December 24, 2024 Reflection

Picture of Rev. Carla Wilks

Rev. Carla Wilks

Associate Minister

CHRISTMAS EVE

7pm Service

 

 

To join with us by watching our online worship, please click here.

On this holy night, we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who we also call the Light of the World, and the Prince of Peace. But let us be honest: it is not always easy to embrace the peace and light of Christmas at this time of year when we are stuck in traffic or long line ups at the grocery store, or when all around us the world feels so chaotic and conflicted. The headlines scream of wars and divisions, of economic instability, of ecological crises, of struggles with mental health and loneliness. Sometimes, it feels as though we live in a world more suited to the chaos of the inn at Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, than the serenity of a silent, holy night.

The Christmas story begins in that same kind of chaos. Mary and Joseph are caught in the midst of political oppression, forced to travel for a census mandated by the Roman Empire. A young woman, pregnant and vulnerable, is turned away at every door until she and her husband find shelter in the humblest of places. Into this messiness, this raw and imperfect moment, God enters the world in the birth of Jesus. Not in a palace, not in the halls of power, not in the safety of a Children’s Hospital, but in a stable. This child, Jesus is born in the margins, in the muck, in the midst of the ordinary struggles of ordinary people.

And isn’t that the wonder of Christmas? That God chooses to show up not in the perfection of our lives, but in our brokenness. Not in the absence of chaos, but in the very heart of it. For many of us, the Christmas season is filled with personal struggles and losses—grief for loved ones no longer with us, worries about the future, or the weight of unresolved broken relationships.

Yet, Christmas reminds us that God’s love enters even the most tender and fractured places of our lives. Christmas is the story of God’s love made flesh, a love so vast and so inclusive that it embraces all of humanity, no exceptions. That love is for all of us – no exceptions.  It is the story of hope born in the darkest of nights, a reminder that new life is always possible, even when we can’t yet see the light.

Here at Mount Seymour United Church, we strive to live into that hope, to embody the love and generosity that the birth of Jesus calls us to. Our values—Being Community, Living Generously, and Nurturing Spirit—guide us in all that we do. They remind us that the message of Christmas is not just something we celebrate once a year but something we are called to live out every day.

In the story of Jesus’ birth, we see a powerful example of what it means to be community. The shepherds, considered outsiders and outcasts, are the first to receive the good news. The wise men, strangers from distant lands, journey far to pay homage. This unlikely gathering around the manger reminds us that God’s love knows no boundaries. It brings people together across differences, creating a community rooted in compassion and care.

Here in this place, we live out this value through our commitment to inclusivity and connection. The welcome that you heard tonight at the beginning is the same welcome you hear each Sunday here.  Our time together in this sanctuary is more than just about us.  It is more than just an hour a week, or an hour each Christmas Eve – it is a connection to something bigger than ourselves, a connection to an ancient story that has stood the test of time and changed the world and has the potential to continue to change the world.  A story of connection, inclusion and a deep love that invites us to go out and be that love in the world. Not only was God with us in the birth of Jesus, but continues to be with us now, always, guiding us on our way.

This same spirit of love and connection extends beyond our sanctuary and into the spaces where our community gathers. Our café here at the church, open on Thrift Shop days, is a space where people from the wider neighbourhood can gather, share a meal, and find a sense of belonging. In a world where so many feel isolated and unseen, the simple act of sharing together at a table becomes a sacred practice. It’s a reminder that being community is not about grand gestures but about showing up for one another in small, meaningful ways.  Many of you have experienced the same thing in our Thrift Shop – whether you are a volunteer or a customer, there is a sense of community.  I have heard many customers over the years say that the shopping is secondary – they come for the sense of community in this place. 

The Christmas story is also a story of generosity. Mary and Joseph open their hearts to the overwhelming responsibility of saying yes to God. The shepherds leave their flocks to witness the miracle. The wise men offer their treasures to honour a child they’ve never met. Each character in the story gives of themselves in ways that reflect the abundance of God’s grace.

Living generously is a cornerstone of our faith and our ministry. Over the past year we have begun construction in stages for our Sacred Garden Project, a project that turns the church “inside out” offering places of engagement with the community.  You may have noticed our prayer wall as you came in tonight or used it over the last several months.  There is an invitation and an opportunity to write prayers and leave them in the wall. In the new year we will break ground for a labyrinth and sacred space on the grassy area beside the church.  These places of connection are intended to be places of reflection and renewal for anyone who needs it. Through this sacred garden project, we are planting seeds of hope, offering a tangible expression of God’s love for all people.

Generosity, though, is not just about financial giving or large projects. It’s about the posture of our hearts. It’s about seeing the needs of others and responding with kindness. For example, it could mean sharing a meal with someone who’s lonely, offering a listening ear to a friend, or volunteering your time to help a neighbour. It’s about recognizing that the good things in our lives—our time, talents, and relationships—are gifts, and using those gifts to make someone else’s life a little brighter. In the act of giving, we reflect the best of what it means to be human: to connect, to share, and to love.

These acts of generosity create ripples of kindness that can transform the world around us. They remind us that the greatest gifts are often the simplest: a warm smile, an open heart, and the willingness to care. In the act of giving, we reflect the very nature of God, who gave us the greatest gift of all in this simple, lowly birth.

Christmas invites us to nurture our spirits, to make space for the sacred in the midst of our busy lives. The angels’ message to the shepherds was one of joy and peace, but it required them to pause, to listen, to make the journey to Bethlehem. In the same way, we are called to pause and make room for God’s presence in our own lives. This means creating moments of stillness in the midst of our busyness, whether through prayer, reflection, or simply being present to the beauty around us. Making room for God requires intention—setting aside our distractions and worries to open our hearts to the divine. It might mean lighting a candle in quiet contemplation, walking in nature with a sense of gratitude, or finding God’s presence in the faces of those we encounter. These small acts of openness remind us that God is always near, waiting to meet us wherever we are, even when we feel unworthy, even when the chaos of the world seems overwhelming, even when we’re not feeling particularly connected, or generous.

As we reflect on making room for God’s presence, we recognize that this openness includes tending to the parts of our lives and our community that are most in need of care. A few years ago here at Mt Seymour United we began a project that focuses on mental health, providing support and resources for North Shore residents who are struggling. Anyone on the North Shore can apply, because we understand the complexities of wait lists in the publicly funded programs, and lack of coverage and limitations with private insurance.  Our project will pay for up to 16 sessions of mental health treatment.  So far we have supported 14 people from the North Shore with 108 sessions of therapy.  Our financial offering tonight will be collected to support our mental health project.

We understand that nurturing spirit means caring for the whole person—body, mind, and soul. Whether it’s through a conversation, prayers, or a practical act of care – by providing funds for therapy for people who need it – we strive to be a place where people can find healing and hope.

The Sacred Garden project will also play a role in this nurturing of spirit, offering a space for contemplation and connection. The labyrinth, an ancient spiritual practice, invites us to slow down, to walk with intention, to listen for the still, small voice of God. In a world that often feels overwhelming, these practices remind us that peace is not something we achieve but something we receive when we open our hearts to God.

Living out our values here means taking the love and hope that we find here and carrying it into the world. It means recognizing that the church is not a building but a people, called to live out our faith in every corner of our lives.

This is what Christmas calls us to as well. The birth of Jesus is not just an event to remember but a reality to live into. It’s a call to embody God’s love in all that we do, to be a light in the darkness, to be agents of peace in a chaotic world.

On this holy night, as we gaze upon the Christ-child in the manger, we remember that this story is our story. The God who came to dwell with us in Bethlehem is the same God who dwells in us and among us now, in our joys and in our struggles. The hope born that night is the same hope that sustains us today. And the love that entered the world through Jesus is the same love that calls us to be community, to live generously, and to nurture spirit.

So, as you leave this place tonight, after you extinguish your candles, may you continue to carry the light of Christ with you. May you find ways to bring peace to the chaos, to extend generosity in a world of scarcity, and to nurture your spirit and the spirits of those around you. And may you always remember that God’s love is for you, for me, for all people—now and forever.

Amen.