{"id":25308,"date":"2020-07-28T09:14:04","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T13:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=25308"},"modified":"2020-09-28T15:56:26","modified_gmt":"2020-09-28T19:56:26","slug":"christmas-in-july-quarantines-the-grinches-7-26-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=25308","title":{"rendered":"Christmas in July Quarantines the Grinches! (7\/26\/20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Christmas in July” has become a PUMC tradition.\u00a0 On a hot Sunday in July we get out the Christmas trees, wreaths, and advent banners.\u00a0 People come to church dressed in Christmas garb; they wear clothes that somehow yield to the hot conditions outside while adding to the Christmas ambience inside.\u00a0 We sing Christmas Carols, read the Christmas story in the Bible, and consider a sermon that reminds us that Christmas lasts all through the year.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

On July 26 2020, we celebrated Christmas in July!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Grinches<\/span><\/h3>\n

Pastor Jim’s sermon was entitled “How the Grinch Can Actually Save Christmas.”\u00a0 The Grinch<\/a><\/span> is the subject of a Dr. Seuss book who lives by himself on a hill outside of Whoville.\u00a0 In the valley below, the joyous Whos celebrate Christmas by giving \"\"eachother gifts.\u00a0 But the Grinch doesn’t have that joy, and all he sees is the gifts.\u00a0 He figures that he can reduce the Whos to his own joyless level by stealing the gifts they had prepared.\u00a0 But by the end of the story, the Grinch discovered that it wasn’t the gifts that gave the Whos their joy.<\/p>\n

There are many “grinches” in our lives today.\u00a0 Illnesses, loneliness, financial struggles, and fear impose circumstances on us that seek to steal our joy.\u00a0 The pandemic that we are now enduring is like a grinch that tries to steal our joy by drowning us in worry and fear.<\/p>\n

But as the Grinch discovered, faith-centered Joy and circumstance-based happiness are two different things.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Grinch Changed our Circumstances<\/span><\/h3>\n

We celebrated Christmas in July this year, but there was a big “grinch” in the room: the Covid-19 pandemic.\u00a0 This pandemic, as it has with everything else, changed our Christmas in July celebration; we could not gather in our sanctuary to celebrate together.\u00a0 Instead, we stayed at home and watched the service on our computer or smartphone screens.<\/p>\n

Even if there was a LCD screen between us and our church family, we were still able to find ways to tap into the joy that God offers.\u00a0 Christmas Joy isn’t limited to Christmas Day, and it’s not confined to our church building either.\u00a0 Despite the change in circumstances, we found new ways to continue to celebrate Christmas in July.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Potter’s Hand<\/span><\/h4>\n

At 9:00, our Adult Sunday school class gathered together.\u00a0 Under different circumstances, this group gathers in the “Potter’s Hand Room” in the balcony above the sanctuary.\u00a0 The morning starts with a pot of coffee and donuts brought by class members.\"\"<\/p>\n

On this Christmas in July we couldn’t do that, so we stayed at home, made our own coffee, and met together using Zoom.\u00a0 Seeing eachother on a computer screen is different.\u00a0 We loose the ability to shake hands, hug, and sense eachother’s presence.\u00a0 And yet, there’s still a sense of real joy even under the virtual circumstances.<\/p>\n

The Potter’s Hand class has been studying the book of Matthew.\u00a0 On this Christmas in July, we had reached (perhaps ironically), the 26th chapter. Matthew chapter\u00a026<\/a><\/span> describes the arrest, trial, and rejection of Jesus.\u00a0 It is the chapter before His crucifixion and death.\u00a0 And yet, we were studying these events in the hour before celebrating Christmas.\u00a0 Death and supposed defeat, followed by birth and joy.<\/p>\n

But isn’t that the experience of the Grinch?\u00a0 Grinches impose difficult circumstances, but through them we learn to trust even more deeply in God.\u00a0 In verse 39 Jesus prays\u00a0 “…yet not as I will, but as You will.<\/span><\/em>”\u00a0 The “grinches” seem to have their way in\u00a0 chapters 26 and 27, but these difficulties only serve to heighten the joy of the resurrection when we reach chapter 28.\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Children’s Sunday School<\/span><\/h4>\n

On a “normal Sunday” our Christian education wing would be filled with children meeting in different age-based classes.\u00a0 We can’t use those rooms during this pandemic, but… at 9:45, the kids of our church met.<\/p>\n

The Facebook meeting wasn’t in person, but it was still personal and loving.\u00a0 Kate and Lance Bird greeted the “audience” with a joyous “Good Morning” and families responded with comments on the Facebook post.\"\"<\/p>\n

Kate opened the Bible to Luke’s Christmas story<\/a>,<\/span> and we joined with Mary and Elizabeth to wonder at the miracle of these two births.\u00a0 John was born to a couple well-advanced in years, and Jesus was born to a couple before they joined together.\u00a0 Both births were announced by visions and angels, and both were a joyous intervention into human life by our loving and all powerful God.<\/p>\n

All of the characters in this story had fear.\u00a0 Elizabeth and Zechariah (her husband) were afraid of the past; they were “too old” to have a baby.\u00a0 Mary and Joseph were afraid of the future; what will people think, what will all of this mean.\u00a0 The shepherds were afraid of the present; a host of angels was appearing in front of them.<\/p>\n

But the good news is that Jesus came into our lives to take away that fear and to replace it with joy.\u00a0 He came for all of us.<\/p>\n

The circumstances of age and biology sought to rob Mary and Elizabeth of their joy, much as today’s circumstances seek to rob us of our hope.\u00a0 Fear of the unknown took over their minds, even as worries and “what ifs” invade our own lives today.\u00a0 The “Grinches” seek to rob us of the good news of Jesus’ coming, but joy and hope built on God can never be taken away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Worship<\/span><\/h4>\n

During the pandemic, “going to church” means “tune into the Live Stream.”\u00a0 Instead of finding our pew, we we go to the website bookmark on our computer or phone.\u00a0 Instead of shaking hands, we click or tap the “play” icon.<\/p>\n

But when we “came to church” on this Sunday, we saw something unusual:\u00a0 a fireplace in the sanctuary!\u00a0 True, it was a “green screen” creation of technology, but it reminded us of the warmth of community.\u00a0 Pastor Jim opened the service by sitting in a chair positioned in front of the fireplace, surrounded by glowing candles, and backed by a virtual Christmas tree.<\/p>\n

The Grinch reminded us that this was only a technical illusion.\u00a0 But the “green screen” and empty pews couldn’t rob us of the joy that comes when a family gathers together to celebrate the Joy of Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\t\t