How did we get here? I don’t mean what mode of transportation we used tonight, although bonus points for anyone who wanted to be authentic and came riding a donkey. Hopefully the donkey is comfortably secured outside and not eating too many of the plants. I am actually asking in a more philosophical way – as in what are the life circumstances and relationships that led to us being here in this place, in this moment, at this time? Of all the things we could be doing on this Christmas Eve in 2025, what specifically brought us to St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Essex for worship?
Of course, there are a plethora of possibilities. For those who are visiting perhaps for the first time, maybe you saw an ad in the paper or on social media and thought you would give it a try. Maybe you’ve heard stories about St. Paul’s and, curious, you thought this would be a safe service to experience who we are. Maybe someone invited you recently. Talk to some of our regulars and they will tell you that is how they came, in some cases, years, even decades ago.
For those who are more familiar to this space, perhaps you chose to come because this particular service holds meaning. Maybe the Christmas Eve service is part of your Christmas traditions. Maybe you love being with your church family in these moments.
Everyone here has a story, me included. Some are more familiar to this space than others. Some know that sense of community, family that is here and are continually drawn to that. Some come because they find this worship nourishing and meaningful. Hopefully everyone has some experience of God tonight.
How did we get here? We don’t often think too deeply about why we make the choices we make. We don’t necessarily reflect on what and who brings us to the places and circumstances in which we find ourselves. And, maybe in some contexts it is not that deep. That doesn’t mean it can’t be meaningful.
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
The Gospels offer key insights into the who and what of Mary’s journey to the manger. We are familiar with her encounter with the angel Gabriel who interrupts her life and asks her to participate in this miracle. We are introduced to Joseph, her betrothed who sets aside his feeling of betrayal and chooses to be husband and father to this family. We learn about the circumstances that bring the family to Bethlehem just prior to Mary giving birth and how she is left to wrap the baby in bands of cloth and lay him in a manger. We are told their first visitors are outcasts, night-dwellers, shepherds keeping watch in the fields who respond to the invitation of angels.
The Gospels lay a fantastic story before us showing how God works in and through people and creation in incredible ways to enable God, to be present as a human being, a baby wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger with Mary as his mother. Near the centre of this story, Mary takes it all in, treasuring, pondering. She is treasuring the wonders, the gifts that are generously showing up – the wisdom of Elizabeth whom we are told she visited at length, the commitment of Joseph despite his betrayal, the story of the shepherds that reaffirm what she heard from Gabriel, these people remind Mary that she is not alone in this journey, there are others walking alongside. And Mary ponders, reflecting and wondering, as anyone might do.
Mary understands that the story, her journey is unusual. She may have doubts and fears. Who wouldn’t? The Christmas story also offers her lots of reassurances, lots to treasure and ponder, lots of reasons to trust that God is working in and through this journey. God has ways of showing up in our lives when we choose to pay attention, to treasure and ponder.
How did we get here? We each have a story. We each have reasons and people who have contributed to our being here tonight. What about our stories can we treasure? What might we want to ponder? How might we notice God working in and through our journeys? What can we take from the Christmas story that will help sustain us throughout the year?
God has ways of showing up in our lives when we choose to pay attention, to treasure and ponder. May we, like Mary, spend time this Christmas appreciating the moments and reflecting on where God is present. This we pray as we sing: Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven By: Amy Grant & Chris Eaton © Hal Leonard Corporation Arrangement: Sydney Brouillard-Coyle . All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. ONE LICENSE # A-741399