Prayer

Lord as we ponder your words open our hearts that we may understand and know you. Amen 

Sermon    

  Today is one of those once in a life time days.  The date, works out to be 123123  12/31/23.  We are waltzing out of the old year into the new.  The wonderful dance of live will move us around the dance floor of the new year.  123123 we turn and we see the year past.  

This season in my Westfielding has left me being in the 1840. 

 It was a time when The feast of the Nativity, was still a time when the twelve days of Christmas were honoured. A time  Twelfth night gathering  and wassail and Wassailing.  Wassail drink Ale, a word that means be of good health.  What I have learned and  discovered was the simplistic beauty of an un commercialized Christmas.  That Christmas was about connecting being with family and friends.  To own what is all about. 

The absolute beauty of faces lit with candles singing a beloved carol wrapped in the serene presence of our sanctuary on Christmas eve gave way to wonder of a wonderful white Christmas.  Well if you can call fog white.   

   I confess I did use a few tissue throughout Christmas day. 

    123123 we waltz we turn and we see our present.  

 I have been reminded of the simplicity of the Christmas season. No high Catholic robes this year, but a simple cowl.

For the story we are called to hold to in this moment is one of simple love. The love of a mother holding her first child. A love that cannot be explained in any human term. A love that is truly divine. A love that transcends visiting angels, and heavenly hosts, of shepherds crowding in for a look.  A love that will move beyond what is yet to come.  This is a love that given by God for this moment.   This is Christmas.

It is true The Time will come when you are dragging all the boxes up from the basement to box up Christmas .   For some this has happened some of us will hold out for the twelfth night.   

It is that time to Reflect  once more.  Ornaments cherished once more stir a memory, and then laid lovingly away. Nativities boxed once more, lights turned out. Still, still still is the room once more somewhat barren with it’s festiveness stored away.  Still, in the cold days of winter the yule tide love remains as we move to new beginning. Life beyond the resolution, which will fail. A new beginning  striving for change in our lives a thought that has a better chance then giving up collecting rocks and antiques. 

    123123 we waltz we turn and we see what is yet to come.   

Someone once wrote.

Follow the kindness 

Where there is kindness go there.

Go towards kind people

Be a kind person and others will come to you.

Dr. David Hamilton writes Christmas reminds us to be best of who we can be.  This is the gift we are called to hold. We are reminded to hold the gift of  hope peace joy and love

Follow Jesus, where Jesus is go there

For there you will find hope for the New Year

For there you will find peace in the trouble times

For there you will see the beauty of each day, the kindness of people the joy that this life offers For there you will know love  

This season in my Westfielding has left me being in the 1840. 

My last day in  my building  I did not get too much traffic. It meant that I spent some time just sitting in front of the Fire. Very quiet, very centering, and truly a gift. As we celebrate this Christmas Tide, take the rest of these  twelve days to just be. Find your centering, be in the moment and know that in your soul all is well. 

Be someone who follows  the Child given to us, this Jesus, share this good news and others will come.   

Embrace Christ’s mass for what it truly is.   God with us.  Emmanuel reminding us that we are not alone