Christmas Eve 2009 Our Greatest Need - Pastor Paul Larsen

After months of preparation and waiting, a little boy was told that he had a new baby sister. He was not overly impressed. When he went to school the following day his teacher remarked, I hear you have a new member of your family. The boy replied rather flatly, Oh, yeah. The teacher picking up on his lack of enthusiasm said, Aren’t you happy to have a new sister? He answered, Yeah, I guess. But there were a lot of things we needed more!

As we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ, there are some who would say, There are a lot of things the world needs more than it needs another baby! Each of us has needs and those needs seem critical to us.

Some need harmony in their home. The fighting and tension is more than they can take. There doesn’t even seem to be a truce at this time when we are supposed to be celebrating Peace on earth and good will to all.

Some need health – either for themselves or for a loved one. Illness and infirmity are an even greater burden during this season that is supposed to be filled with joy.

Some need things to change in terms of their employment. Maybe there is too much work to do and too little time to do it. Or, in this economy, many are out of work and worried about how they are going to pay the bills.

Some, maybe all of us, need money. Now that we have purchased all these presents we have figure out how we are going to pay for them.

We all have needs and when those needs loom large in our life it is hard to see how a baby born in Bethlehem can be of any help.

Pastor Larry Seyler tells of the terrible Christmas storm that blew into Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania in 1966. Over three feet of snow fell in four hours and more was on the way. Snow plows couldn’t keep the roads open and it looked like no one would be able to make it to Christmas Eve worship. The organist called and said that there was no way he could get there. The phone was ringing constantly with people asking if the service would be canceled or not. Most said they wouldn’t be able to make it. Larry was determined to have the service even if it was only he and his family in attendance.

When he went to the window to look out at the storm he noticed a trolley car stuck in a snow drift in front of the church. It was full of people. Larry waded through the snow and invited them all to come into the church to warm up. Relief spread over the passengers faces as they gathered up their belongings, piled out of the trolley and waded and stomped a path to the church’s door. While they all desperately wanted to get home for Christmas, they were at least glad to be in a place that was warm and dry. Coffee was started in the recreation room in the basement. Larry called his wife, Cathy, and asked her to bring the turkey over – he had forty guests to feed! She called their neighbors around the church and asked them to help feed this hungry flock.

The trolley passengers began calling home and explaining their situation. There was sadness and disappointment on both ends of the line. Everyone wanted to be home, but it was obvious that they would be spending the night. Travel was unthinkable. Nothing moved outside except the wind and the snow.

A few of the nearest neighbors fought their way over bringing casseroles and salads, towels and toothpaste, as well as orange juice and rolls for breakfast.

As people relaxed and as food was passed, spirits warmed and gradually laughter filled the hall. One man came back from calling his wife and said, She doesn’t believe I’m actually in a church. She hears all this laughter and thinks I’m at some party! She said, ‘You’re lying! You haven’t been in a church in 40 years!’

After their meal, people began gathering in clusters of conversation. Some stretched out on the mats used by the children attending the church’s preschool. Larry asked for their attention and announced, There will be a Christmas Eve service in the sanctuary in a few minutes. All of you are welcome to come.

The room became silent. People exchanged glances. In the middle of this hesitation Larry left for the sanctuary to prepare for worship. He wondered, Would anyone come? They all looked so comfortable.

Larry’s wife and kids came in and sat in the front row. Then their next door neighbors arrived. She had been an organist before she retired, so she prepared to play. It was a pretty small group. But then the door burst open and the trolley passengers came streaming in, smiling and whispering. Suddenly the church seemed almost full - full of strangers, all brought by the snow to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was a moving and worshipful service. Afterwards one woman commented, If I had managed to make it home there would have been family, food and gifts, but not Christ. Thank you for inviting me. To her, Christmas now meant more than it had before the storm.

This strange turn of events became a reminder to Larry that Christmas will always happen. It will not be denied. The message of the love God has for us evidenced by the birth of Christ is greater than any storm in nature or in life.

Christmas is stronger than any storm. And the Christ child brings us what we need whether we know we need it or not. Of all the storms that can blow up in our lives, there is not one that Christ can’t calm. Of all the needs we have, there is not one that Christ can’t meet.

In Japan there is a beautiful garden in front of a Buddhist temple. In the garden there are three fountains. One is the fountain of wisdom. One is the fountain of health. And the third is the fountain of longevity. It is said that if you put your hand in just one of those fountains you will receive what it offers. Which one would you choose: wisdom, health or long life?

Jesus offers us all three.

With his word we have all the wisdom we need in order to live our life in tune with God and others.

As far as health goes, Jesus told us that he came so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

Finally, he offers us more than longevity – he gives us the gift of eternal life.

This baby born in Bethlehem was born to be our savior. He suffered and died on the cross so that our sins might be forgiven.

His gift of forgiveness can empower us to be forgiving people. That can help us establish peace and harmony in our homes.

While he has never promised to heal our diseases, he does promise to be with us in our suffering and give us the strength to endure. He offers us hope, comfort and courage. He enables us to find meaning even in the midst of suffering.

When it comes to money, we have never been promised wealth, despite what some prosperity gospel preachers might say. But God does provide us with what we need from day to day. And he asks us to assist him in providing for those who are hungry and need help.

When it comes to our career we must remember that God has given us the talent and abilities we have. God wants us to use those talents and abilities to his glory and God will help us to be able to do that.

Our deepest need, however, is greater than any of those things. Our deepest need is for a right relationship with God and Jesus establishes that for us. We talk about Christmas being a time for giving and it is that. But we give because of what we have first received. On this Christmas Eve, we need to remember the great gift that God has given us. Jesus left his heavenly home to live among us. He came to us as a baby born in the humblest of circumstances. He came as a sign of God’s great love for us.

Angels sang his praises and we can join them in their song.

Shepherds came to worship and we can kneel before him also.

Wise men followed his star and we can continue to let the light of his love lead us through life.

Oh, we have lots of needs in life, there is no doubt about that. But Christ has come to help us meet our most important need. He has come to show us and give us the great love of God. He has promised us that nothing in all of creation can ever separate us from that love. With that assurance we can face our other needs and we can weather the storms and blizzards that might blow up against us.

There may be times in life when we think that there are things the world needs more than another baby. But this baby, born in Bethlehem, is the world’s savior.

This baby was born to meet our greatest need, the need for love, forgiveness and salvation.

This baby was born to calm the storms of life so that we might find peace.

This baby was born that hope and joy, peace and love might be born anew in us.

So let's celebrate the birth of Jesus!  Let's share the gift of love he has given to us!  Let's seek to fulfill the needs of other people wherever we are whenever we can!. Merry Christmas, my friends. Merry Christmas! Amen.

GUIDED BY THE GOSPEL: GATHERING • GROWING • GIVING