A Gift Like None Other

THE GOSPEL FOR CHRISTMAS DAY: John 1:1-14 (MESSAGE)

The Word was first, the Word present to God,

      God present to the Word.

   The Word was God,

      in readiness for God from day one.

Everything was created through him;

      nothing—not one thing!—

      came into being without him.

   What came into existence was Life,

      and the Life was Light to live by.

   The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;

      the darkness couldn't put it out.

There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.

The Life-Light was the real thing:

      Every person entering Life

      he brings into Light.

   He was in the world,

      the world was there through him,

      and yet the world didn't even notice.

   He came to his own people,

      but they didn't want him.

   But whoever did want him,

      who believed he was who he claimed

      and would do what he said,

   He made to be their true selves,

      their child-of-God selves.

   These are the God-begotten,

      not blood-begotten,

      not flesh-begotten,

      not sex-begotten.

The Word became flesh and blood,

      and moved into the neighborhood.

   We saw the glory with our own eyes,

      the one-of-a-kind glory,

      like Father, like Son,

   Generous inside and out,

      true from start to finish.

The story of the incarnation really is amazing and wonderful.  Just as we have nothing to do with how and why God loves us, this Christmas we are reminded again that we have nothing to do with how and why God chooses to become one of us, live with us, share with us the joy and sorrow of life all while reminding us of the gracious gift of unconditional, limitless love.  This gift is offered to us no matter who we are or what we have done (or not done).  What a Christmas gift! 

This year, Christmas Day is on Sunday AND we are having Church!  Please join us at Christ Church on Christmas morning at 10:00am for a beautiful service beginning with a Christmas carol sing, Holy Communion and a meditation about the gift we receive this special day. I promise that there will be plenty of time to open presents and celebrate our Savior’s birth.

Hope to see you in Church on Sunday.