Christmas

Why Are We So Excited About Christmas?

Everybody likes Christmas.

Parties and gifts,
Cookies and candy canes,
Wreaths and lights and Christmas trees,
The magic of Santa Claus and
People wishing each other “Merry” and “Happy”

– what a great holiday!

But what does any of that have to do with Christianity?

Not much, if you look at it one way.

None of those things are mentioned in the Bible accounts of Jesus’ birth. (The wise men brought their gifts months later.)

But, if you look at it another way, all those things are ways of celebrating, and Christians certainly have reason to celebrate Christmas.

God is love, and love shares.

God created humans to share his love. Because forced love isn’t real love, God gave us free will. Our first ancestors promptly used that free will to rebel against God, which upset the balance of God’s good creation and introduced evil into the world. The human race could only be rescued from the fatal consequences one way: God’s own son had to die in our place. More explanation of God's sacrifice can be found here.

You can’t die if you were never born. So Jesus was born to Mary, with God himself as his father. (Joseph was Jesus’ stepfather.)

Jesus grew up, lived a perfect life, and taught and demonstrated God’s love and righteousness and power. Then Jesus died on the cross, and three days later rose from the dead and went up to heaven. (This is Easter's celebration!) At that time, he sent the Holy Spirit to be God’s presence with us.

All who put their trust in Jesus can begin to experience that love and righteousness and power here on earth. And they will live forever with him in heaven.

The most famous verse in the Bible says it this way:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

This is no pipe dream. We’ve experienced it ourselves.

That’s why Christians celebrate Christmas.

Join the party! Let your Spirit soar!

How can you experience God's presence during Christmas at Trinity Church?

Advent - the four weeks just before Christmas are called Advent, a time to prepare for the Christ Child. Prepare yourself by following a daily devotional from our own Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Pastor David's sermons focus on preparation.

Christmas Eve Services - December 24

7:00 PM Family Service - enjoy the wonder of Jesus' birth with your children. All ages welcome.
11:00 PM Traditional Candlelight Service brings the beautiful story of the Christ Child's birth surrounded by joy and peace and ending with the singing of Silent Night by candlelight.

Children - learn about the birth of Jesus in Sunday School. Come to the Family Service, or stay up late for the Christmas Eve Service and enjoy the awe of sitting with your parents at Jesus' birth. (No child care at the Candlelight service; we love to have children in the sanctuary.)

Annual Christmas Cantata - Sunday, December 22 Our spirits will soar as we listen to a musical presentation of the birth of Christ. "I Hear the Prophet Callin'" by Pepper Choplin incorporates distinct musical flavors: Appalachian, Irish, Latin, Cajun, and Early American.

Thursday dinners - the popular Family and Friends meal with no agenda, just good food and good company. 6:00 every Thursday. The dinner on December 19 will be followed by a Christmas Caroling Songfest in the Sanctuary. No dinner on December 26 or January 2nd - enjoy the days with your family.

Christmas at Trinity Church in Annapolis