I hope you had a good Christmas this year despite everything. This has been a Christmas unlike any other in any of our memories. Not even the World Wars forced the suspension of in-person worship. This year has been hard for us all. And for many – not just some – it’s been brutal. When we missed Easter earlier in the Pandemic I was sad. That’s my favorite service of the year. I missed it a lot. I couldn’t imagine that we’d also miss Christmas Eve too. And I think it has surprised most of us. And to top it off the virus is still burning hot through the world and our state and Orange county, so even with the vaccines becoming available, Easter 2021 is still not certain.
As we come to Christmas we are mindful of how painful this year is. As for me this is the first time in over 50 years I’ve not been ‘in church’ on Christmas Eve. For some of you it may be an even longer time. We all deeply miss each other at church and also gathering with family for festive meals or traveling.
Early this morning (Christmas Eve) I enjoyed listening to the Service of Lessons and Carols broadcast from Cambridge, England. They have been doing this at King’s College, Cambridge since 1918. In fact, they invented it. This is a powerful and beautiful service – the ‘gold standard’ for Lessons and Carols services. Right now Britain is under a lockdown and they could not meet in the Chapel to perform the service for the first time in their 102 year history. Fortunately they had planned ahead and pre-recorded the music at the rehersals. Good thing they did. This sort of thing is happening all over the world this year – including at Lamb of God. We’ve had to adapt, too. It isn’t ideal, but it is working reasonably well for now. We can only hope better days will come sooner than later in 2021.
What I’d like to ask you is this question: How has this year changed your feelings about Christmas? How do you think differently (or perhaps not) about Christmas after what you’ve experienced? And, how will what happened this year change what you do at Christmastime next year – assuming, of course, the virus is no longer a problem then. I’d be very interested in your thoughts. Feel free to share your reflections here.
Lamb of God Lutheran Church
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lamb of God Lutheran Church is a caring Christian congregation affiliated with the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are a Reconciling in Christ Congregation. We offer traditional worship services, warm Christian fellowship, and a variety of activities for all ages.
Contact Us
Lamb of God Lutheran Church
621 S Sunkist ST
Anaheim, CA 92806
p. 714-772-2772
f. 714-772-2782
Sunday Schedule
Holy Communion………………9:00 AM
Coffee Fellowship……………….10:15 AM
Sunday Adult Bible Study…….11;00 AM
Korean Service……………………11:30 AM
Reconciling in Christ congregation
It looks like no one else has blogged w/you yet, Pr. Steve. Well, i’ll put in a couple words or so here. My feelings about Christmas this year have emphasized how good it is to have family members and friends w/whom to share this celebration of Christ’s birth. In the past it’s been tradition to get together w/them to have meals together, catch up w/visits, play games, go to events, etc. Sure was different this yr! I was alone both Christmas Eve and Day — however, i interacted some w/folks via phone, Duo, FaceTime and Zoom. We are so fortunate to have many technologies to use! I mailed more gifts than usual, which helped clog up that service since many others did it, too. Three of us family members have shared that gifts have not arrived to their destination yet, Sat., Dec. 26! What happened this year makes me look forward even more to (hopefully) doing things as we’ve done in past yrs. Greetings to your Carrie! Happy New Year, everyone!
Christmas greetings! I agree with Karen- I certainly look forward to next Christmas! We have such beautiful memories of our times at LOG. It’ll be good to be together again in person.
I went to my daughter Beth’s church in Norwalk last Sunday. (They meet outside.) It was very nice, but it was even nicer to watch the LOG Christmas Eve service. I logged on, and there was Tyler playing the piano. It felt like I was home. Christmas this year has made me appreciate, treasure, and savor what I do have, like our online services.
God alone knows what 2021 will bring, but I think that when we start meeting again I will not take anything for granted; I’ll appreciate every moment.
God bless us every one!
Good point, Betty, to “not take anything for granted . . . appreciate every moment.”
Christmas this year was a blessing and a curse. Blessing because Bob is home after literally a year in and out of hospitals and nursing centers. Who would have thought hospitals would be considered dangerous?!!
Curse because we are not able to connect through technology because we have no sound capabilities. So for the very first time we were unable to be in some kind of Christmas service no family or friends getting together to rejoice in the birth of our Lord with readings and song!! I can’t tell you how isolating this situation creates for me. I used to love this time, I would choose a person who was having difficulty getting into the holiday spirit by leaving small gifts representing the 12 days of Christmas but that was not possible this year just another thing that was not. Not, not, not BAH HUMBUG !!! I can only hope and pray that we can return to church services indoors or out, Christmas Eve services and an Epiphany events that will be more meaningful because we get to be together again, This Christmas was just another day no different from any other, I can only hope this is not the new normal because it’s the pits!!