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A message from Pastor Poock

The characters of Christmas

By Pastor Matthew Poock

“Do you hear what I hear?” “Ring-a-ling, hear them ring!” “It’s Christmas time in the city!” From radio to department stores, the sounds of Christmas music fill the air. Most people have one of two responses: joyful smiles or roll-the-eyes annoyance. Some embrace the season with enthusiasm, others exhaustion. But once we get through the bulk of preparations, most of us are glad to step out of the winter cold into celebrations large and small, warmed with friends, family, food, and good cheer.

Christmas in our culture has two particularly prominent characters: Jesus and Santa. Despite their own jovial and peace-making personalities, we sometimes position them as adversaries. If you have children, perhaps you and your family have had to discuss the roles of Santa and Jesus in your household. To believe in Santa, or not; that is the question, it would seem.

Journey back in time with me to the Poock household I knew as a child. My family of six would decorate our Christmas tree in early December. On it were scores of ornaments, most homemade by children, ranging from ice cream cones to mittens, angels to reindeer. As we trimmed the tree, we also arranged a beloved, decades-worn manger scene on top of our piano. Our living room held it all together, baby Jesus and his family only inches away from St. Nick and his reindeer.

Every member of my family gave a Christmas gift to every other member of the family. “To Sis, From Little Brother,” we would write. The presents would start appearing around the tree in mid-December, and the living room would be full with gifts by Christmas morning. Most years, somewhere underneath the pile of gifts, one of us kids would find a gift labeled, “To the Poock Family, From Santa.” Smiles and laughter ensued!

You see, my siblings and I did not grow up “believing” in Santa. So when we found that certain gift from Santa, we would tell by the handwriting who was making a feeble attempt at being anonymous and who was spreading a little extra Christmas love. Usually Mom and Dad.

With manger scenes, gift-giving, worship, and conversation, my family did its best to keep Jesus and his arrival on earth as the focus of our holiday. I am confident, as my wife tells me, that this can also be done in families that do “believe” in Santa Claus. It is not a competition, but a matter of focus.

The story of Santa is best understood in its entirety, dating back to fourth-century Turkey. A bishop of the church by the name of Nicholas was a man of deep prayer and great generosity. He particularly had compassion for the poor. Bishop Nicholas was known to give secret gifts to families in need, always directing all gratitude to God alone. In one story about Nicholas, he knew a man who could not afford the financial arrangement for his three daughters to marry. So Nicholas threw three purses filled with gold through the window (or chimney) of their home during the night. His gift enabled the girls to marry and avoid unemployment and poverty. Nicholas, who became known as St. Nicholas, has since inspired people to give anonymously to the poor. This seems like something worth believing, and the Church celebrates his legacy on December 6.

The greatest gift we celebrate at Christmas is Jesus, who comes to us all year round and lives among us. Jesus comes to all people, of every socioeconomic class, rich and poor; of every age, young and old; and of every height, short and tall. Jesus gives the same generous and abundant gift –- himself –- to all people. He gives us life, love, and salvation because of and in spite of our worst behavior. Jesus knows we mess up, and he meets us there and loves us still. Jesus is not only the focus of the season, but of our lives.

In this holiday season, may you experience the all surpassing generosity and love of God in Jesus, the baby born at Bethlehem.

Pastor Matthew Poock,

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