New pastor arrives in town

Wednesday December 19, 2007

We blew into town on Monday, Dec. 3. The white-outs along the Bluewater Highway and the fierce winds constituted a snow storm, even by Lucknow standards. But rather than postpone our move, the hardy folk of our new church home braved the elements and came out in full force to load our furniture and boxes onto the trucks. At the Lucknow end, a wonderful lunch was shared at the church and by mid afternoon our house had begun to look like a home. It was a beautiful welcome, characterized by warmth, excitement, eagerness and, considering the accumulating snow, a much needed sense of humour.
Mary and Joseph limped into town under less hospitable circumstances. They had made the trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a distance of about 135 kilometers. Perhaps you’re thinking, “that’s a long way”, especially since it was an uphill road, they did it on foot, and Mary was pregnant – very pregnant. Upon arriving at their destination, there was no welcoming party and no community standing ready with a hot lunch. There wasn’t even a place for them to sleep that night; every motel room was booked. So as Mary’s labour pains began, they made do by finding shelter in a barn. It was a harsh welcome, characterized by loneliness and the stark reality of poverty and hardship.
But where people had failed Mary and Joseph in welcoming them to Bethlehem and in welcoming the newborn baby into the world, God orchestrated a welcome that was beyond anything that any of us could imagine. He arranged for a heavenly herald to send out the birth announcement. He sent out an entire chorus of angels to declare the good news of Jesus’ arrival. When the locals heard the news they rushed over to see the baby and then they went off and told all their friends, all the while glorifying and praising God.

This Christmas we welcome Jesus again – we welcome him as God’s gift to us, a gift that brings us out of darkness and into the glorious light of living in the presence of our God. As we welcome Jesus, he welcomes us. In invite you to join in with the welcoming party this Christmas – read Luke 2:1-20 with your family; sing the Christmas carols – Silent Night, Joy to the World, Away in a Manger, take in a Christmas Eve or Christmas day service at one of our local churches. And when Christmas day is past, continue to welcome Jesus, by opening your heart to his life-changing love.
May God bless you with a wonder-filled Christmas.
Pastor Rita Klein-Geltink,
Lucknow Community Christian Reformed Church