Christmas Morning Service at First Isthmian Baptist Church was truly beautiful. That is not just my opinion, but our visitors also think so.
Over the years there has been the steady decline in interest and attendance at Christmas Morning Service. For a variety of reasons people had stopped coming out. It was eventually discontinued
So this year when the discussion came up about the time for morning service on Christmas Day, everyone looked at me like I had grown an extra head. I could tell they did not want to break some bad news to me.
Obviously, they could tell from my question that I had taken it as a given that we were going to be having morning worship on Christmas Day. Again, my cultural bias. I worked in rural Jamaica as a pastor and service on the morning of Christmas is a MUST even if there are less than five persons attending. I assumed this was the case here.
Well someone took the bull by the horn and said, well we don’t have morning service on Christmas Day anymore. Another jumped in and kindly offered, but we could have it if you want us to. Well that was hardly the right reason now. Therefore, my next question was, do YOU want to? It makes no sense I plan a service that I am the only one who will be in attendance. Nope..not happening!
The discussion continued and we settled on the strange hour of midnight – 12:00am -1:00am for our Christmas service. Transportation would be provided to bus the members and visitors living in Colon city, and communities along the highway. There was an air of anticipation all through Advent and finally we met this morning from midnight. [That's awkwardly put I know]
Well, I nearly had a stroke when I walked into church this morning. The same church that was scanty Sunday morning of the 24th was now full of members, children, young people and visitors from at least three other congregations in Colon who heard about it and decided to attend. It was amazing!
I was once again forced to reflect on how ‘contrary’ church members are. Who would have thought so many persons would have been out and might I add – all dressed up for a real celebration!! And it was.
Children read, the choir sang, we had a quintet, and the brotherhood did a fantastic rendition of Sing Out
My Christmas Morning reflection was on the Spreading of Good News based on the announcement to the shepherds and by the shepherds to parents and others. [Luke 2:8-20) I highlighted that in today’s context Bad News not Good News sells. I noted that any story about Jesus’ birth today would probably not be found in any respectable newspaper.
It is the tabloids/local rag paper that would probably have a screaming headline -
*Child said to be Saviour born in Bethlehem, or
*Child said to be Messiah kidnapped – Mary & Joseph brought in for questioning; or
*’Swaddling bands’ (KJV) or baby Jesus’ wrapping cloths found in trunk of Herod’s limo, chauffeur being sought’.
Alright..you can tell I had fun with this message right?:-)
My reflection went on the look at the message (the content) that was the Good News and (our reaction) to the news we hear. Whether or not we today still believe this good news of the anticipated return of Jesus and our own proclamation of this good news to others. That as we look at the reactions of ‘those who heard and were amazed, and Mary who treasured the words and pondered them in her heart’ we also have a reaction to the Good news. Our reaction, I think is based on our relationship with God and how we pause to think about our faith journey, the way we believe God has been leading us, the ways we have chosen to trust and cooperate with God.
And on and on I went…:-) Just joking.. I did not go on forever, this was nearly 1:00am and I know people would be falling asleep on me, so I was as brief as possible.
I made it home just after 2:00 (you know Baptists will be Baptists, they cannot wait for service to be over and then they gather in groups and walk around in the church and outside chatting!!) That is why pastors should always be able to tell when things are not going well – when everyone jump in their vehicles or rush to leave- yes, that is a sign for the pastor that all is not well at all.
And now for my rant of the day…would you believe after I went to bed at 4:00am this morning that I was jerked out of my sleep by firecrackers ( I swore I was in August Town, Jamaica hearing bullets) AND as if that was not bad enough…around 6:00am my neighbour pumped up his – get ready for this one – his Jamaican Dancehall music!! Friends, that is a whole ‘nodder’ story!
I am off for my first family gathering of the day…
Merry Christmas and lots of Love!
Marvia
12am service…that’s a good one. I’m glad it proved a success though with the turn out and the fellowship.
Re your reflection I think id probably be very cynical hearing the ‘good news’, God knows why I’m born centuries after…
Seems like firecrackers is synonymous with all Panamanian celebrations… and I can believe ur neighbour pumping dancehall music at 6am, what u doing sleeping at that time on Christmas day anyway
Good Morning Derry
After going to bed in the wee hours, Dancehall at 6am is not my idea of a ‘wake-up call’! Anyway, Kerry will no doubt share her surprise at hearing Jamaican Dancehall music in Colon City – dominating the street corners, neighbours houses and cars of all shapes and sizes. Granted some of it we could not understand because it is Spanish Dancehall. However, the rhythms were recognizable to anyone familiar with the Jamaican versions.
Recently, a member and I were discussing the music and I have to admit that I shared her dismay that they youth were so taken up with Dancehall and Hip-Hop/Rap. Whereas, I have Reggae high on my charts of music I must listen to[
] the lyrical content of most Dancehall songs does nothing to endear itself to me.
It does come in as a handy source of socio-religious critique as I examine the world being described in the songs, and work on ‘anger management’ at the constant degradation of women, women’s body and person, which seem to be the only known subject of Jamaican Dancehall artistes of the last 2 decades. Sadly enough, if the worldwide supporters of Dancehall were tired of it’s overworked and offensive subject matter, there would be no sales. The reality is therefore obvious.
I see the increase in gang warfare and violence among the youth in Colon City which is very much like downtown Kingston, Jamaica. It is difficult to overlook the similarities between the two contexts,and the connection with Jamaican Dancehall music. I have no supporting facts, just the observation that this music is well entrenched in the culture and among a particular social group.
A closing thought….
A couple years ago while in the US, It slowly dawned on me that every time I happened to see a broadcast of some kind of ‘protest’ in various countries around the world there was Reggae music being played at the location. Now that speaks volumes of the power of the music from a biggish dot on Google Earth. Can we truly convince ourselves that Dancehall’s lyrical content has no similar impact among its following? Sad..but it seems to be a negative rather than an uplifting one.
While the rhythm itself is amoral – I believe that God would never be pleased with Christians for being uncritical of messages and accompanying lifestyles that promotes greed, gross materialism (aka bling-bling), violence as the way to settle disputes …hmmm I’m sure its being played in Iraq, and irresponsible sexual practices.
That’s my take on it…
Love,
Marvia