Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
Whose Birthday Is It Really?
I was sent a devotional with the title, “Whose Birthday Is
It Really?” The author of the devotional
was Ann Voskamp who writes a devotional entitled “A Holy Experience.” In this particular devotional, Ann shared a life
changing moment in her family that happened when her preschooler asked, “What
does Jesus get for His birthday?” How
would you answer that question?
Many of us are busy getting ready for Christmas. A question we are often asked this time of
the year is, “Have you completed your shopping?” In answering that question, we generally
think in terms of all the gifts we will give this Christmas. But do we ever really consider the question, “What does Jesus get for His birthday?”
Ann did not have an answer for her son. So he pressed on; “But Mom…. if we get wrapped presents for our birthdays,
real sacrifices from people who love us — they gave up other things to
give something to us — then why don’t we do that for Jesus’ birthday?”
The son’s question
has led that family to radically change their approach to Christmas. They do not have presents under their
Christmas tree. In fact, they don’t
exchanged Christmas gifts in their family.
Instead, they give to Jesus by giving to the “least of these.”
During the last two
weeks of Advent they select projects to which they will give. At the breakfast table they have what she
called “His (Jesus) gift catalogues.”
Those include Compassion Catalog, Samaritan’s Purse Catalog, and World
Vision Catalog. Each day they pick a
project to which they will give. These
are their Christmas Gifts to Jesus.
As I read the
devotional, I thought about the Living Christmas Market we had in one of my
former churches. Each year, we would set
up a Christmas Market with Heifer Project International. Gina and I began to give a flock of chickens
each year in honor of her Grandparents.
At the market, we would get a Christmas card to send to her grandparents
to let them know that a flock of chickens had been given in their honor.
After her
grandparents died and we moved from that church, we stopped giving in that
manner. This devotional challenged me to
look again at our Christmas giving.
After all, “Whose Birthday is it really?”
This year we have
the unique opportunity of having Christmas fall on Sunday. I know many of us have family traditions related
to Christmas. But I cannot think of a
better why for families to celebrate the birthday of Jesus than to gather for
worship. After all, “Whose Birthday is
it really?”
Plans are being
finalized for a wonderful celebration of Christ birth. Our Christmas service will be at 10:00
AM. Steve West, who in now pastor of St.
Mark’s UMC in Birmingham, wrote some liturgy for the blessings of the
toys. We are going to use his idea
during the service. Children are invited
to bring one of their Christmas gifts, a non-scary, non-noise making toy with
them for the blessing of the toys.
This Sunday evening
we will go Caroling. This is an opportunity
to share some Christmas Joy with some of our Church family who are either
homebound or living alone. There will be
three caroling routes. Come and join in
this evening of ministry. It begins at
5:00 PM. When we return from caroling,
there will be some refreshments in the Fellowship Hall.
As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
