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When Clement C. Moore wrote “An Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas” in 1822, St. Nicholas was barely known in the United States outside the old Dutch community. The Protestant Revolution had squelched the celebration of saints, including St. Nicholas, but in the Netherlands, the people had held onto their devotion to the saint, and they brought that devotion to the New World.

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

History is defined by the events of Christmas Day. Bold claim, no? Consider, however, that any point in history is referred to as BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era) and AD (Anno Domini/Year of Our Lord) or CE (Common Era). The fact of the matter is that the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is what defines the beginning of the “common era” and the conclusion of all that came before Him. There have been many calendars through time; all have come and gone and His birth remains the standard.

Emmanuel – A Name Given To Jesus Meaning “God With Us” One of the church words we use throughout the Advent and Christmas season is Emmanuel – a name given to Jesus meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:22, NIV). What a deceptively simple word to carry a shockingly beautiful and devastatingly powerful truth.

One thing my family loves to do around Christmas time is to go from one neighborhood to the next and view the Christmas lights. We enjoy seeing how creative people get when they set up the decorations. My children’s favorite decorated houses are the ones where the lights are attuned to music. You can listen to the music through your own car speakers by turning to the right radio station. While the music is playing you can watch the lights dance around and sometimes you can see figurines be created by the lights.

As I consider the Christmas story, I am amazed at the love that the God has shown the world by sending His Son Jesus Christ into this world. When I ponder what Jesus left behind when He came to rescue us from this fallen word, it inspires thankfulness and worship.

This time of year, we hear so much about the Christmas season, it is time for us to celebrate Christmas and all the things that are wrapped around Christmas. We have lights, and trees, and tinsel, we buy gifts for friends and family, we go out of our way to share with others, and there seems to be a sense of joy in the air. Then Christmas Eve and Christmas day come and quickly they are gone. We take down the tree, we put the lights and tinsel away, family goes home, and life just returns to normal. We are left waiting a whole year until its Christmas season all over again. This is the way it is or what it becomes when Christmas is just about a season. But wait, Christmas should not be about the season; but it should be about the Savior; Christ the Lord.

If the study of history is important so that we learn from it, perhaps a step back in time to the Christmas Truce of 1914 warrants our attention. Christmas Eve, 1914.

Christmas at Grace What a Story! is a service that explores the details of the story of salvation and reminds us that it is more than just a story—it is historic fact, the details of which are the basis of our sure and certain hope through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only hope we have for peace and a future.

Christmas, what a joyous holiday season! A happy time of year when we traditionally gather together with family, decorate our houses with lights, our Christmas trees with ornaments, which have pleasant memories connected to them. Parents enjoy watching their children's excitement build up in anticipation of the Christmas presents showing up with their name on it! Christmas is also a time of year when we try to share our blessings with those less fortunate than us. While all these activities bring a smile to our faces, and joy in our hearts, we dare not forget why it is that we are celebrating again this year. The Christ child is born of Mary.God the Father's only begotten Son, came to earth in great humility, to be our Savior, our prophet, priest, and king, to free us from our bondage to sin, and so much more, all for our salvation! Keep Christ the center of your Christmas celebration, and join us at Trinity Lutheran church in Fairfax SD.