3 mins
Sharing the story
The Rev Ruth Kennedy considers how the ‘heartbeat of Christmas’ can be passed on.
The Rev Ruth Kennedy
Luke 2 4-5: So Joseph and his wife, Mary, left Nazareth, a village in Galilee, and journeyed to their hometown in Judea, to the village of Bethlehem, King David’s ancient home. They were required to register there, since they were both direct descendants of David. Mary was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth.
6-7: When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary went into labour, and there she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the newborn baby in strips of cloth, and Mary and Joseph laid him in a feeding trough since there was no available space in any upper room in the village. (The Passion Translation) ‘gave birth to her firstborn son’.
HEALTH warning! I love Christmas! It is true, I do love this season of Advent and Christmas and on into the New Year. I love it that Christmas carols, hymns, and songs about Jesus being born top the Spotify playlists, are played in shops, radio stations, sung in schools and on streets. Amongst the songs of love and life, sausage rolls, and other fabulous charity tunes, we can hear the simple message that God loves us and it’s all about this baby who was born.
Does your Church have a Spotify or YouTube playlist of Christmas songs that you could share with your community and beyond? Could you?
I love it how, more than any other time of the year, we are encouraged to love others, care for and help others, and participate in groups and communities outside of work. While Christmas marketing campaigns and catchy adverts try to feed the ugliness of consumerism, there is often an unpretentious message. Think of others, act accordingly, and show compassion for them. This message feeds off the heartbeat of Christmas, that humble message that God loves us and it’s all about this baby who was born for others.
Are you connected with local charities and groups on social media so that you can comment, repost, share, and support them digitally, in addition to prayer and being there for them? Could you?
I love how we, in an unfussy fashion, share the love of God in the narrative of the birth of Jesus, His presence with us, in services that heal sore-hearts and those that are full of joy. Despite the deluge of sensory input and overwhelming temptations to overstretch – everything, Jesus and His Body offer an uncomplicated, straightforward message: God loves us and it’s all about this baby who was born for us.
Do you have a video or audio of your local members reading the nativity story that you might share on your website, socials, or as a podcast? For all to hear or see with subtitles. Could you?
However, you have answered the ‘Could You?’ questions, whether you love this time of year or are quite relieved when it moseys on into January, let’s remember the meek, unworldly message contained in the words ‘The time came for the baby to be born’.
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Are you connected with local charities and groups on social media so that you can comment, repost, share, and support them digitally, in addition to prayer and being there for them? Could you?
These words, that manger, this focus on the Son, inspire a smile, cause a grin in our hearts that God widens out beyond our wildest dreams. Our actions, both in-person and online, follow that ever-broadening smile, helping others hear, learn, and experience God’s love as Emmanuel, God with us.
Yes, I love this season since it is all about Jesus! But then, we could write that about every season, couldn’t we?!
Have a Christ-centred, Christ-filled, Christ-encountering Christmas (and beyond!).
The Rev Ruth Kennedy is Digital Ministries Advisor for the Church of Scotland and minister with Sanctuary First.
This article appears in the December 2024 Issue of Life and Work
If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive
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This article appears in the December 2024 Issue of Life and Work