…and so, you binge-watch. What else can you do? The other day Jamie and I watched the Man Who Invented Christmas. It’s a fanciful, fictionalized account of real-life author Charles Dickens and his trials and challenges in writing A Christmas Carol [think Scrooge]. It’s often been said that Dickens took a minor religious holiday, Christ-mass, and turned it into a global semi-secular phenomenon.
It’s old hat now to say there’s no Christ in Christmas [Christ is never mentioned in the movie]. And as I always say, my favorite cartoon Christmas special is A Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s got the Spirit. And it’s the only show to include actual bible verses in the story.
I, for one, like that semi-secular Christmas out there spreading good cheer, even during these dark times of COVID, quarantine, and chaos. That’s the way God would want it. He would also say, “More piñatas!” But I also like the distinction some Christians make between Christmas and the Νativity, the feast in remembrance of the birth of the Lord.
Pastor Andru Morgan is a good friend of the family and spiritual mentor to me. He’s the pastor at Parkrose United Methodist Church. We’ll be blessed this week as he joins us to preach on the day the Word was born. Then we will go into our regular 20-minute mindfulness session of Centering Prayer.
Please join us for this special Christ-in-Christmas mindfulness session. Zoom LINK HERE. Or join our MeetUpGroup
All times Pacific Standard Time
5:50 – 6:00 pm – Orientation for newcomers
6:00 – 6:05 pm – Chat as people filter in
6:05 – 6:25 pm – Anru’s talk and time for questions
6:30 pm time uncertain- 20- minute silent practice
6:50 – 7:00 pm – Eyes open, sharing, benediction, and depart.
May peace and stillness be upon you this Advent.
Merry Christmas, see you soon.
In XP
Cornelius
PraXis 