You know the holiday song well! “It’s the most wonderful time of the year… with holiday greetings and hearts all a glowing; kids jingle belling, friends come a calling and much mistletoeing … it’s the ha—happiest season of all! That was until the pandemic of COVID-19 and the shroud of fear laid siege! Advent, Christmas, New Years, and Epiphany will be very different! Last Spring I’d sarcastically said a number of times that my hope was that we would be able to gather for our Christmas Eve candle light service as we have many times. I guess I’m not a prophet because that will not happen. Oh, we’ll still gather for worship, light candles and sing. But it will be from a good distance apart, wearing masks with a limited number of people. That saddens me, as I’m sure it does many of you.

Now I realize that the “wonderful news” of the birth of Jesus is not diminished. The hope we have in the advent of the promised Messiah in the manger is not weakened. But I’m angry at how effectively satan has used politics and the pandemic to “steal, kill and destroy.” Many politicians have used the corona virus to manipulate and further their own agendas on both sides of the aisle (and in the lobby too)! The media has spun the pandemic into a chaotic pandemonium. Churches are closing – not just for a time, but for good! Our nation is sharply divided and poised against one another. Many businesses have closed, people lost their livelihoods and unemployment has soared. And I could go on, but won’t.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly!” John 10:10

This can be the most wonderful time of the year, but not for the reasons the song suggests. We can celebrate the One who has come to give life and hope abundantly! If ever there was a time to celebrate that life and hope it is now! We can and ought to sing boldly (with mask on) of the joy that has come into the world in the babe of Bethlehem. Don’t let the enemy, the evil one, steal and destroy our celebration of the Emmanuel! On many occasions Jesus said “Fear not! I am with you always!”

Certainly we need to take precautions and be safe! Trinity can currently accommodate about 80 (33%) worshippers per service at a safe distance from one another. If we go to the “red” status we can accommodate about 60 per service. FYI: Last Sunday we had only 18 on Saturday evening and 41 on Sunday morning. Don’t let pandemonium panic steal away and destroy the wonder of the season.

The sanctuary is sanitized, windows are cracked open slightly (so wear your coat), masks are required and hand sanitizer is provided. It is much safer to gather in church to be fed the Bread of Life than to go to the grocery store for a loaf of bread. For our most vulnerable members and friends who rightfully fear leaving their homes at all, we will continue to record and post services on line.

This truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year to gather together for worship and to celebrate the gift of the Christ child! Don’t let pandemonium panic and fear steal away and destroy the wonder of this season!

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1

A Wonderful and Blessed Christmas to all!

~ Pastor Dennis Krueger