Reflections on Christmas

06 Dec 2009

John Day, our newly appointed Archdeacon for Mission, reflects on the connections between Christmas and mission.

“The mission orders came from HQ. It was a green light. Gabriel led the way, angels began to tune up and the star department organised new activity. All were excited but daunted by the task. A child was to be born in a stable. But no ordinary child…”
The whole story in Scripture is one of mission - God reaching out to humankind - but Christmas marks a significant turning point. God in Christ becomes fully human, the Word becomes flesh, God takes on elbows and eyelids. Christmas should remind us that God is on a mission, a mission of salvation, and He relinquishes everything in order that this precious creation might be redeemed.

Worship and mission are what the Church should be all about, as we gather around Jesus in worship and are sent out by him in mission (Mark 3:13-14). Christmas is a terrific time to create mission opportunities for those who come to worship. Every parish should ask together ‘How can our Christmas this year reach out with a message of Good News for everyone? Actually, how could we reach out all year round?’
When we discover that we have a part to play in God’s mission plan for the universe it can excite us, but it can also fill us with some nervousness. Well don’t fret, because God in the power of the Holy Spirit offers and delivers us all we need. When we rely on God for everything we gain the confidence to tell our own Christmas story of good news to those with whom we share our lives with. Just as the child Jesus was born and a place was made for him, we partner with God to create a manger so that all can become God’s children (John 1:12).

How can our neighbours find Christ’s life? Will they discover a friendly community with courses like Alpha and Christianity Explained offered alongside genuine, loving pastoral care? Will they encounter God in the sacraments? Will they sense this parish making a difference in their community? Will they consider coming back when the festive season fades back into regular life? How well these questions are answered depends on each of us.

So how about personally issuing invitations to visitors at the Christmas services? Follow up the children with an invitation to the opening of Sunday school in February, extend hospitality with mince pies in the hall and an invitation to a picnic at the end of the summer, make an effort to visit new people when they return from holiday. Christmas comes but once a year (thank goodness, I couldn’t afford it more regularly!) but God’s mission is 24/7/365… That cost God in Christ all the way to death on a cross, and there is a cost to us too - to be Christ-like every day and for our Church’s communities to be outward looking and mission-focused.

Words: John Day