Luke 2:1-20

Today is Christmas Eve.

Today is Christmas Eve. On behalf of all of the pastors and staff, we would like to wish you a Blessed Christmas, a Christmas filled with Joy, Hope and Love of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I praise God that our English Congregation is having evangelistic service this morning, to bring the Good News, the Gospel to everyone on this special day.

May the Lord prompt us to pray and listen to His Word, to feel His Heart for humanity, and to do His Will in this world. Amen!

Today’s Scripture reading is on Luke 2:1-20 which focuses on the Nativity Story of Jesus Christ. This is a story that is almost forgotten by the world today. Today, the world celebrates Christmas with cartoon characters which are on display around the malls in Singapore. Changi Airport Jewel is filled with Super Mario, while Orchard Road has a theme called “Christmas on A Great Street 2023”. Just a walk down Orchard Road, we can see how secularised and commercialized this season is.
I remember in 2018 when Orchard Road was decorated with Disney-themed magical moments, the National Council of Churches in Singapore put up a strong statement (Disney theme for Orchard Road light-up has ‘no meaningful connection’ with Christmas: NCCS (todayonline.com)) criticizing the light-up as having “no meaningful connection” to a religious festival commemorating the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ. I remember that year, after this open letter was written, there was some scrambling to put up the Nativity Story of Jesus Christ alongside the original “Disney” theme as a compromise.
How about today? Do we still restrict the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ within the walls of our church premises? Is the church ready to be like the angels who bring this Good News to the streets, to bring blessings to the people who walk past our churches every day? To tell them the true story of Christmas, the greatest gift that God has given to mankind?
May the Lord prompt us to pray and listen to His Word, to feel His Heart for humanity, and to do His Will in this world. Amen!