My dad and I joke together about his Christmas village. You see he and Mom will have a whole 6-foot table covered in the dining room with one of those little ceramic towns you see from time to time at Christmas. And if you were to go and see theirs, you would discover all kinds of interesting things across that table. An ice skating pond and people walking about and what every good town needs— a Walmart. But the reason why we joke is because things aren't too proportional in my dad’s little town. If you line up some figurines, there's no way they're fitting in those doors. And when some of the people are beside each other, if they were real, one would be a giant and the other the size of a baby. My rational organized mind can't quite make sense of it. But my dad loves it!
And I love it because he loves it. You see that little village has taken years of work. While mom and dad are out and about each Christmas season, they will spot something they like and pick it up. It doesn't really matter who made it or what collection it's supposed to be a part of—each piece they've enjoyed and because of that, they've added it into this special little village. I enjoy it each time I see it because I know that while it's not quite right in size and scope, it's a sign of their love and enjoyment for this season—and the special work they've done together to make it what it is.
You know, life in the kingdom of God, and especially in His local church body, is this way. We are all very unique in so many different ways. If our goal is perfection, as we see it, then we will have to throw out half the village. If our goal is everything lining up just so, then we'll have to ask others to change in ways the Lord and His Word never do. Instead of all that, God means for his church to be more like my dad's little village. Not all lined up like any villager wants exactly, and by appearance, not perfect. And yet, when taken together, full of love and sacrifice for the good of everyone.
1 Peter 3:8 says this: "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." This Christmas season is a time of remembering God's love for us in sending Jesus to die so that any who believe can be saved and we do well to remember this. We are one body. We choose unity. We choose brotherly love. We choose a humble mind. These things don't just happen, but like belief, they are all things we choose.
So let us look like that little village, Starnes Cove: not all altogether orderly, not always proportional, but made beautiful because of the love of Christ in us. There are all kinds of special events this season to put that love on display. The Candle Light service is soon, with Christmas Lunch to follow a few Sundays after, and many other events—take a look and come play your part in this little village.
See you soon,
Pastor William
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