Weird and Wonderful Christmas
A recent podcast declared “Time is Way Weirder Than You Think.” That can feel especially true at Christmas. Some of my childhood memories involve days that seemed to run on for years, in the best sense. Days full of excitement, gifts, fights with cousins, food and laughter among family and friends. When I look back my memories run together. Was that all the same day? Or several years of Christmases collapsed? Time seems to expand.
In a way, the church calendar does expand time for Christmas. More than the 25th alone, the church celebrates the reality of God’s incarnation for 12 full days: the twelve days of Christmas or Christmastide. The fullness of God’s presence among us in Jesus Christ warrants this expansion of time. St. Augustine gets at the grandeur, mystery, and, yes, weirdness of what we celebrate in a Christmas homily, “The Lord through whom all things were made…was himself made among all things; the maker and placer of the sun, made and placed under the sun; producer of heaven and earth, appearing on earth under heaven; unspeakably wise, wisely speechless as an infant.” That takes more than a day to unpack.
At COTC our celebration of the incarnation will be spread out over these twelve days. There are three primary points of worship and gathering.
First, on Christmas Eve, we’ll worship at 5 pm at 8140 Exchange Dr. This service, as has been our custom, we include a song from COTC children, which they’ve been working on through Advent, and will conclude in candlelight with carols. This is both a beautiful and reflective time of worship as well as an opportunity for friends and family who don’t yet know Christ to encounter Him. Please pray for the Gospel to go forth and invite your friends and family! You can also bring some Christmas baking to share.
Second, on Christmas morning we’ll gather at 11 am (note the time change) for a short (about 45 mins) Eucharistic service. In place of the homily, we’ll invite the children forward for a brief reading of the Christmas story. Often COTCers attend this service on their way to Christmas gatherings after opening their presents in the morning.
Third, Sunday, January 1st is the second Sunday of Christmastide. This service (back at 10 am) will be a traditional service of Lessons & Carols in which we will chart salvation history through several Bible readings and rejoice at Christ’s coming in the singing of carols. This is often a last opportunity to sing these songs as a community.
Lastly, our Epiphany bonfires on January 7th marks the beginning of a new church season, but it does involve Christmas trees and greenery for burning. Check out the details below and bring out your Christmas trees to celebrate the light of Christ shining forth!
Ready to celebrate with you,
Peter+