A Christmas Note From Rev. Phil Reinders
Blessings to all this Christmas.
Christmas celebrations will certainly be very different for all of us this pandemic year, and for many they will be very difficult. Some of us will be surrounded by those in our home, some of us will be alone. We will all miss family and friends as we quarantine together.
Wherever you are, however you are, we can experience God’s peace and presence this Christmas, and we can rejoice in this:
“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not die but will have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him.” —John 3:16-17
Stop and rest in those words during the days of Christmas. Take in the beauty of what they announce to you and me. Christmas tells us what God is really like - that the creator of the universe who spoke galaxies into being has entered our space-time continuum, has come to our sin-dimmed planet, to us. The ruler of history who upholds and sustains all things altered his mode of being, taking on our humanity and has become a tiny, vulnerable child. This Jesus is the Living God among us. With us. For us. For love.
And while we feel the weight and gloom of a COVID-Christmas, we can ignite the wicks of hope and joy. During our online Christmas service (live at 7:30 pm Christmas Eve), there will be a moment for us to light a candle - to take our light from the Christ candle, and then to shine with the light of Christ and pass on the light to others. How our world needs the light in this time.
But what can we do in quarantine? I can’t help but think that small acts of kindness are like lighting a candle, pushing back the dark. Here’s one small act you can do: why not invite your extended family or a few friends or neighbours to watch the online Christmas service together [knoxtoronto.org/christmaseve] ? It will be a beautiful service of the light, peace and hope we find in Jesus.
And then, I wonder if a simple but hopeful practice for all of us this Christmas season is to give thanks to God and pray for all those who who are serving the poor, providing shelter to the homeless, caring for the elderly, walking alongside refugees, and of course, all the doctors and nurses working with the sick in the hospitals.
Wherever you are, we are praying for you. May you experience the nearness of God this Christmas; may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Knox.
Your pastor and friend,
Phil
