It has happened only about 10 times in my 62 years of life.  The next time it happens won’t be until 2033, eleven years from now.  Christmas on Sunday is a novel thing and ever since I can remember, it has always created a bit of question and challenge.  I probably don’t need to tell  you that the celebration of the Messiah’s birth aka Christmas has accumulated a lot of other celebrations along the way, not to mention the fact that we start “celebrating” weeks or months before December 25 arrives.

As a Pastor, I can tell you that Christmas is the one day a year that I feel truly unplugged from the responsibilities of work.  Everybody it seems recognizes that Christmas is the day to celebrate with family, relax, reflect upon blessings, and put together toys for children.

All of that changes when Christmas falls on a Sunday.  The intersection of this sacred holiday with the weekly gathering of God’s people for corporate worship creates unique opportunities and challenges.  I am usually asked, starting around September 1, when someone has peered into the future to see what day of the week Christmas will fall this year, what the schedule will be on Christmas Day since it is a Sunday.  I like the way the elders here decided the issue.  They recognized the challenges of families, especially with young children to not devote some morning time to the opening of presents, etc. but they also recognized the magnitude of this holiday being integrated into the Sunday morning worship time.

I would urge you to bring your family to corporate worship this Sunday, Christmas morning.  Besides the regular reasons you have heard me articulate on a frequent basis, I would draw your attention to one other.  Something happens, starting about 6 pm on Christmas eve and running to and through Christmas Day.  I sense it in myself and it is clearly observable in nearly everyone you encounter.  What I am referring to the sense of peace, joy, and goodwill visually demonstrated by people who have moved past all the hype, preparation, and expectations of others and when the day finally arrives, are different.  Sadly, it won’t last long.  The beautiful feeling will be swept away by the reminders that Christmas sales begin the next day, someone needs a gift returned, or some other distraction.

But when Christmas falls on a Sunday, that beautiful manifestation of humanity at its best is breathtaking and elegant, needing to be savored and relished, a picture of what could be, if.

Sunday at Itawamba Christian Church will be a special time.  Inspirational music, corporate praise, remembrance of the price for our deliverance, a shorter than normal message from the Pastor, and a special moment you shouldn’t miss as the cherry on top!  I do hope your Sunday plans include worshiping our King and I would encourage you to bring those of your family, it might be the Christmas that introduces them to or helps renew their faith in Jesus.  Merry Christmas!