The Work of Christmas

We hope you had a blessed Day of Epiphany!

Photos from the last week of Advent

Photos from the Sunday School Advent/Christmas program on 12/20 and high school/young adult "Cookie Ninjas" delivering treats to those who work the night shift in service to our community, 12/18.

 

Bah, Humbug! A guest post from Jerry Johnson

Note: what follows is a guest post from CtK member, Jerry Johnson. Jerry's opinions are his own, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts of CtK or the ELCA.

Bah, Humbug!

     As I grow longer in the tooth, my attitude about holidays has changed--Margaret would say for the worse.  Some of it is definitely age related.  Huge holiday meals are overwhelming and leave me miserable.  Drinking has its own problems.  Staying late at functions has lost its charm and gifting in a materialistic society is crass at best.  January should give us a new start, but it’s frequently with unneeded pounds and a feeling of exhaustion. 

      In our current atmosphere of fear “Christians” forget their role and want to isolate Muslims as we did to the Japanese in WWII.  They complain about Starbuck’s holiday cups, saying they either promote Jesus or dis him, when the intent was neither.  Earlier cups had snowmen, candy canes, etc. which are not Christian symbols.  My understanding is the plain red and green cups are so you can decorate them any way you want, or not.

     Christians whine about the “War on Christmas” not fully knowing the history or seeing the melding of the spiritual and the commercial and of course we’ve carried political correctness from reasonable to ridiculous.  The origins probably began with celebrating the lengthening of the day after the winter solstice, and Romans celebrated December 25 as the birthday of the sun god Mithra.  It wasn’t until the 4^th century A. D. it was associated with Jesus’ birth and didn’t become significant until the time of Charlemagne around 800 A. D.  Catholics made it a tradition and Protestants banned it (Puritans thought Jesus was born in September and they hated the associated holiday debauchery in late medieval England).  The Christmas tree came from Germany and was considered to be a symbol of pagan idolatry.  The Lutherans were castigated for “groveling before a shrub.”  Jeremiah 101-4 condemns cutting down a tree from the forest and decorating it with silver and gold.  George Washington even attacked the Hessians during the Battle of Trenton in 1777 on Christmas because it was a popular German holiday.  Clement Moore’s poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” in 1823 was an enormous success.  In 1836 Alabama declared Christmas a public holiday, but it wasn’t until 1870 that President Ulysses S. Grant declared it a federal holiday.

     Of course, the media likes turmoil, so they seize on anything to stir up the pot.  I find Advent a time to reflect.  I like our “Soup and Service” suppers and the fellowship.  In our Tuesday men’s Bible study we studied Stephen Patterson’s book, Beyond the Passion: Rethinking the Death and Life of Jesus.  Patterson says that without Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection are meaningless.  Ernest Campbell said the Gospel receives its force in the world from the fact that it was lived.  People confuse expressing religious values with living them.  The most recent example of this is Martin Luther King, Jr. who preached passive resistance as did Ghandi.  We put King on a pedestal and violence is still the way.  The same could be said for Jesus, revere him, but don’t follow him--that could be dangerous to our health (mortal, not immortal).

     As Advent draws to a close and Jesus’ birthday is upon us we need to think on what it’s all about.  We should recognize that all things change, even what we know about Christmas.  We should remember in Jesus’ life and love he reached out and asked us to follow him--feeding and clothing the poor, visiting the sick,  taking in the stranger and visiting prisoners.  For each other it will be plenty sufficient to share our love.

                                                          Jerrold E. Johnson, 12-21-15

Annual Caroling at the Hospital

Warm up your voices!
This Sunday, December 20th, carolers of all ages will gather at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital (at 3:00pm in the chapel, by the main entrance) and share God's love and the joy of Christmas with patients, families, and staff.
Wear a santa hat if you have one!

This is a re-post of a previous blog entry. But it fits! Just change the "12" to a "15." And, if you've signed up for the youth group to do the blessing with you on Wednesday, we'll see you then!

Merry Christmas!
I hope the season has been filled with joy, love and wonder at the Incarnation for you and your family!

Tomorrow is Epiphany, and it's customary in many homes (especially in Western Europe) to mark the lintel above the front door with symbols of blessing. You can do it, too!

Mark the front door (or somewhere on the door frame) with these symbols: the date, abbreviation of the phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat ("Christ bless this home" - which are also the initials of traditional names for the Magi - Casper, Melchior and Balthasar), and four crosses (representing the four seasons).

Order the symbols in the following way: 20 + C + M + B + 12

In the new year, this marking serves as a blessing over the entire household. Be as artistic and creative as you want! Get a jump start on an art project tonight and post it tomorrow night - use markers or do a collage on a piece of cardboard! Alternatively, the marking may be made with chalk, for those who like to keep things simple.

And don't forget the prayer of blessing!
One person, or the whole household together, prays:

Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return. And at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your father's house, where you live forever and ever. Amen

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

On this tenth day of Christmas... Christmas seems just about over for all but the most stubborn die-hards. Why is it that while the commercialized aspects of the season seem to appear earlier and earlier each year, everyone is always in such a hurry to get on with things after the 26th of December? Why not linger in the warmth of the celebrations and lights?

And, speaking of lights... The 6th of January is the Epiphany of Our Lord. Here at CtK we'll be celebrating a day early, this coming Sunday the 5th. So be prepared to sing "We Three Kings" and "The First Noel" and a few more Christmas carols. The celebration continues!

If you enjoy the visual arts, poetry and liturgical fun, then check out Jan Richardson's Epiphany reflections and blessings here. Enjoy!

Christmas Greetings from the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA

"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant."

We all know the story. The shepherds traveled to Bethlehem and found the little Lord Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
But what I think we often overlook is what the shepherds did after they left the manger. "When they saw this, they made known what had been told about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:17-18).
The shepherds shared the good news that God is now with us, has become one of us and remains with us, bringing abundant life to all. As we gather this Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Christ child and hear the wondrous story, let us join together as a church to proclaim the good news. "Christ the child was born for you!"
This time also marks the completion of our observance of over 25 years together in Christ as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are a church that belongs to Christ, and we give thanks and praise to God for the many ways in which the coming of Jesus has blessed this church and our world.
It is all too easy for us these days to be constantly aware that this world is fraught with turmoil and danger. The same was true for the world in which Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lived. But the ultimate hope for all people across all times is the hope God gives us in the Word made flesh, our Lord Immanuel.
"O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!"

Christmas blessings,
Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Merry Christmas! Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king!

Thank You from Family Promise

Happy 5th Day of Christmas!

Below is a video from Family Promise of Gallatin Valley, thanking all their volunteers and supporters for so much good work in 2012.
Christ the King Lutheran Church supports Family Promise financially throughout the year, sends youth to help clean up the Day Center during the Middle School Service Plunge, and also opens our building to house families for a month each summer. THANK YOU to all the volunteer meal hosts and overnight hosts, those who help with set-up, clean-up, laundry and ALL that goes in to helping end homelessness, one family at a time.

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Happy Fourth Day of Christmas!

Today is the Day of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs. The infant martyrs commemorated on this day were the children of Bethlehem, two years old and younger, who were killed by Herod, who worried that his reign was threatened by the birth of a new king. Augustine called these innocents "buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves." Those linked to Jesus through their youth and innocence encounter the same hostility Jesus encounters later in his ministry. (From Sundays and Seasons Year C 2013, published by Augsburg Fortress)


If you want to read about the Holy Innocents, head to Matthew 2:16-18. 

As much as this story is a "downer" in the midst of Christmas, it serves as a reminder that Jesus was born into the real world, a world full of beauty and love, yes, but also full of danger and sin. Perhaps it can inspire us to offer blessing and care to the "Holy Innocents" of our times and places.

Happy Third Day of Christmas!

St. John the Evangelist and Theologian, Russian Icon, 18th C

Today is the feast day of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist.

John, the son of Zebedee, was a fisherman and one of the Twelve disciples of Jesus. John, his brother James, and Peter were the three who witnessed the light of the transfiguration. John and James once made known their desire to hold positions of power in the kingdom of God. Jesus' response showed them that service to others was teh sign of God's reign in the world.

Tradition has attributed authorship of the gospel and three epistles bearing his name to the apostle John. John is a saint for Christmas through his proclamation that the Word became flesh and lived among us, that the light of God shines in the darkness, and that we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us.

Information taken from Sundays and Seasons Year C 2013, published by Augsburg Fortress

Merry Christmas!

May the joy of the Christ's birth fill your heart and home this day and always!

Light Looked Down

Light looked down
and saw darkness.
"I WILL GO THERE," SAID LIGHT.

Peace looked down
and saw war.
"I WILL GO THERE," SAID PEACE.

Love looked down
and saw hatred.
"I WILL GO THERE," SAID LOVE.

So he,
the Lord of Light,
the Prince of Peace,
the King of Love,
came down
and crept in
beside us.

- From Cloth for the Cradle, by the Iona Community/Wild Goose Worship Group

2012 Christmas Message from Bishop Mark Hanson

This year's Christmas message from the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA is below.
Merry Christmas!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas: House Blessing Preparation

Merry Christmas!
I hope the season has been filled with joy, love and wonder at the Incarnation for you and your family!

Tomorrow is Epiphany, and it's customary in many homes (especially in Western Europe) to mark the lintel above the front door with symbols of blessing. You can do it, too!

Mark the front door (or somewhere on the door frame) with these symbols: the date, abbreviation of the phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat ("Christ bless this home" - which are also the initials of traditional names for the Magi - Casper, Melchior and Balthasar), and four crosses (representing the four seasons).

Order the symbols in the following way: 20 + C + M + B + 12

In the new year, this marking serves as a blessing over the entire household. Be as artistic and creative as you want! Get a jump start on an art project tonight and post it tomorrow night - use markers or do a collage on a piece of cardboard! Alternatively, the marking may be made with chalk, for those who like to keep things simple.

And don't forget the prayer of blessing!
One person, or the whole household together, prays:

Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return. And at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your father's house, where you live forever and ever. Amen

Chalking the Door
(from http://mugsmettlesandmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/01/traditional-epiphany-house-blessing.html)

The Eleventh Day of Christmas: The Magi Are Getting Closer!

The two sets of wise men at our house are ready to make their grand entrance into the creche scenes that have been awaiting their arrival. Our tradition is to let them move slowly across the living room from Christmas Day until Epiphany.
We Three Kings is one of the songs that we play this time of the season of Christmas. (This version is good for some 11th day of Christmas dancing with toddlers!)

The Ninth and Tenth Days of Christmas: Beginning Intentionally

A couple of years ago someone introduced me to The Abbey of the Arts. I'm still subscribed to an occasional email list, and so found this article with suggestions for observing the 12 Days of Christmas. I know, it's a little on the late side, but there's no reason one couldn't use these practices now - it's still the beginning of the year, and still winter (sort of!?!).
If you do engage these, please let me know - I'd love to hear about your experience. And should you decide to read widely and deeply about/from one of our ancestors in the faith, I'd especially like to pick your brain.

The Eighth Day of Christmas: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is off to a wonderful start for you!

The 1st of January is the day each year we celebrate the Name of Jesus. This celebration lands on the 8th day of Christmas, since eight days after his birth Jesus was circumcised according to Jewish law and given his name - the name the angel announced before he was even conceived.

As Christians we bear Christ's name in and to the world. You are a child of God! Not a bad thing to remember, and give thanks for, as we begin a new year...

The Sixth and Seventh Days of Christmas: O Star-flinging God

O Star-flinging God

O Star-flinging God,
whose light dances across eternity,
  dazzle us into your presence
  this new year.
Open our hearts to the mystery of your love.

Awaken us to your presence,
  knit to the ordinary.
Reveal to us what is possible, but not yet present.
Heal us, that we might be healers.

Reconcile us to you and to ourselves,
  that our living might be reconciling.

Stop us often, we pray
  with news that is good
  with hope that holds
  with truth that transforms with a Word
    tailored to this trail we're on.

May the word of your grace guide our steps
  like the sun by day
  and the north star by night,
  as we travel into the gift of a new year. Amen.

~Glenn Mitchell

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas: Some Christmas Whimsy

During my growing up years, watching The Muppet Show was a regular part of evening life. If we (my younger sister and I) had "been good" we might get to stay up to watch Donnie & Marie afterward. With bowls of ice cream.

Every year on the fifth day of Christmas I remember Miss Piggy and her "ba dum dum dum" after "five go-o-ld rings."

I hope you enjoy it.

The Fourth Day of Christmas: Holy Innocents

Today is a harder day of commemoration. Right in the middle of our ongoing celebration of the Incarnation, we are reminded that the birth of the Baby in Bethlehem didn't seem like good news for everyone. The Gospel according to Matthew tells us how Herod ordered the slaughter of children in and around Bethlehem, out of fear of losing his throne to a newborn king.
Augustine called these innocents "buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves."
Today we pray for all those who suffer unjustly and for those persecuted for their faith.