WEBVTT 00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:06.400 Let me just read for us John 1, 1-5 from the Good News Translation. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:06.700 It says, 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:08.859 In the beginning the Word already existed. 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:11.839 The Word was with God and the Word was God. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:14.660 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:16.960 Through him God made all things. 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:19.839 Not one thing in all creation was made without him. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:24.640 The Word was the source of life and this life brought light to all people. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:29.240 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness is never put out. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.820 Isn't that a good one to remember this Christmas? 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:41.460 See I think very often we can forget that the nativity isn't the start of a new story. 00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:47.859 But it's the start of a second act of a story that has been in motion since the beginning of time. 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:52.679 The one who set the stars into existence. 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:54.519 Who hung them in the sky. 00:00:54.700 --> 00:00:56.820 Who knows each of them by name. 00:00:57.120 --> 00:00:58.320 He is so powerful. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:00:59.939 He is so clever. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.040 The one who made the stars came to earth as a baby. 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:10.460 He became a man to be the one who would die for all of our sins. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:15.079 To be the one who would conquer sin and shame. 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:20.620 And come back to life so that we could have a relationship with him now and forever more. 00:01:20.960 --> 00:01:22.760 He is so powerful. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:24.859 He is so clever. 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:29.159 And this is the point of Christmas. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:33.159 That the star maker didn't want to be apart from us anymore. 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:35.120 He wanted to be with us. 00:01:35.459 --> 00:01:36.500 Among us. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:38.219 Known by us. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:41.700 He wanted to show us who he really is. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:43.819 He wanted to have a friendship. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:46.019 A relationship with us. 00:01:46.819 --> 00:01:47.780 That's Christmas. 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:54.719 Who here has plans to see family over Christmas? 00:01:56.240 --> 00:01:56.700 Yeah. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:01:59.159 Who is going to eat lots of food? 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:06.960 Who's got a fun Christmas wish list and is excited to open lots of presents? 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:08.800 Yeah. 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:14.479 Who's been part of a show or a concert or a performance of some kind? 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:16.799 Maybe with school or with a group. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:17.439 Amazing. 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:20.419 See these things are really fun. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:22.439 We love our traditions. 00:02:22.799 --> 00:02:23.359 The excitement. 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:24.459 The mulled wine. 00:02:24.959 --> 00:02:26.299 The Christmas films. 00:02:26.459 --> 00:02:27.539 The jolly songs. 00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:29.439 But none of that. 00:02:29.579 --> 00:02:31.339 As wonderful as those things are. 00:02:31.519 --> 00:02:32.699 None of those are the point. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:35.079 It's Jesus. 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:38.759 Jesus is the reason for the season. 00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:41.699 Yes Christmas is busy. 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:44.859 There are lists and calendars and schedules. 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:47.239 There are many places to be. 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:48.879 There are things to be done. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:50.219 There are people to see. 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:51.339 There's fun. 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:52.079 There's tinsel. 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:52.919 There's sparkles. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:55.739 There is the hope of snow and a white Christmas. 00:02:56.939 --> 00:03:01.539 But the star maker became like one of us. 00:03:01.799 --> 00:03:04.039 So that we could become like him. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:10.000 Because the star maker really, really loves each and every one of us here. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.659 So this Christmas, can I invite you. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:19.560 When you look up at the night sky and you see the stars in the sky. 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:24.419 Join me in taking a moment to remember the reason for the season. 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:25.840 The star maker. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:28.340 Because he is so powerful. 00:03:28.920 --> 00:03:30.139 And he is so clever. 00:03:30.139 --> 00:03:34.379 I'm just going to pray. 00:03:35.179 --> 00:03:38.819 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you stepped down from heaven. 00:03:39.179 --> 00:03:41.000 You became a baby. 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:49.239 You had the newborn scrunch that would one day stretch out into arms that would be nailed to the cross for our sins. 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:56.700 You became like one of us so that we could know you and be known by you. 00:03:57.060 --> 00:04:00.600 So that we could have an everlasting relationship with you. 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:04.819 And we just pray now, however we're feeling about this week. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:06.460 However we're feeling about Christmas. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:08.579 Whether we're excited. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.519 Whether we're feeling overwhelmed by all the preparation still to be done. 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:16.600 Whether maybe we're feeling lonely at this time of year. 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.740 Or we're missing someone who should be with us. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:24.120 Lord Jesus, would you be with us. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.340 Prince of Peace. 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:27.620 Mighty God. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:29.420 Everlasting Father. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:30.879 Wonderful Counselor. 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:34.720 And would we know your presence with us. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:39.540 And understand this Christmas a little bit more than we did last Christmas. 00:04:39.860 --> 00:04:41.199 About who you are. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:43.000 And what have you done for us. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:44.500 In your name we pray. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:45.780 Amen.