I came across a poll last week, done recently by the Barna Research Group poll, conducted for the Lutheran Hour Ministries. It’d done in the United States, and the results would be somewhat different if taken here in Ottawa. The numbers, though, I find quite telling. Their story may not be so different here.
        It asked people what the most important part of the Christmas season was for them. Actually – before I give you their answers.....
                .....what would your’s be?
 

Of all the items that this season brings, including getting stuck in Merivale Rd. traffic at just about any hour these days.... the travels, the parties, family time, gifts, celebrations.....
        everything

of all that this season brings – what is the most important part of the Christmas season for you?

[pause for reflection time]

44% of the respondents said family time is the most important part of this season. Interestingly - regarding presents and parties..... all the money we spend and all the energy we expend..... guess what percentage of people would admit, out loud, that presents or parties are number one priority......... Only 3%. At least, that’s what they say. I wonder what their expense sheets or daytimers would tell about their priorities and values of this season? Same percentage, 3%, said that the most important part of the season was the stat holidays.
        Among all those surveyed, over 80% of whom claimed Christian affiliation of one sort or another, approximately 30% said that the birth of Jesus was the most important aspect of Christmas.

        "Americans are more likely to correctly recall the significance of Presidents’ Day than they are to connect Christmas with the birth of Jesus..... We have contracted acute amnesia regarding the spiritual significance of December 25," said pollster George Barna.

Folks - let it be said loud and clear that we at Calvin are hanging our proverbial hats with that 30% crowd. It is our contention, our desire, and our aim to walk through the celebrations of this season with full and clear focus on the coming of Jesus. We acknowledge that it IS the most important element of Christmas.

By the way..... does your planning and effort reflect that?

Let me quickly remind you of our holiday service schedule. We hope it will help provide a focus and setting for your Christmas and New Year celebrations.
        You can find these days listed on our web site at www.calvincrc.ca

December 17am - profession of faith; Sunday school program.
17pm - Caroling By Candlelight

December 24am - Lessons And Carols
pm - no service

December 25am - Christmas Day celebration

December 31am - Last Sunday morning worship of 2000
31pm - New Year’s Eve service of Holy Communion

January 01am - New Year’s Day service

***********************

The coming of Jesus Christ – the central focus of the season.
The question we’re focusing on this year is -
        Given that He did it...... why did He do it?
                Why did He come?
                What drove Him; motivated Him?

It’s basically the same question that many people were asking while Jesus was walking across Palestine - "What’s he up to? What’s he all about?"
        They didn’t understand. What they saw irritated them. Unlike today, when we’re faced with so many distractions, it was right in their face - front and centre, demanding their full attention.
                Why did Jesus come?
                What drove Him; motivated Him?

Listen as Andy reads for us part of the answer:
 

        All the people saw this, says Luke, and begin to mutter.
You know what muttering is, right? Scripture NEVER speaks in complementary terms about it -- muttering -- that nattering behind the scenes, grumble grumble, complain complain, cut down, criticize, nag and crab.
        Whenever you read about muttering in the bible, that’s what it means.

So:...... Natter, grumble, complain, crab.......
        "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."

        Exactly the same muttering, nagging, criticizing that is found 4 chapters earlier, Luke 15..... "But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’" (v.2)

        The problem, as they saw it, was that Jesus was hosting dinners, and inviting the absolute dropouts of society, the failures, the unbelievers and those whose actions were anything but proper for a believer in God.

        It was more than merely meeting them in the park for a quick sack lunch. It was an invitation to have a meal with him. He the host. They the guests. And in Palestinian culture that was no small thing! The guest was considered to bring honour to the household where he was invited. The host joins with his guests. He develops a relationship with them. The meal eaten together is seen as a special sign of acceptance.
        Jesus was receiving the ones that everyone else had written off, the black-listed ones, the "outsiders," -- counting it an honour to be with them.

        It was a very significant act by Jesus. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law understood that.... and took offense at it. They question Jesus.
                Mutter, mutter.

And with that dark cloud of questioning lurking on the horizon, Jesus teaches about the values of the Kingdom of God with two stories;
        stories which taught Christ's followers, and which teaches you and I in the Church at the edge of the new millenium, about heaven's attitude towards people, and about the basic reason
                        WHY JESUS CAME.

Let us hear those stories:

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep...."
        Unwilling to simply let it go, the shepherd heads out into the field. The 99 are left in the open country. Not leaving them all alone - Shepherding was never done by one person. They were always in groups of two or three. So the one shepherd would head out into the wilderness to find the lost sheep while his helpers would drive the 99 back to the safety of home, where eventually the seeking shepherd meets them.
        It would be a dangerous mission to head out into the rocky countryside alone, at night. Thieves could be present, as could wild animals.
                The shepherd would be vulnerable.

        Yet he goes. He simply can't go back and say - "Oh, hey, it's only one. We still have 99 more."
        Each one counts. Each is precious. The loss of even one is a terrible tragedy to the herd, the shepherd and to the community. I include the community, because a flock of 100 sheep never belonged simply to one person. They were grouped together - sheep of the entire village.
        So no effort is spared. No time is wasted.
        Passionate about what He does, the shepherd heads out immediately.

He searches. He finds. And two joys overwhelm him:
        the first is when he finds the sheep.
        The second is when the sheep is brought home.

The first joy is surprising. I am told by those in the know that a lost sheep will lie down helplessly and refuse to budge. The shepherd is forced to carry that animal over a long distance. And yet - knowing that much hard work is ahead of him - he rejoices!!
        He joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.

Then the second joy - the celebration as a community that:
        a/ the shepherd has returned home safely
        b/ the lost sheep is found.

        Remember the danger to the shepherd to be in the open field. And remember the attitude that the sheep were a communal possession - losses were felt by all, joys were shared by all.
        And so there is joy in the community.

        So, too, there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents - more joy than over 99 who have no need to repent! Think of it, there is a greater party in heaven, more singing of praise to God when we celebrate one conversion or profession of faith or baptism or return to faith, than over dozens and dozens of church services where faithful continue to gather.
        There is nothing that pleases heaven more than to see someone born again - brought from death to life!!

The whole point is intensified in the second parable - the lost coin.
        Here the loss is even great - not just one in 100. Now it is 1 in 10!!
        Palestinian women often wore coins as jewelry around their neck. The loss of the coin destroyed the beauty of the entire necklace. It wouldn't be the same until the lost is found.
                Again the intense searching.
                Again the joy of the community when the coin is found.
                And again the profound words:

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

        A lost coin... picture of a lost humanity.
        Well, it's only one coin. Not worth much, anyway. No sense crawling under the carpet and sofa around all those dust balls, aggravating my hayfever for a lousy penny. Won't notice that it's gone.
        But what if it wasn't a penny. What if it was a gold krugerand.... ?
        Well.... search, search, search.

Or the lost sheep, stubbornly insisting on going its own way. That's us.
The shepherd has two choices -
        1. Leave the dumb animal be. At least there’s still 99.
        2. Never mind the cost.....
And the shepherd makes his choice based on how much he values the sheep.
        He chooses.... and plunges into the dark, never mind the personal risks he has to take.

The woman and the coin.
The shepherd and the sheep.
God and humanity.
        Humanity wanders. They become lost. God in heaven says, "Hey, this is no good. Got to have them back."
                And so because his arms were empty, because he was aching to hold humanity close to himself again, he was willing to go a tremendously long way.
                        All the way to earth - to a cradle, to a human body.

In this Christmas season we sing about Immanuel, a name for Jesus that means "God with us."
        In Luke 19, Jesus calls himself the "Son of Man."
        It’s a name, a title, that means "Essence Of Humanity." A name that means he is totally, fully, right and completely human..... to the core.... like us.
                with us.
                        one of us.
                                God.
                                        To bring us home to the heavenly Father.

        Because people matter to God.
        You matter to God!

Christmas is about Jesus, God’s Son....and you.
        God in Christ loving you.
        God in Christ finding you.
        God in Christ claiming you.
        God in Christ coming to take you into His family.

        It wasn’t just a passing fancy that brought Jesus to earth. He wasn’t strolling through heaven, and decided to take a detour to our planet. It was a deliberate attempt, at great cost to himself, to rescue the lost.... that’s us.
        To rescue US!

        It cost him a lot to leave the purity of heaven to enter into a world that was whipped about by the storms of sin. But God’s passion drove Him to do it.

        There are some of you here who are still looking for God. I want you to know that God is looking for you. He went to great lengths to reach out to you. In fact, if you look, you will find that he is reaching out to you right now. Inviting you to become part of his family. All you need to do is take hold of his hand, by inviting him to come into your life.

"For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘I myself will search for my sheep and look after them... I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.... I will gather them.... I will bring them.... I will tend them... I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak...’" (Ezek 34)

Jesus is that Shepherd.
You are the one He came to seek.

Whatever else you do this Christmas season, whatever other priorities you have, please, please, please ----

        ---- make sure there is room for you to welcome Him, and take time to be with Him, who seeks for you.