A Christmas Message from Falmouth Congregational Church…

A Sermon offered by the Rev. Ian F. “Jack” Steeves in the public worship service of the Falmouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Falmouth, Maine on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2009. The scripture readings were Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20.

“It is a Family Affair.”

Christmas Eve is very special time at Falmouth Congregational Church. It is something like a family gathering, with people of all ages, shapes and sizes. I have a little something to say to each one of you. It is a simple, straight forward and hopefully honest message, so that you and every one with you will feel at home in our house, tonight.

First, the children and the child-like ones among us. Did you ever wonder why Jesus became a small child, a baby, instead of starting out as a full, grown person so he could get right down to work? Some say God became a child because God did not want to miss out for one minute what can be the best time of life.

Childhood is and should be an age of excitement, when every day brings something new into your growing world. It is and should be the age of imagination; but I should warn you that we adults are more than a bit jealous of you, and we will prod and push you into earning your keep, and tell you there is nothing new under the sun, and that you have to adjust to the real world. Now there is some truth to all of that, but the best things in life are really free. Jesus was a free person. He never really did settle down to work; he never got bored; and he told more truth in made-up parables than any minister writes in a lifetime of sermons. So do not let us rush you into old age too fast (though I do expect our Lord really would like you to get up and help out more around the house and at church).

The term “youth” is a relative one. It used to be from the early teens up to the early 20’s, but it now takes longer to come to terms with an upset and disturbing world. It is possibly the most difficult age and yet probably the most crucial. It is a most crucial age because youth and young adulthood is the time you decide who you are, what the world is to you, and where in this world you are going. It is unfortunate, in these years that many of your contemporaries think and some believe that the Church is too old and too set in its ways to be of any real help, and that God does not understand or care what you are going through, because God was never young. We all forget that at the tender age of 12 Jesus told his parents to stop asking silly questions like “where have you been for the past three days?” He was in the temple teaching the teachers. It is also unfortunate that at this age, when community support is most needed, it is often least able to help. Your task is to become independent and to come into your own, and you never do take a lot of our free advice anyway. To tell the truth, the community of faith is often found to be a little short in the wisdom department. We know some things that do not work, but with things changing so fast, we are not always sure of what does work. Like you, we wake up each day to a new world, a little bit older, but not too much wiser. So what are we good for while you wage your private battles? The same thing any family is good for: we offer you love, which you do not have to earn. And we offer you a place to rest from your battles and you do not have to explain a thing, well sometimes you don’t have to explain.

Middle age is prime time living. You are at the height of our physical, sexual, emotional, and intellectual powers, or you say you are. You have all problems under control, your life is held in your two firm hands, plans drawn up for the future, and your own little corner of the world is tidy and well appointed for our comfort. Then why is it that sometimes you wake up at three in the morning and wonder if you have boxed your self into the wrong corner, the wrong job, or the wrong relationship? Do not panic, the feeling comes with the territory. And Jesus was there before us. Nailed on a cross, he must have wondered whether he had made the right turn.  But since there is no way to go back to find out, he simply decided that, given the situation, he would do the best he could. And he did just that for us. And God accepted that, and surprised him and us with a resurrection on Easter morning. Do not be too much given to random musings and crises about what might have been or what will irrevocably go bad next. It is no small thing just to be, to raise a family, or live alone, or to be the plodding workhorses for God, church and country. Be content with your modest achievements and aspirations and ongoing tasks but still leave a little room for surprise.

I speak to the older and the elder present. According to Maine’s resident theologian and author Stephen King, I, now past 60 by almost three years, can no longer call myself middle aged. I am now one of you! And it seems to me that our culture has dealt you and me a serious if not lethal blow. In a runaway, consume and throwaway society, we are superannuated at 50, retired at 65, and declared obsolete at 70. So until our civilization realizes that it is both inhumane and evil to waste its wise ones and our collective wisdom, I guess you and I are left with the thankless task of preserving in our persons whatever we have found to be good and true and beautiful and hopeful, even if nobody else notices. All of them need models of what it is like to be grace-filled and fully human and where else can the others look but to you and me? We are not finished, not yet; they need us as signs that the human struggle really is worth it. We are our own witnesses that the question of existence has a long and happy resolution.

Besides all the ages and all types characters at our family gathering, there are all kinds of relationships represented: those who make their spiritual home here, those who visit from time to time, and those who may or may not show up at Christmas. For those of you who are always with us, what can I say? You belong here, your initials are carved into your respective pews, you would be lost without us, and we would be much less without you. Stick around, keep working and keep praying for all of us.

For those who come once in a while, but are less than comfortable with “the Church,” I wish I could change your minds and make it all right. But some things are best left to God. The Church is what she is; even Jesus had some limitations, and we do, too. You can only pack so much of God into human flesh, and when the Church, the body of Christ, is stretched out over 2,000 years, and more than 200 countries, and more than 2 billion believers, I guess there are bound to be difficult times and difficult people and uncomfortable relationships among us. You are here now. Great! In God’s eternal house, there are many mansions; in this church there are many nooks and crannies. So I invite you to find where you fit best, here or wherever, and do not let any one budge you from your right place and spiritual heritage.

For those of you who have little or no experience of the Free Church and left-wing Protestantism or even God, but just thought it would be a nice human thing to do: thanks for coming tonight and welcome. We believe that since God became human in Jesus of Nazareth, nothing is merely human, that you are in fact engaged in a religious experience, that you were attracted here by God and not necessarily by us. But let us not quibble over words and images. You are welcome any time and every time, and on your own times and terms. Be at peace among us and let the mystery of Christmas unfold over you and within you.

And just to make sure we celebrate the birth with true brotherhood and sisterhood, let us know acknowledge that this night of nights is special. You are here and so are we, and Christ is among us, too. It is miraculous. What is the miracle? Is it the star, the singing angels, the wondering shepherds, the lovely mother, and the exotic kings? Is it the cold chill of the air or the hopes and fears of many? Not really, the miracle of Christmas Eve is you and me. It is us together. Having traveled near of far, willingly or under duress, we are together this night. God cared enough about you and I to send the very best God had, and God continues to do so in the many gifts now given to us in one another.

Amen.