With the close of the Christmas season, real ministry begins

The Rev. Ashley Masoni, associate pastor, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 5700 W. Sixth St.:

Christmas is a funny time of year because it always makes us change our routine. There is more shopping to do, there are more parties to attend, and there is a whole year upon which to reflect. It is a time to celebrate the greatest gift we could ever receive, and the holiday gives us a chance to do exactly that: to give special time and attention to God.

When the Christmas season is over, I don’t feel let down because that is when the real ministry begins. We are called to open our hearts to God every day, in all that we do, not just during the holidays. It is when we let God into our daily routine, not just into our special celebrations, that we are truly living the call that God gives us, to give everything we have to him.

It is my hope that the light which we receive at Christmas, the light that leads us to Christ, will remain with us throughout the whole year. Sometimes we have trouble remembering that each day we are given a new life in God, a life that is free of sin and full of faith, truth and hope. Sometimes we forget that peace is possible and that the world can be free of its burdens if only we can open our hearts to let God do his work here.

At Christmas, we are reminded of all these things. The time after Christmas is the time when we challenge ourselves to keep the excitement, the faith and the enthusiasm of the holiday alive. May 2008 be filled with all good things!

– Send e-mail to Ashley Masoni at pastorashley@sbcglobal.net.

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Holiday expectations are often times difficult to live up to

Doug Heacock, contemporary worship leader, Lawrence Free Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave.:

It’s not difficult to imagine why some people experience a letdown after Christmas – if your life doesn’t measure up to some advertising-fostered portrait of serene, happy family times and warm, fuzzy holiday feelings, you might feel you’ve missed out or failed in some way. For some people, the expectations we have for our holiday celebrations just never pan out; for others, the holidays may bring memories of the loss of a loved one. The sudden end to all of the preparations for Christmas, putting the decorations away, having your loved ones leave – all of these things can lead to a post-holiday depression.

I would suggest that a post-Christmas letdown may indicate a failure to understand and appreciate what Christmas really is: a celebration of “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11).

Christmas is a celebration of the coming of Christ into our world, God with us, to live human life among us and show us the nature and character of God, and ultimately to be the once-for-all sacrifice for our sin. The coming of Christ started an unstoppable process through which God opens the door to relationship with him. Christ has come, and he is coming again.

We may tend to view Christmas as the end of a month of preparation, shopping and parties, but it is truly the beginning of the possibility of new life with God.

– Send e-mail to Doug Heacock at doug.heacock@gmail.com.