Pastor's Message

December 26, 1999

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Several years ago I attended a small town school faculty Christmas party held at the principal’s home. The kindergarten teacher offered to teach some gestures and motions to go with the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Most of us felt rather foolish acting out the song, but because there is safety in unanimity, everyone participated. You can imagine what seven swans-a-swimming or ten lords-a-leaping looked like, but even the more “proper” teachers hung in until the very end of the song.
Only later did we realize that the host couple had forgotten to close the living room drapes. All those who drove up or down that street that evening had new reason to worry about the local teaching staff!
Nonetheless, I still like to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. In fact, if there is anything that upsets me about this time of year, it is the fact that Christmas is over too quickly for so many people. Radio stations no longer play those beautiful songs, trees are thrown out, and ornaments are put away — all within the first days after the 25th.
The twelve days have traditionally filled the time between Christmas and Epiphany, January 6. Twelve days is not too long a time for us to celebrate such a fantastic event as the birth of a Messiah.

Pastor's Message December 26, 1999 THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Several years ago I attended a small town school faculty Christmas party held at the principal’s home. The kindergarten teacher offered to teach some gestures and motions to go with the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Most of us felt rather foolish acting out the song, but because there is safety in unanimity, everyone participated. You can imagine what seven swans-a-swimming or ten lords-a-leaping looked like, but even the more “proper” teachers hung in until the very end of the song. Only later did we realize that the host couple had forgotten to close the living room drapes. All those who drove up or down that street that evening had new reason to worry about the local teaching staff! Nonetheless, I still like to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. In fact, if there is anything that upsets me about this time of year, it is the fact that Christmas is over too quickly for so many people. Radio stations no longer play those beautiful songs, trees are thrown out, and ornaments are put away — all within the first days after the 25th. The twelve days have traditionally filled the time between Christmas and Epiphany, January 6. Twelve days is not too long a time for us to celebrate such a fantastic event as the birth of a Messiah.
December 19, 1999 SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS As I dumped a handful of items at the cashier’s counter, I discovered the young woman working there was in a very happy, playful mood. Scanning each item that I presented, she added sound effects. For the bottle of mouthwash, she went “gargle, gargle....” The ball-point pens received a “click-click, click-click.” So it went. Other people noticed what she was doing, and she played to the audience. The toothpaste merited a brushing sound, and the bag of potato chips provided a crunching noise. It was only when she got to the package of cotton sweat socks that she fell silent. There was a long pause; then everyone laughed. I simply commented that that was the welcome sound of silence. Sounds permeate the air at this time of year. Of course, there are the sounds of Christmas music and bells, laughter and merriment. But there are also the sounds of families bickering and people blowing car horns at each other. Once in a while, if we are lucky, we also find some silence. Christmas day is so close, yet we may feel totally unprepared to celebrate the real mystery of this great day, namely the love of God that brought Jesus to dwell among us. Providing a little silence for ourselves — even a snatch of it here or there — can help us keep our focus. - Fr. Herb
December 12, 1999 ON THE ROAD Each time in the last two months that I’ve driven on Mulberry from Park Avenue West I’ve seen the large billboard that reads, “Will the road you’re on get you to my place? - God.” I admit that the positioning of this sign, a half block from our church, has intrigued me. More important is the question of what road we are on and where the road leads. Last Sunday’s Gospel passage said we must make the roads smooth and ready for the Lord. In Advent we try to prepare for Jesus to come anew into our hearts and lives. Preparing the path is necessary. But so is discovering the direction of our own path. As the billboard asks, will our roads get us to God’s dwelling place. Consequently, Advent is also a time for reviewing the pathways that we follow. Some roads have taken people completely away from the Lord. Other roads have been detours from where we really want to be heading. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is great for all of us who need to get back on the right road. Our Parish Reconciliation schedule for Advent is listed within this Bulletin. That is an especially good way to prepare ourselves for this year’s celebration of the birth of the Lord. - Fr. Herb
December 5, 1999 ADVENT COMES BEFORE CHRISTMAS I had an interesting phone call last week. You may have seen the advertisements for the tour of downtown churches going on today (Sunday). St. Peter’s is participating. An anonymous caller asked if our church would be decorated for Christmas when people arrive today. I answered that we don’t observe Christmas until Christmas. Until then we are in the season of Advent. The caller sounded disappointed and asked what Advent had to do with Christmas. My answer was that it had everything to do with it. I patiently explained that this season of waiting and watching while internally preparing for the observance of the Lord’s birth is absolutely necessary if someone wants Christmas to be more than just a nice holiday. The caller seemed to comprehend what I meant by Advent, and I was hopeful that I was making some progress. Then this unnamed person asked if the church would have some special decorations. When I said there would be the violet and navy blue colors of the season as well as the Advent Wreath, the person said, “At least, there will be something special to see.” And my hopes were dashed! It is truly counter-cultural to try to observe Advent during Advent time. Christmas is not here yet; its time will come. Until then, there IS something special to see in our church, as there is every day. - Fr. Herb