Dear Lehman Members and Friends,

It’s my privilege to be given a spot in our communications to offer December/Christmas greetings to you and all of your loved ones. I hoep youwill serve and participate in our events and opportunities this month.

I can’t believe it's December already. One would have thought that COVID would have slowed us down, but as Pastor Nancy has mentioned in a couple of meetings, we seem to have kept the same tempo of ministry as we would have without still fighting a pandemic that has changed our world. And so I would offer a word this month about dialing it back and putting all of our to do lists down for a moment (or two or more moments) to reflect on the simplicity, quietness, and centrality of a baby in a manger. No doubt you have been encouraged in the past to see and experience the full meaning of Christmas, and we all know it’s not found in the hustle and bustle, but in the moment of recalling the great gift of the appearance of God’s Son – nothing more. I think the Grinch had it right:

“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!”

“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”

“Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

It means much more! Mind you, Christmas is not just about feeling good inside and rejecting the consumerism of the culture, as it was for Mr. Grinch. It’s about realizing the One Greatest Gift that comes in the midst of our running around, and parties, and gatherings, and church stuff (yes, that too), and baking, and buying and... Dr. Seuss never said anything about Jesus coming in his poem, but we know that the reason our own hearts grow three sizes is because we have another opportunity to be reminded about the real reason behind the season. There in the quiet lies the baby that would change the world. Here, in our hearts we hold the baby, the Savior of the World.

No matter your level of Grinchiness this year, please don’t let the truth go by.Let the deepest meaning of Christmas fill you up and fill your heart to three sizes bigger. Enjoy the family, give thanks for your church and your place in it. Buy and give and exchange wonderful gifts and bake all the cookies you want! Do all those things that make what Christmas is to you. But much more than those, stop for a moment, please, and listen and remind yourself: Without all of that Christmas comes anyway. Christmas came, just the same! Christmas means a lot more! From the pastors and all the staff: Have an expectant Advent and a truly wonderful Christmas! –Pastor Andy