December Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
With the snow that fell and blanketed our yards on Tuesday, we can joyfully exclaim, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!”
But, at the same time, we sadly confess, “It does not feel a lot like Christmas.”
Many of us sadly gave up gathering with family for Thanksgiving. And now, as we face the prospect of celebrating Christmas without our cherished traditions—namely, without gathering as a family of faith on Christmas Eve, shoulder to shoulder, seeing the light of our candles light up our sacred sanctuary, and hear our voices joined in singing “Silent Night, Holy Night”—we hardly know what to say.
We may find ourselves standing with the Grinch who Stole Christmas, saying, “Stink, Stank, Stunk!”
We, as God’s people, have been in trying times before. During one such time, the Psalmist cried out, “How long, O Lord? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long?” (Psalm 13:1-2).
As this pandemic goes on and our church sanctuary remains closed, we too wonder, “How long, O Lord? How long until we can gather together again?”
We are not the only ones asking these questions. The Agape Circle Presbyterian Women’s Group at First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, Tennessee wrote this lament.
How long has it been
since we looked each other
in the smile?
How long since
friendship’s physical embrace
slowed our heart,
deepened our breath,
and enlivened our spirit?
How long since songs
flowed from hearts
across vocal cords
as our voices echoed
off the walls
and were absorbed
by one another’s bodies?
How long since our bodies felt
the familiar contour
of pew, cushion and floor,
or maybe choir loft chair;
since our eyes rested
on well-known architectural lines,
and the faces and shapes
of faith companions on the journey,
lit by refraction through stained-glass stories?
Knit us together,
O holy loom-keeper,
removing unjust thoughts
and actions.
Make us your people
and let us once again celebrate
Communion with bread and cup
shoulder to shoulder
and heart to heart.
Nourish us with your courage,
that we may be and become
your loaf and cup
for our hungry and thirsty world.
This lament ends with a word of hope. I love the prayer, “Knit us together, O holy loom-keeper.”
That is my prayer for our congregation this season: “Knit us, together, O Holy God, keep us connected, one to each other.”
During this Christmas when we are apart, here is one way that we can be knit together and connected with one another: Take a picture of your family at home. You can be dressed up or in your pajamas. You can be by your Christmas tree or outside in the snow. You can even include your pets, if you want. Just take a picture and then send the photos to: photos@cpcba.org
If you want to make a short video, you can either send to photos@cpcba.org OR upload (see instructions on http://cpcba.squarespace.com/send-photos-and-videos).
We will put all of the pictures into a slideshow, which we will run on Christmas Eve, during our online worship service, so that you can see all of your friends and celebrate joyfully with your family of faith.
So, what do we say about this COVID Christmas?
Just as the Grinch realized that he could not steal Christmas, so COVID cannot steal Christmas.
No matter how we celebrate it, the truth is that this year, just like in every year since that first Christmas, the angels will proclaim:
“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:10-14)
Christmas Blessings,
Donna