Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

Just a thought I had yesterday, Thanksgiving Day, driving on the way a family event in Longmont there was a parking lot and a Best Buy Store. It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I think the store opened at midnight. There was a long line of people waiting to get in. Some of them had tents and obviously were planning to be there into the night.

I am preaching a sermon on "preparation" for Christmas. Advent is four weeks preparing, spiritually, for the birth of the Christ Child. I am in favor of preparation and I believe the people waiting in that line were thinking about preparation as well.

But something seemed over the top with people who were camping out and waiting to get into the store at midnight on the day when we were poised to be thankful for the what we have. Here were people on the day of thanksgiving where we were to be thankful for that we have, waiting in line to purchase gifts and items so that people could have more. That doesn't quite add up.

I know part of the preparation for Christmas involves shopping. Gift giving is a part of the season, but if that is the primary thing it is it seems to be missing the point.

The preparation we need to consider is not quantities if gifts but qualities of experiences and it seems if our focus is on the gifts to buy and the time to do it instead of the relationships we might miss because of the stress of shopping then, something is out of balance.

The Census Taker in the story and the institution that established that institution may get an absolutely accurate count of the people who come to Bethlehem, but they will not have, in any way, a true picture of the people who are there. What's one baby among thousands of citizens? One baby doesn't count for any more than one unless that one baby is the Christ Child (or your child, or your grandchild).

How do we prepare for Christmas Spiritually? This will be the focus of our worship services each Sunday in Advent.

How do you prepare for Christmas spiritually? How does that involve shopping? I believe it can involve shopping. Is there a way to shop spiritually?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward from hearing from you.


Charles Schuster