It was the first Friday in November, and I was shopping in Pat Catan’s Craft Store. I was looking f or a few decorations to complete my Thanksgiving table. Suddenly, I stopped short. What was I hearing from the store’s audio system? Were those Christmas carols? As I looked around, I realized that the aisle next to me was stacked with Christmas decorations. Beyond that, I could see ornaments, trees, ribbons and wrapping paper. The store was in “full bloom” with Christmas supplies. As I left the store with my few merger turkeys, I thought to myself “Why so early? What’s the rush?”

     It seems that each year the stores are rushing to display the Christmas decorations earlier and earlier. As soon as Halloween goodies are put away, the stores are shelving their Christmas offerings. Why?

     As I glanced at the paper that evening, the economic section caught my eye. Phrases about the Christmas season popped out at me. “Will this Christmas be good news for the economy?” “Will customers light up the cash registers this holiday season?” “Will Christmas ring with cha-ching?” “Can Christmas save us this year?”

     As I examined each of these marketing slogans, I thought the catch phrases had the right message, but they were not conveying the right meaning. Christmas is NOT about cash registers, sales and the economy. However, Christmas will truly bring good news, illuminate the world, ring from the highest mountains, and save us from our sins.

     Christmas does bring good news to us. In fact, it brings the best news. The angel proclaimed the importance of that message on that first Christmas night. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people”. (Luke 2:10) Christmas announced that good news with an angelic telecast.

     Christmas will light up the world just as that first Christmas lit up the sky. “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his star in the east and we have come to worship him”. (Matthew 2:1-2) That light continues to shine in every heart that believes in Christ. That brightness will spread and illuminate the world and all its people. The radiance of Christmas will warm the hearts of mankind.

     The message of Christmas will ring out just as the angels sang that first Christmas. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men’ “. The message of the angels will continue to be sung loud and clear by young and old. The Christmas message will ring from heart to heart, and home to home.

     The babe born on Christmas will save us. “For unto you is born in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) Immanuel, God is with us, has been born in a humble stable, not for His sake but for ours. Truly, that baby born on that first Christmas was sent to redeem the world and all its lost sinners.

      The next time I’m shopping and I hear a Christmas carol, I plan to stop and take a moment to smile. I hope that I pause and reflect on what Christmas means to me. It really doesn’t matter what month the stores begin to play Christmas carols. The date on the calendar doesn’t mean a thing because Christmas lives in the hearts of all believers each and every day of the year. With that message living in my heart, I want to say to you “Joy To The World” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”,

     I pray that everyone has a blessed, healthy, happy Christmas. May God bless you and your loved ones with His mercy and His love.

     I hope to see you at the following Northeast Zone events that will take place in the new year.

     Prayer Service: Saturday, February 6, 2010

                                 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Painesville  

                                  (snow day February 27)

                                  Remember your Blessing Socks

      Spring Rally:    Saturday, April 24, 2010

                                 Faith Lutheran Church, Mentor

Serving our Lord and Savior together,

Jeanne

In His Service
Rev. Donald P. Beaumont
Joshua 24:15

Debbie Krainz of Trinity, Willoughby, is seeking news from the zone for the next issue of the Nor'easter. If you have news or pictures that you would like to include, please contact Debbie.

Pictures from the convention will be added as time allows.  If you have pictures you wish to share send them in reduced size to blelle@roadrunner.com (subject line LWML).  Also check the LWML Ohio District site for more pictures.