Everyone loves a celebration! New Year’s Eve, a birthday (especially a significant one that ends in zero!), a silver wedding anniversary, a team winning a premiership/championship are all occasions we mark with a celebration.
When my daughter turned 18, she wanted to have a party to celebrate with family and friends. As we discussed what theme we could adopt for the party, Sarah responded, “My two favourite things, Christmas and birthdays!!!” This is so Sarah, but our challenge was, her birthday is in early April, and to find at that time of the year, Christmas attire was going to be a challenge!
Sarah’s friends embraced the spirit of celebration and on the night, everyone came decked out in their finest Christmas attire and the whole place just sparkled!
As we come we come to the end of another year we find ourselves in another season of celebration, Christmas. Christmas time as the first half of this word suggests is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As we celebrate this season, I must admit I do love the traditions we developed over time that are now associate with this special season. Traditions like decorating a Christmas tree, hanging flashing light around the house, being able to give gifts at a Kris Kringle, the array of delicious foods and singing carols.
In the quieter moments I also find myself dwelling on what followers of Jesus call The Immanuel Principle. A biblical scholar once defined ‘The Immanuel Principle’ as God’s desire to be with and amongst His creation, you and me! This principle serves to remind us of how much God loves us and because of this, we are truly blessed.
I have come to understand and appreciate The Immanuel Principle is one of the reasons why I love to celebrate the Christmas Season. During this season, we have the opportunity to celebrate and remember that Jesus, our Saviour, redeemer was born! So let the Immanuel Principle – that God desires to be with you and me - soak into our heart, mind and soul. May we begin to grasp the significance that our Lord continues to desire to be amongst us and may we worship Him accordingly.
As our school year concludes, I would like to say to each and everyone of you, ‘on behalf of the staff, I wish to thank you for all the support and encouragement you have provided. As you have supported and encouraged the staff, I’m reminded we are in fact on the same team. It’s not a case of ‘us and them’, but rather we are a community under God’s care and love.
I wish you and your family a very blessed Christmas and I look forward to reconnecting in 2023.