Greetings All!

Andy Williams made famous the Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, way back in 1963 when it was first released on his first Christmas album.  Written and composed by a couple of guys most of us probably don’t even recognize (Eddie Pola & George Wyle?), it has become a standard Christmas jingle heard every year on the radio and in shopping malls across America. 

Remember the first verse?

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all

Well, besides language and word meanings obviously changing a bit over 47 years (“kids jingle belling…gay happy meetings...), this song does a great job of making everyone whose Christmas doesn’t turn out to be “the most wonderful time of the year” feel even worse.  Humbug!

This time of year many a Christian can be found lamenting the “commercialization of the season.”  How terrible, we are told, that Christmas has become one great big spending spree where everyone feels obligated to buy stuff people don’t need with money people don’t have.  There’s a new definition of “wonderful”!  

But I think the issue is a lot deeper than that.  Why have we Christians decided to take our practical theology from Andy Williams instead of the Apostle Paul?  Why, when this time of year doesn’t pan out to be “THE most wonderful time of the year,” do we allow that to drive us to despair, depression and possibly drink?  Did God promise this would be “the most wonderful time of year”?  Send me the chapter and verse on that when you find it. 

In fact, looking at all the unrealistic expectations thrown on this season for shopping, spending, family, friendships, church, parties, no-parties, it becomes pretty clear why Christmas has come to signify, even for many Christians, the most difficult time of the year.  Sure, we all want to have that Hallmark-perfect family Christmas.  Bit I never have.  Oh, I’ve had lots of really wonderful moments in my life (some of them even at Christmas), but I still don’t think any of them are going to be made into a Hallmark Christmas special any time soon. 

Let’s get real.  Christmas is the MOST DIFFICULT time of year for lots of people, Christians included.  Might I suggest that might possibly be because we are looking to “the season” to do something for us that it doesn’t have the power to do.  Might I suggest that we stop wishing Christmas was “the best time of the year”, stop whining when it isn’t, and start really worshiping Jesus throughout it all instead of worshiping our overblown expectations? 

Let’s agree together to get out of our somewhat romantic, possibly self-obsessed notions of how “wonderful” this season is and get into something else—the real reason for the season, Jesus.  If worshipping him is what this is all about, there isn’t anyone of anything that can keep us from doing that except our own hearts. 

God’s present to us this Christmas is the same it’s always been—Jesus.  It’s not family, not friendships, not “gay happy parties” or even “kids jingle-belling.”  It’s Jesus.  If we’re disappointed with Him, there is no experience this Christmas or any other Christmas that will ever fill that Hallmark-created hole in our hearts.  God’s gift to us is still THE best—himself.  Let’s rejoice in HIM this season!  Then it truly will be “the most wonderful time of the year.”

NOTICE OF IMPENDING PRAYER FOR YOU

If you are a regular part of Mosaic Fellowship, you will probably be getting a call from someone else at Mosaic in the next few weeks.  (If you consider yourself a “regular part of Mosaic” and don’t get a call, it’s because we don’t’ have your phone number…or because I somehow messed up figuring out who is regularly at Mosaic!)  

There are about 18-20 people at Mosaic who have agreed to regular stay in touch with just a handful of brothers and sisters at Mosaic in the coming months.  They will do this by giving you a phone call about once or twice a month to see if there is anything in your life they can be praying for.  They won’t take more than 2 or 3 minutes of your time and they won’t be pushy.  We just want to make sure that no one is falling between the proverbial cracks at Mosaic and that everyone is being prayed for regularly. 

So when you get a call from someone you may or may not know at Mosaic in the next week or two, don’t treat them like another telemarketer (unless you love telemarketers). Treat them like your private prayer warrior.  Let them know where you are longing to see God move in your life or the lives of those you love.  And watch what God will do in response to the prayers of both of you. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Mosaic is serving at both CUP OF COOL WATER next Tuesday (Dec. 14th) and CITY GATE the THIS WEEKEND, Saturday (Dec. 11).  It’s always great to have some fresh faces join us at either of those ministries.  Contact Karen Chipley (467-8250 or email ) about Cup and Mike Mann ( or call 389-1871) about City Gate.  Then go and enjoy serving in Jesus name. 
• MOSAIC CHRISTMAS PARTY, SUNDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19 from 5-8PM

Plan to bring some finger food, your voice and even one of your favorite table games.  We’ll be preparing Christmas ornaments to hand out in the neighborhood, singing, playing games and enjoying food.  Then about 7pm we’ll head out to bring some Christmas cheer to our downtown neighbors as well as ornaments and invitations to join us for Christmas Eve.  Come enjoy some great fun and fellowship!

• CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATIONS:  at 3 and 5 PM, December 24^th at Second Space.  7-9PM at A-Club downtown.  Invite a friend and come celebrate!

Enjoying Jesus in the Season,

John