From Pastor Bill

Some years ago, LIFE magazine offered a special December 24^th issue of its publication featuring the famous Tintoretto Nativity Murals.  The editors of LIFE sent a photographic team to the San Rocco School of Art in Venice, where the murals are preserved.  The photographers, however, encountered unexpected problems.  Four centuries of accumulated dust, painted over layer upon layer of protective varnish, had all but obliterated the fine details of the paintings.  Finally, the team resorted to using intense Polaroid lights to illuminate the details so as to be captured on film.

Can you pick up an analogy here with respect to Christmas?  Centuries of sentimental dust, painted over again and again by the varnish of tradition, have almost obliterated the vital details of Christmas today.  One might ask, “Isn’t it enough simply to acknowledge that Jesus was born at Christmas, and not belabor the issue?”  Friend, that is precisely the point!  Jesus was not just born at Christmas!  Rather, we celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born!

Let me encourage you to do something this holiday season to focus Christmas specifically upon our Lord Jesus Christ! 

Devotedly your pastor,

Bill Blanchard