Bells ring, carols are sung, cookies are baked, gifts are bought with care, Advent calendars are opened, cards are shared, and love shines in faces while waiting for Christmas. As Christians, we worship and wait for Emmanuel, God-with-Us, to come into our hearts again, and while we love to hear these stories repeated—the message of Jesus is out in the public square right now! It is said that love, hope, and faith are contagious. Are you a carrier?
Community UMC is intentionally cultivating an invitational, open, and welcoming way of being that is noticed and felt by those who come into the church. But, what about those not here (or in any church) yet? In poll after poll, as many as 82% of unchurched people say they are open to coming to church if someone invites them! Here’s my question: When did you last invite someone to join you at church? Would this Christmas season be a good time? Other research shows that Christmas is the easiest of all on-ramps into church.
Community has lots of opportunities that are great times to invite friends, neighbors, and relatives: a special performance of holiday songs by the well-known DC Capitol Carillon bell choir, the community Cookie Walk, and our children’s telling of the birth of Jesus in “We Knead a Little Christmas.” For those who are grieving or experiencing a tough time in life, we acknowledge and support them through our Longest Night worship service. These are in the rear-view mirror now.
Yet, there is still time to invite someone to the Family Christmas Eve service and the Traditional Service with candlelight singing! And, coming soon in January is a short six- week study that will wrestle with the hard questions of our faith, among them: Is there a God? Are all non-Christians going to hell? Is heaven real? What does it mean when prayers are unanswered? Maybe this would be the “something” someone is waiting for you to ask them to!
My prayer is that your love, hope, and faith will be re-ignited by the message of Jesus, God’s Son, coming again into our hurting and broken world to save it and us in all ways, and bring wholeness and fullness of life, everlastingly. If it’s true that love, hope, and faith are contagious due to Spirit-filled people, then I encourage you to spread the “good news” near and far this Christmastide.
I’ll see you in church…with a guest.
Blessings with joy,
Barb Julian, Lay Leader
