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Luke 2: 9-11

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  

For those of you who read my blog on Hope, which I posted back at the end of November, I was little nervous when I posted it.  That’s because I talked about encountering Emmanuel – God With Us – every year at Christmas.  Most of those encounters I don’t readily share. They are often very personal and sometimes quite emotional for me. I worried that people might ask, “Where did you find the Christ Child this year?”

But this year, I had a tiny voice in the background.  What if the Christ Child doesn’t show up?  What if he does and it is so personal that I am reluctant to share? Mostly that little voice just said, “Wayne, why are you such an idiot that you would set yourself up this way?”

I would be lying if I didn’t admit that these have been difficult days leading up to Christmas.  I miss the rhythm of Advent – the concerts, the gatherings, the human connections which somehow seem part of our connection to God.

As a tiny group of us gathered in the sanctuary on Monday evening to light our candles, sing Silent Night and tape the Christmas Eve Service for Comox United, it was a very odd experience. Usually on Christmas Eve for me, the air seems to almost vibrate as the church overflowing, announces the arrival of the Christ Child in our midst to the resounding sounds of Joy to the World.

This year, a little piece of my heart was torn when I learned that I had to cancel my trip to Edmonton to see my mother for Christmas. To make it worse, she would not even be allowed out of her tiny room since there are active COVID cases in her facility. So, I just have this image of a frail little 102 year old woman sitting by herself in her room on Christmas Day.  There was nothing to be done since no one is allowed in the building and no one is allowed out. Carol and I gathered together things we thought Mom might like for Christmas and had to put the parcel in the mail.

One of the recreation people contacted me last week to set up a face-time with my Mother on Christmas Day.  She is arranging a time for all the residents to connect with their family by video, which is not as nice as in person but is much better than by phone.  I’ve gotten to know Tracey over the phone these last couple of months and after we had worked out the details, I asked her, “How did you get conned into working Christmas Day?”, because I knew she had family.  Her answer was, “I didn’t get conned. I volunteered to come in on my day off. I couldn’t imagine the thought of all the residents in their rooms with no one to interact with on Christmas Day.  I’ve asked every family to drop off a small Christmas parcel for their loved ones and my son, who works here as a companion since the lock-down, and myself, will spend some time with each resident on face-time with their family while they open their present.”

I know that Mom, and all the residents at her facility will see the face of the Christ Child, Emmanuel, in Tracey this year.  Maybe we can’t be with our parents this year, but it is more important that they are kept safe.  In the midst of COVID, it may not be us who sits with them but they will know that they are not alone and they are loved.

How could I have doubted that Jesus would show up somewhere on the road to Christmas this year? He never disappoints and so, as I gather round my TV screen with Carol this Christmas Eve to watch a virtual Christmas Service, light my candle, partake in Communion and join with the rest of the Comox United Congregation in singing Silent Night, I will know again ----- Christ is Born!

Thank-you to my Christmas angel, Tracey!

Hallelujah and Merry Christmas everyone.

Wayne