Congregational Christmas Letter

Dearest children of the Heavenly Father:

Each week another candle on the Advent wreath is lighted, telling us that Christmas is nearer. Christmas is the Father giving us sinners the greatest gift of all: Emmanuel. And where there is Jesus, there is hope, peace, joy, and love. The four candles on the Advent wreath, each representing one aspect of our new life in Christ, remind us of this:

Hope

“Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will come, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope.” [Romans 15:12]

Peace

“You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, … and He shall be their peace.” [Micah 5:2-5]

Joy

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” [Luke 2:10-11]

Love

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16]

In the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ, we live together as brothers and sisters. As God’s family. Rejoicing in each other’s joys. Sharing in each other’s sorrows. Carrying each other’s burdens. Praying for one another. Forgiving one another. Encouraging one another. Building one another up. As the body of Christ, we can do no less.

Whoever you are, whatever your past, whatever temptations and sins afflict you, whatever doubts have plagued you, whatever trials and tribulations might overwhelm you, you have a Savior who came to bring you hope, peace, joy, and love. For you He was born. For you He was baptized. For you He lived. For you He suffered. For you He died. For you He rose again. For you He ascended. For you He sent His Holy Spirit. For you He established His Church. For you He gives gracious gifts in Word and Sacrament. For you He still intercedes. For you He is preparing a room in His Father’s house.

As Advent gives way to Christmas, so the four candles will give way to the Jesus candle in the center of the wreath. He is, after all, “the Light of the world” (John 8:12) who brings hope, peace, joy, and love to our troubled hearts and lives. Enlightened by “the true Light, which gives light to everyone” (John 1:9), “let your light shine before others”—this Christmas, in the New Year, and always—“so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

On behalf of Adam, Michael, Caleb, Zachary, Lori and myself, God’s peace and goodwill to you. Now and always!

In Christ, Pastor Mumme

O Come All Ye Faithful

The Nativity of Our Lord

Congregational Christmas Letter

Dearest children of the Heavenly Father:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!  O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold Him born the King of angels!

For more than two centuries those beautiful words have beckoned God’s faithful to come—joyful and triumphant—to Bethlehem and behold Him who was born the King of angels. You are among those faithful, adopted by your heavenly Father in Holy Baptism to be His beloved children.

Christmas encapsulates one of the most profound mysteries of all—God taking on human flesh and blood to save us from our sins. God comes to us as one of us. A tiny infant. He who will one day walk on water cannot yet crawl. He who will one day feed 5000 cannot yet lift a spoon to His mouth. He who will one day heal the crippled and lame cannot yet stand. He who will one day speak words of forgiveness cannot yet talk. Christmas is the Word (who created all things) enfleshed and dwelling among us. John Wade’s Christmas hymn sums up this mystery as follows:

Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal, born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of the Father now in flesh appearing!

How does a heart cleansed by this King of angels respond?

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God in the highest.

That’s how. We join our voices with the angelic choirs. We give glory to God for fulfilling His promises and sending us His salvation. He rejoice that in Christ there is now peace between God and man, for the Father is now well pleased with us through the merits of His own dear Son.

Remember that as you come into God’s house this Christmas to celebrate the birth of His Son. Remember how He who first finds Himself in a smelly stable will one day free mankind from the stench of sin. How He who first finds Himself lying in the wood of a manger will one day be nailed to the wood of the cross. How He who first finds Himself wrapped in swaddling cloths will one day be wrapped in linens cloths following His death. What else can faith say but:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be glory given! Word of the Father now in flesh appearing!

On behalf of Lori and our boys, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. I am honored and humbled to serve as your pastor, deliver Christ’s good gifts to you, and rejoice in the same forgiveness, life, and salvation He has won for us all. Christ will always be at the heart and center of everything we are, say, and do.

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!