I have always looked forward to Christmas Eve. When I was growing up in a parsonage, we always ate a special meal of oyster stew (a tradition from my dad’s side of the family) and sandwiches and cookies before heading off to the Candlelight service at church. We would hear the songs and scriptures and sermon reminding us of God’s greatest gift to us all, The Word become flesh, God with us, the Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

As soon as the service was over, my siblings and I would run to the car and be ready to go. Why? Because we knew that we would be opening our presents as soon as dad got home from church. Well, not immediately. Another long tradition in our family is that once dad got home from church, we would gather around the tree. There was a plate of Christmas goodies for us to choose from, get something to drink, and one of us would read Luke 2:1-20. After that, dad would offer a prayer, again reminding us of the greatest gift we would ever receive, our Savior. Only then we would open our gifts, which were to remind us of God’s gift to us all. Then it was off to bed so we could get up and go to church again the next morning.

Cheryl and I continued those traditions in our home as we raised our family. While we let the kids eat potato soup, she and I still had oyster stew, as we will again today. And we always had someone read Luke 2 to keep our focus on Jesus as the reason we were all together to celebrate.

I still marvel at the love of God that was manifest in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem. That love was always there. It did not stop when Adam and Eve sinned, but was displayed in the promise to send one who would crush the head of Satan and restore us to God’s good graces. That love took human form in the fallopian tube of Mary, was carried in her womb until the time had fully come and He was born. Jesus then lived a life without sin so that He could pay for my sin with His life. I know He did it for everyone, but I prefer to make it personal, because I know He did it for me. That is what I celebrate at Christmas and throughout the year.

I have been looking forward to Christmas Eve this year. It will be the first time in five years that I will be with my church family for Christmas Eve, the first time since I retired that I will attend Candlelight Service at the congregation that I served as pastor for half my life here on earth. We will rejoice together again in that angel announcement:

Luke 2:10–12  “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”