parts near to us.”

As we celebrate Christmas in 2024, we must trust the one who was born that winter night to deliver us – the one who lay in the manger and was lifted up in crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension for the whole world. It’s about much more than finding lost luggage. It’s about the certainty that, in His time, our Savior will find us and restore peace, safety, and reconciliation to our hurting world.

Listen

By Dr. Ben Hutchens

TThe season of Advent marks a time of anticipation and preparation for the celebration of Christmas. This period lasts for four weeks leading up to Christmas Day, beginning on the fourth Sunday before December 25. Advent symbolizes hope and expectation, as congregations reflect on the profound meaning of Christ’s coming. As the church community gathers, the color purple often takes center stage, representing penitence and anticipation. 

The resonant tones of handbells add a unique layer of reverence and beauty of our services. This week, the Goodwin House Ringers bring us “Marche Royale.” This dedicated ensemble of ringers, who are residents at Goodwin House Alexandria, create a rich tapestry of sound and invite us all to engage in a deeper spiritual reflection. Each note played rings out like a prayer, connecting the hearts of the congregation to the message of the season: the promise of renewal and the joyous celebration of the impending arrival of the Christ child.