Pastor’s Pondering— January 2012

The Christmas Story

Virginia Blanck Moore

Such common things of everyday

like lowing cattle, fragrant hay,

stars flung across a velvet sky,

and shepherds watching night go by,

Such common things, and yet they hold

the greatest story ever told –

the story of a Savior’s birth

and hope for all of peace on earth.

We begin the New Year in the midst of the season of gift-giving. December 25 may be behind us but the Christmas Season lasts 12 days, and the gift-giving theme continues through the Season of Epiphany that begins on January 6 when the Three Kings brought their gifts to the Christ child. Of course the power of Christmas lasts throughout the year if we understand the nature of God’s gift-giving.

For many years, our family has encouraged people to let us know what they’d like for Christmas. While cleaning up after Christmas, I found the gift list I’d carried with me through November and December in with lots of other papers. I tried to pick up gifts for people as I thought of them in the midst of my travels. As I re-read our daughter’s wish list, however, the thought occurred to me that telling others what we want may be helpful but it’s probably contrary to how God works. Even giving gift cards – recipients can get what they want – draws us away from the delight that gift-giving and receiving is supposed to embody. After all, gift-giving reflects our perception of the recipient, perhaps their needs, and certainly our desire to delight them.

I “snuck in” the gift of a belt among Deanna’s requested gifts. She paused when she opened it, then sort of smiled, and finally said to me, “I think I like it. You picked this out for me?”

“You look terrific,” I said knowing that, like so many young women, she works out to stay “in shape.” The belt was a kind of compliment, affirmation and encouragement to keep up the good work.

Some of the other gifts that were not on her wish list brought expressions of delight such as, “I’m glad you got that for me.” “I almost bought one of those for myself the other day.” “I need that.”

Her brothers seldom ask for anything specific because, older than their sister and with a few more years experience, they’ve resigned themselves to the fact that Arthur and I keep a close eye on our adult children and manage to provide for them even now.

To me, that’s how God works in our lives. God came to us an infant needing care because God knows that essentially, we are beings who need to care for others. We are created in the image of the Living God and thus capable of responding to another’s needs with love and compassion.

God’s gift of the Christ-child reflects God’s perception of us as responsive, needing to share who we are and what we have with others, and lovable ourselves. How God esteems us! Trusts us! Encourages us! How God is glorified by the way we receive such a precious gift as another’s life when we perceive their beauty, their aspirations, and their needs when we try to provide for them.

We will continue to have opportunities for gift giving throughout the New Year as we become intentional about what legacies we will leave for others in both the short and long term. At the close of every year, a torch is symbolically passed from one group of people who are completing their terms on committees or as church officers to those who will begin work after the Annual Meeting.

God-willing, legacies don’t just come to an end. One group’s gifts become the foundation for those who will continue building their own legacies.

I want to thank all of you, near and far, active and retired, those involved in the ministries that inspire you as well as those who wonder how best to share the gifts of their talents for being the body of Christ at work in Barre. Your contributions are varied. You have responded to many types of needs from updating the announcement sign out front to fixing the boiler, from shutting off the alarm to mopping up Fellowship Hall (repeatedly), to singing in the choir or singing a solo, to sharing your musical talents or standing patiently, worshipfully, while the rest of us sing. You have shared your administrative and artistic talents, your wisdom and foresight, your organizational skills and knowledge of how to repair things large and small. You have listened to each other and to me with graciousness and humor, with tolerance and self-control; you have forgiven one another and chosen words or actions with kindness to avoid hurt or conflict. You have cared for children, youth, parents, and senior citizens, for those with disabilities and mobility challenges, for strangers and the bereaved as well as for those who are celebrating joyous occasions or just grateful to be welcomed into the fold whenever they feel called to worship with us. You have shared your prayers, your time, your money, your tireless energy, your laughter and your love in so very many ways that reflect your commitment to Christ and your gratitude to God.

These gifts of self reflect the generosity of spirit that in turn reveals Emmanuel, God with us. These gifts of common decency, kindness and dedicated work make possible the sense of unity within our community of faith, and as the poem says,

…hold

the greatest story ever told –

the story of a Savior’s birth

and hope for all of peace on earth.

The gifts we share reflect our perception of the recipient and our desire to delight them. The use of our time and talent also glorify God who blesses us in our giving and in our receiving.

I pray that your New Year will be blessed with gifts you want, need, and treasure just because they reveal God’s loving kindness.

With love,

Pastor Deborah