The Colors of Christmas: Six Sermons and Object Lessons for Advent and Christmas
Sermon
A Christmas Journey
A Collection of Resources for Advent and Christmas
Object:
Advent 1
Children's Message
Green
Good morning, boys and girls. During the morning announcements today, I told you what the special color is for this morning. Do you remember what it is? That's right, green. Green is the color for the day. And what day is today? That's right, today is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new church year. Today we also begin to think about Christmas, that time when we all celebrate the birth of God's Son, Jesus. Each Sunday during this Ad-vent/Christmas season, we will have a different color as our theme. This morning, we begin with the color green.
Can you name some things that are green in color? Grass and leaves? Those are good answers. Green is the color of life, of growth. Each spring, we look forward to the greening of the grass and the coming again of the leaves and plants. When God first created the world, what color do you think it was? Yes, I think it was probably green, too.
But green is also one of the primary Christmas colors. Can you think of some special "green" things of Christmas? The Christmas tree is a good answer. It is an evergreen tree. It is always green, isn't it? Is there anything else that's green for Christmas? The Advent wreath! Very good. There are a few other things some of the adults might remember. Holly and mistletoe are popular during the Christmas season. All of these things, especially the Christmas tree, the evergreen, remind us that God has given us life. And with the coming of Christmas, God is about to give us new life again, through the birth of his baby Son, Jesus.
So that you will remember that, I have in my bag this morning a green ribbon for each of you to wear. Each Sunday during this Christmas season, you will receive a different color ribbon. I want you to wear them, adding each new color every Sunday. Here is a green ribbon for each of you, and there is even one for me to wear on my robe. Now, what does the color green remind us of? That's right; life and growth. God gives us life, in creation and in the birth of his Son, Jesus.
Advent 1
Sermon
Green, the Color of Life
Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5
These two sections of scripture portray for us, in a panoramic way, the story of creation. Genesis teaches that in the beginning there was God who created all things. There was nothing in the beginning until God caused it to happen. He spoke, and creation became a reality. God created everything from nothing. And behold, it was very good!
In much the same way, John's Gospel also teaches us about creation. It begins just as the Genesis creation account: In the beginning. But John says more, proclaiming that God's own Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus, our Emmanuel, was involved in this act of creation. "Without him was not anything made that was made!" Jesus, then, is the one through whom all things were created. We recognize the truth that life comes from him. He is the source of life, all life. The creating life has come through his own hand, by his powerful Word. Eternal life has come through his own death and resurrection. Through creation, Christ has given us the gift of life. Through his passion, death, and resurrection, he has given that gift of life eternal. So this Holy Child of Bethlehem, this babe in the Christmas manger, is also the creating, omnipresent God. He, and he alone, is the source of all life, both in this world and the next.
Green is the color of life. That fact most assuredly pervades our thinking when we consider the colors of Christmas! In our outdoors this time of year, there is a marked lack of the color green. The leaves are gone. Most plants have died from frost and exposure. We are in the season of late autumn, early winter. This is a time of dormancy in the life of most growing things. They hibernate, they go to sleep, they die.
Now, of course, there is a highly technical, scientific explanation as to what actually happens. My college biology suggests that the chlorophyll dies and the carotene takes over, becoming predominant. But, we're not scientists. We simply know that in autumn and winter, the plants die and the leaves fall. That's all we know, and probably all we need to know about such a subject. We're just people trying to understand life ... the gift of life given to us by Christ himself.
But, one of the most important colors of Christmas is green. We see that "green" and that "greenery" surrounding us at Christmas. Today, we see it here, in God's house, the church. We find it in our green paraments: on the altar, lectern, and pulpit, in the color of my stole and in my cross, in the ribbons of life we gave the youngsters a few moments ago. And we also see green in the holly and mistletoe of the yuletide season. Our Advent wreath is green, and our Christmas tree and decorations in the sanctuary themselves will abound with green.
A good symbol of this created life we have in Christ -- and of our Advent/Christmas season, too -- may be found in this branch from a tree ... an evergreen. We use "evergreen" as a name for a certain type of shrub or bush or tree. Evergreen. But evergreen is also what it is. It is ever green. We know that this type of tree is a symbol of life, for it never loses its needles or leaves in winter. Rather, this tree remains green -- ever green -- all year long. It is always filled with life, continually reminding us of the life -- the gift of life here and eternally -- that is ours in Jesus Christ.
Green is the color of life, but the color green can also have some negative connotations. When I mention the color green to you, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Do you think of Christmas trees, evergreens, the green leaves, plants, and grass of a summer day? Or, do you think of something else that is green, something else that has replaced God in the minds of many, many people? I'm referring, of course, to the "idol" money! The love of money is referred to in the Bible as the root of all evil. Indeed, Paul told his brother, Timothy, that very truth. And it can be true for us, too, if we let money become the "idol" of our lives, that which we worship above all else. But this green money has another side to it, too. Money can be a positive, powerful force in doing God's will, in helping others, if we will but use it properly. It's a fact: We cannot live in this world today without money. But, we can do a lot of good with it. It's not meant to be hoarded, but invested for God's greater glory. We are but stewards of God's many and varied gifts.
During the announcements this morning, and in your Sunday bulletin, too, we heard and read about a local Christmas Cheer program.* This program offers you and me a joyous way of sharing the blessings of God with others. Green money is needed and you can help. Likewise, on your Sunday envelope, there are many wonderful programs supported by our green dollars. Our own congregation depends upon our green money to continue to do the work we do. Money, when used properly, is an important tool, a life-giving tool for Christians, at Christmas time and all year long. But, if it becomes our god, then, my friends, we're in real trouble. Then the love of money becomes the root of all evil. As responsible Christians, we need to make responsible decisions.
In chapter 23 of John's Gospel, Jesus, himself, spoke of the color green. Jesus referred to it as he was being led on his way to Golgotha, to be nailed to the wooden cross and put to death. As he was going, the women of Jerusalem came weeping and wailing after Jesus. Jesus told the women that they should not weep for him, but for themselves and their children. For the days are coming, says the Lord, when Jerusalem itself will be destroyed. And it is then that we encounter these strangely prophetic words: "For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Jesus said that the wood was green in those former days, but many believe today that the wood is very, very dry ... that the end is near, and it is in this context that we gather today. We gather to celebrate the beginning once more of Advent, looking for the Babe of Bethlehem and the Christ of glory who promises to come once more.
There is a beautiful relationship here, then, between the life we have on this earth, this place, and the hope of eternal life that is ours in Christ. We know that both "lives" are gifts from our Lord. This color, green, reminds us of life ... and the life God has given us ... the life we live in his love and forgiveness.
I pray that this holiday season might be for each of us a season of life, a season of green. May we find in our preparation, our anticipation, and our celebration that intangible something from God that makes this life -- all life -- really worth the living! Have a blessed, green, life-filled holiday season, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
*Churches can insert any local "giving" program.
Children's Message
Green
Good morning, boys and girls. During the morning announcements today, I told you what the special color is for this morning. Do you remember what it is? That's right, green. Green is the color for the day. And what day is today? That's right, today is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new church year. Today we also begin to think about Christmas, that time when we all celebrate the birth of God's Son, Jesus. Each Sunday during this Ad-vent/Christmas season, we will have a different color as our theme. This morning, we begin with the color green.
Can you name some things that are green in color? Grass and leaves? Those are good answers. Green is the color of life, of growth. Each spring, we look forward to the greening of the grass and the coming again of the leaves and plants. When God first created the world, what color do you think it was? Yes, I think it was probably green, too.
But green is also one of the primary Christmas colors. Can you think of some special "green" things of Christmas? The Christmas tree is a good answer. It is an evergreen tree. It is always green, isn't it? Is there anything else that's green for Christmas? The Advent wreath! Very good. There are a few other things some of the adults might remember. Holly and mistletoe are popular during the Christmas season. All of these things, especially the Christmas tree, the evergreen, remind us that God has given us life. And with the coming of Christmas, God is about to give us new life again, through the birth of his baby Son, Jesus.
So that you will remember that, I have in my bag this morning a green ribbon for each of you to wear. Each Sunday during this Christmas season, you will receive a different color ribbon. I want you to wear them, adding each new color every Sunday. Here is a green ribbon for each of you, and there is even one for me to wear on my robe. Now, what does the color green remind us of? That's right; life and growth. God gives us life, in creation and in the birth of his Son, Jesus.
Advent 1
Sermon
Green, the Color of Life
Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5
These two sections of scripture portray for us, in a panoramic way, the story of creation. Genesis teaches that in the beginning there was God who created all things. There was nothing in the beginning until God caused it to happen. He spoke, and creation became a reality. God created everything from nothing. And behold, it was very good!
In much the same way, John's Gospel also teaches us about creation. It begins just as the Genesis creation account: In the beginning. But John says more, proclaiming that God's own Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus, our Emmanuel, was involved in this act of creation. "Without him was not anything made that was made!" Jesus, then, is the one through whom all things were created. We recognize the truth that life comes from him. He is the source of life, all life. The creating life has come through his own hand, by his powerful Word. Eternal life has come through his own death and resurrection. Through creation, Christ has given us the gift of life. Through his passion, death, and resurrection, he has given that gift of life eternal. So this Holy Child of Bethlehem, this babe in the Christmas manger, is also the creating, omnipresent God. He, and he alone, is the source of all life, both in this world and the next.
Green is the color of life. That fact most assuredly pervades our thinking when we consider the colors of Christmas! In our outdoors this time of year, there is a marked lack of the color green. The leaves are gone. Most plants have died from frost and exposure. We are in the season of late autumn, early winter. This is a time of dormancy in the life of most growing things. They hibernate, they go to sleep, they die.
Now, of course, there is a highly technical, scientific explanation as to what actually happens. My college biology suggests that the chlorophyll dies and the carotene takes over, becoming predominant. But, we're not scientists. We simply know that in autumn and winter, the plants die and the leaves fall. That's all we know, and probably all we need to know about such a subject. We're just people trying to understand life ... the gift of life given to us by Christ himself.
But, one of the most important colors of Christmas is green. We see that "green" and that "greenery" surrounding us at Christmas. Today, we see it here, in God's house, the church. We find it in our green paraments: on the altar, lectern, and pulpit, in the color of my stole and in my cross, in the ribbons of life we gave the youngsters a few moments ago. And we also see green in the holly and mistletoe of the yuletide season. Our Advent wreath is green, and our Christmas tree and decorations in the sanctuary themselves will abound with green.
A good symbol of this created life we have in Christ -- and of our Advent/Christmas season, too -- may be found in this branch from a tree ... an evergreen. We use "evergreen" as a name for a certain type of shrub or bush or tree. Evergreen. But evergreen is also what it is. It is ever green. We know that this type of tree is a symbol of life, for it never loses its needles or leaves in winter. Rather, this tree remains green -- ever green -- all year long. It is always filled with life, continually reminding us of the life -- the gift of life here and eternally -- that is ours in Jesus Christ.
Green is the color of life, but the color green can also have some negative connotations. When I mention the color green to you, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Do you think of Christmas trees, evergreens, the green leaves, plants, and grass of a summer day? Or, do you think of something else that is green, something else that has replaced God in the minds of many, many people? I'm referring, of course, to the "idol" money! The love of money is referred to in the Bible as the root of all evil. Indeed, Paul told his brother, Timothy, that very truth. And it can be true for us, too, if we let money become the "idol" of our lives, that which we worship above all else. But this green money has another side to it, too. Money can be a positive, powerful force in doing God's will, in helping others, if we will but use it properly. It's a fact: We cannot live in this world today without money. But, we can do a lot of good with it. It's not meant to be hoarded, but invested for God's greater glory. We are but stewards of God's many and varied gifts.
During the announcements this morning, and in your Sunday bulletin, too, we heard and read about a local Christmas Cheer program.* This program offers you and me a joyous way of sharing the blessings of God with others. Green money is needed and you can help. Likewise, on your Sunday envelope, there are many wonderful programs supported by our green dollars. Our own congregation depends upon our green money to continue to do the work we do. Money, when used properly, is an important tool, a life-giving tool for Christians, at Christmas time and all year long. But, if it becomes our god, then, my friends, we're in real trouble. Then the love of money becomes the root of all evil. As responsible Christians, we need to make responsible decisions.
In chapter 23 of John's Gospel, Jesus, himself, spoke of the color green. Jesus referred to it as he was being led on his way to Golgotha, to be nailed to the wooden cross and put to death. As he was going, the women of Jerusalem came weeping and wailing after Jesus. Jesus told the women that they should not weep for him, but for themselves and their children. For the days are coming, says the Lord, when Jerusalem itself will be destroyed. And it is then that we encounter these strangely prophetic words: "For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Jesus said that the wood was green in those former days, but many believe today that the wood is very, very dry ... that the end is near, and it is in this context that we gather today. We gather to celebrate the beginning once more of Advent, looking for the Babe of Bethlehem and the Christ of glory who promises to come once more.
There is a beautiful relationship here, then, between the life we have on this earth, this place, and the hope of eternal life that is ours in Christ. We know that both "lives" are gifts from our Lord. This color, green, reminds us of life ... and the life God has given us ... the life we live in his love and forgiveness.
I pray that this holiday season might be for each of us a season of life, a season of green. May we find in our preparation, our anticipation, and our celebration that intangible something from God that makes this life -- all life -- really worth the living! Have a blessed, green, life-filled holiday season, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
*Churches can insert any local "giving" program.
