A Christmas Story

Once upon a time there lived a boy named Noel. Noel was raised a Catholic and celebrated Christmas with his family every year. On Christmas Eve the family would sit down and have a Christmas dinner. This time was specifically for the family and no one else. There would be a turkey, and chicken, salads and breads. The family would celebrate one another's presence and remember those who were not at the table. Dad or mum would say a prayer of thanksgiving for the wonder of Christmas and the providence given to us throughout the year.

When dinner was over, the house would turn into a centre of busy traffic as family members rushed to the showers and ironing boards to prepare themselves for Midnight Mass. Noel and his brother Melchior were also given the task of polishing their dad's shoes. By 10:30 pm, the house would be emptied as the family made their way to church. Between 11:30 pm to 11:50 pm the choir would be up in the loft singing Christmas carols. Their voices were so sweet as they sang in four part harmony some of the most loved carols. Mass would begin five minutes before twelve so that the bells could ring at the stroke of twelve. The priest would start the "Gloria in excelsis Deo" followed by all the bells then the choir singing the entire song. The church ( well at least the kids) will be filled with joy. Christmas Day was here.

Mass would end at about 1:30 and the family would return home for another festive moment. Dad would open a bottle of wine and mum would cut her Christmas fruitcake. Everyone would receive a piece of cake and a glass of wine. Dad would raise his glass and wish his family a merry Christmas and they would all drink a toast and eat a piece of cake. Everyone would then be ordered to bed so they could be ready for the next day.

At daybreak Noel and his brothers and sisters would rise early and celebrate the whole of Christmas day. Mum and Dad would sometimes go for the Christmas morning Mass as well but they would be home by 10:00 am. Then Mum and Dad would both be busy preparing food for the people who would come to visit. Though very few Catholics visited, the family had a lot of non-Catholic friends who would come to share the day with them. It was a festive time. Dad's and Mum's friends from the office would visit. Noel's and Melchior's classmates would visit. There was fellowship, laughter and joy as they shared the day.

As Noel grew up, he joined another church called the "Complete Word Gathering"(CWG). Here he felt the call of God on his life. He grew in the knowledge of the word of God. His life centred around the church. There were three services on a Sunday, a prayer meeting on Wednesday and a home group meeting on Friday. Since Noel was a musician and could play the Sackbutt, he attended rehearsals with the worship team on Thursdays. Since corporate prayer was an integral part of the Christian experience, Noel would attend the intercessory meeting on Saturday afternoons. He had no more time to hang out with his friends doing "sweet nothings". He believed in what the psalmist said so he "numbered his days and applied his heart to wisdom". Since his family did not approve of his new found zeal for spiritual things, he spent less time with them as well. After all, they might have influenced him back to complacency and carnality.

In all this, his love for Christmas never diminished. However, when it came to Christmas Eve, he could only spend one hour with his famiy and grab a quick dinner with them before he rushed off to the Christmas Evangelistic programme in his church. On Christmas day CWG would have two Christmas services which would end at 1:30pm. By the time he left the premises it would be 2:30 pm and he would reach home by 3:45 pm to spend whatever was left of Christmas day with his family. Mum and Dad would be furious because he was not around to do his part. Not many of Noel's friends would turn up for Christmas as most of them were from his church. He had parted company with his pre-Christian friends during the year without even knowing it.

Though Noel wanted to share the true message of Christmas with his family and friends, both groups felt that they did not need what he had. It was too individualistic with no regard for family or community. Noel could not understand why they felt that way. How could he make his schedule fit church and family and friends especially at Christmas? One day he met his old friend San T. Claws who told him that his church also had a Christmas programme but that they held it for five nights on the week before Christmas Day. They would also have singing groups go to the local malls hotels, restaurants and homes to sing carols and share the Christmas message from the 1st of December till the week before Christmas. During the programme at the church, pre -Christian friends would be invited and the Christmas message would be presented in drama and song. When asked if they had anything on Christmas day, his friend would reply that they had none but that they entertained guests at their homes and spent time with heir families.

Wow! What a concept. Imagine actually spending time on Christmas day with our families and friends, especially those who need to hear the message of Christmas.

Merry Christmas all