(excerpted)
One
day I was staring through the window of a beautiful little
Christmas shop. It was packed with Christmas items, even though Christmas
was still six months away. There were exquisite crèche scenes from Italy,
Germany, and Norway. There were fuzzy-faced elves and jolly old Santa
Clauses, sleighs and reindeer of every size and description, bells and
trees, and music boxes. There were nutcrackers and candles and electric
lights, angels and wise men and little drummer boys, stars and snowmen and
gingerbread cutouts. The little shop was fairly bursting with Christmas,
and a loudspeaker broadcast a medley of Yuletide tunes. It was infectious,
even in the summertime. And down in the corner of the front door, where no
one could miss it, was the neatest touch of all. It was a small sign that
said: "Christmas Spoken Here."
"Christmas Spoken Here." I cannot imagine a better slogan for the
church, at this season or any time of year, than that one. What could say
better why we are here? God has entered human history to change its course
forever. He has come as a Word, as something said, articulated, put in a
message: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). We
remember the event each year in song and pageant and decoration.
"Christmas spoken here." It has to be spoken here, for it is the basis of
all we do.
"Christmas Spoken Here." It is an appropriate motto for us. The church
ought always to speak Christmas. We ought always to be reminded of the
Word God has spoken: the intelligible, important, and loving Word of His
concern for us. And Christmas is the best time of all the year for
remembering it. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace
and truth." That is Christmas, and Christmas is spoken here. It will
always be spoken here.
Lord, You have spoken to us in the birth and life and death of Jesus,
and Your Word is plain. Help us to hear it and respond with all our
hearts. For there is no other word as intelligible, or important, or
loving as this one. Amen.
John Killinger
Christmas Spoke Here
Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1989, p. 11
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