I decided to attend the family church service on Christmas Eve.  Kay was singing with the choir, so I sat alone and observed while also participating. During her message, the Pastor invited the kids to join her at the altar.  Pastor taught them the meaning of Christmas, gave them each a special ornament that contained symbols of the message.  She asked the kids to share with their parents what she taught them, at the end of the day when all of the presents had been opened and all of the food had been enjoyed.  

The youth choir sang a few songs.  They were adorable, of course, and did a great job.  Then they returned to their seats to be with their families.  But I thought it was great at the end of the service, when the adult choir sang the final Christmas Carol, one of the kids ran up to her mother, a member of the adult choir, to sing with her.  Soon, about a dozen more kids, robes flowing, ran up to join the choir.  Spontaneous memory-makers like that are what help to make Christmas extra-special.

In the “Gathering Area” outside the “Great Hall” cookies and drinks were available for the congregants.  As I watched the people gathering and greeting one another, I thought of the Christmas Cantata Kay and I attended a week earlier.  The Cantata featured a small choir of 10 voices, accompanied by an orchestra of less than 10 members.  It was very nicely done and very much representative of small town America.  If you are familiar with the old Andy of Mayberry television series, the scene reminded me of the town concerts the good people of Mayberry used to put on.  It was quaint, with a few missed notes here and there, a mixture of young musicians and seasoned musicians, but as meaningful as any concert delivered in any great hall anywhere in the world.

Christmas is the time of year when being others-focused takes center stage.  We sing for others, we bake for others, we build things for others, we pray for others, we travel to visit others, we donate to causes, we serve others.  Why are we so intensely others-focused for Christmas?  Because it makes us feel good.  And because we know it makes others happy.  It’s a simple life here in small town America.  Merry Christmas.