While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

With those few words in two short sentences the small town of Bethlehem bursting with visitors who had come for the census has come alive for Christians throughout the ages.  I was there a few weeks ago with several people from St. John’s and other friends.  There was no census, but there was quite a large crowd of people gathered in the Church of the Nativity waiting to descend to the crypt which was built over the place where Jesus was born.  The entrance to the crypt is through a narrow doorway and set of stairs with space for only one person at a time to pass through.  Hundreds of people were already in line and it seemed never to move.  In fact, the crypt was closed for an hour or so while the Greek Orthodox priests who administer the Church offered a special service of prayers which we could barely hear and not see.

 

The crowd became more and more restless as people grew tired of standing and impatient with the lack of movement.  People began to shove and push one another shouting in many languages.  Others tried running around the columns which demarcated the line in order to move ahead of those who had been waiting much longer than they had.  The Palestinian guards were armed only with batons, but they waved those and shouted for people to come to order or be ejected from the Church.  Suddenly a rather large woman punched one of our group in the back and shoved her way past us.  One of us yelled that she was not acting like a Christian!   In truth, none of us were.  Even those of us who refused to push and shout were thinking unkindly things about our neighbors.  And yet, here we had come to one of the holiest sites of Christendom because of the faith we shared in the Christ who was born in that place.  There was no other reason for anyone to be in that crowd that day.

In a small way, we were given a glimpse of what crowded inhospitable Bethlehem must have been like for Mary and Joseph 2000 years ago.  There was no room for them in the inn then and there was little more room for them or in our hearts some 2000 years later in that crowded Church.  So what hope is there for those of us who call ourselves Christian?   We really need a savior.  We simply are not able to save ourselves, we need someone to do it for us.  And that is the good news of the Incarnation.

 

When we left the Church of the Nativity we went to Shepherds Field where we offered a Mass together.  It was the place where the shepherds heard the angels sing “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”   He was not just born to be a kind teacher, or a great physical healer, or some sort of  prophet;  he was born to be the Savior we need.  We can never earn God’s love or eternal life.  Luckily we don’t have to because we have a Savior!  Join us in giving thanks this year at the services of Christmas here at St. John’s!

 

 

Yours in Christ,

 

 

Father C. H. Powers, Rector

 

An envelope is enclosed for your Christmas Offering.  This year your offering is more important than ever.  We are in the midst of an economic crisis and have fewer investment funds to draw upon.  And our ancient boiler has finally failed and must be replaced within the next few days.  Please be generous.