Special Christmas

     Christmas is a special season, filled with great joy for most Christians. The holiday is infused with faith, social gatherings, worship services, special events, music, decorations, communication from friends who live far away, good food, helping others, giving gifts, and receiving presents. Some Christmasses are just what you expect, and others are memorable. Special Christmases I remember include some when I was young, my daughter’s first Christmases, and a Christmas out west when we got snowed in and built snow tunnels. I remember Christmas Eve worship in Kansas, with my wife’s family, and the privilege of bringing her grandmother to church when she was in failing health.

Christmas in Denver with 34" of snow

     I have fond memories of the plays and musicals I participated in during the Christmas season. These events ministered to others, and built friendships as I worked with others on the production. I worked with Ronda and Brent Hart to decorate our church and mask the hallway for “Follow the Star.” I also work with them as the Bethlehem Rabbi in a production entitled Walk Thru Bethlehem. I have watched with great joy as God grew a small youth production in Apex, NC, entitled Journey to Bethlehem into a production that ministers to thousands of people each year.

Bethlehem Rabbis at Walk Thru Bethlehem

     In the first century, in a time when there was not yet Christmas, there was a village priest by the name of Zechariah, who served on rotation at the Temple in Jerusalem. (That means he worked each of the three harvest festivals and two other weeks annually, for a total of five weeks per year). The man Zechariah was an older priest, almost ready for his time of retirement.
     To be sure, there were special times of service in the Temple, and then there were times when the duties overtook him. On days when work was light, Zechariah was full of joy. At times when the tasks were great and the stress level was high, the village priest forced joy into his heart, because he knew that this pleased God.

Temple model at the Israel Museum

     Zechariah had learned to be joyful at all times. He had faced various problems in life, and with God’s help, they had all been overcome. All except one, and that was OK, because God is always in control. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth desired a child, but while they were young, and even in middle age, when it is still possible to have children, none were born. Elizabeth was barren. Zechariah found joy in his wife and in life.

Birth of Jesus

     In Zechariah’s final year of service, possibly in the week of his retirement, was an amazing week for the village priest (which I share in my book Advent Journeys, available as a book, as a Kindle e-book, and readable through Amazon Prime) and his wife Elizabeth. God chose Zechariah for a special place of service, tending the altar of incense. And while at the altar God sent the angel Gabriel to communicate that Zechariah's wife Elizabeth would give birth to a child. The priest was shocked! This was a story like that of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Elkanah and Hannah, and Boaz and Ruth. The retiring priest was amazed!

A Church in Nazareth

     This year, while in Israel, I had the chance to visit the Church of the Annunciation. This is the place where the Angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1)

The house where Mary met the Angel

     The church is interesting, because it contains relics of Nazareth’s past. In the middle of the church there is an old house. This is the supposed home where Mary lived with her family, and the place where the Angel spoke to her. The church is inspiring. I have more pictures of the church on the KosherCopy facebook page. (While you are looking, please ‘like’ the page.)

The Church of the Annunciation is a busy place today

     The story of Mary is much like some of our what happens in our lives. We get busy, handle the important matters of life, and oftentimes miss out on the most important matters of life. Mary was involved in a relationship with the man she loved, and was planning a wedding with her family. I am sure she also had daily chores, and other things she did around Nazareth, the small town where she lived.

In the first century, it looked more like this farm

     Then the Angel came, and interrupted her life. The Angel told her God had great plans for her. Mary said, “How will this be?” She was from a small town, and was from a family she thought was of low status. There was no reason the God of heaven should notice her and nothing in her life to bring her to greatness. Yet God chose her.
     The Angel said, “You will conceive and give birth to a son.” Mary responded, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” And she realized her life was about to change. Normal children bring change to normal parents. For Mary, the change was greater. She was yet to consummate the marriage (and becoming pregnant could mean divorce, and/or death by stoning!) and the Angel was telling her she would have ‘the perfect child.’ Mary was not ready for this announcement.

A Christmas sign in Nazareth, Israel

     Often, we are not ready for the things that God wants to bring into our lives. We take life as it comes at us.
     But we should stop. Every day we need to take time off, and spend it with God.
     Especially at Christmas, which is why I wrote the book Advent Journeys. I wanted to prevent life from consuming our family, so we could take in Christmas rather than Commercialmas or Crazimass.

The day of the month is on the outside, reading inside

     I hung a paper chain in our dining room to remind us to take time for God. I encourage you to do the same. (Instructions are on my website). Especially if you have small children (or even older children), take the time to celebrate the real Christmas.

Please visit my websiet

     Please take time to read my book, Advent Journeys, through Kindle Reader, free on Amazon Prime, have your local library order a copy, or order your own book. The readings will add meaning to your Christmas. And let me know what you think at KosherCopy@gmail.com