Christmas
Memories
I actually do not know how far back my
heritage in Lutheranism goes. However, I do know that I am
the fourth generation to belong to my home congregation in
Illinois, USA. When young pastors join our staff, I
tell them that not only am I ‘old in age’, I am also ‘old in
heritage’. I pray that my Lord will give me the words and
actions to portray a faithful image of this precious Lutheran
heritage.
My childhood memories of December and the
excitement of Christmas are multifaceted. They were joyful on
many levels: family gatherings where we got to see our grandparents
as well as aunts and uncles; playing with cousins upstairs, away
from the watchful eyes of our parents; jumping on the many sleds
attached by ropes behind the tractor, always being on the alert for
others who spill off their sleds; and of course, time off from
school because of severe weather conditions.
Then finally Christmas Eve would arrive. My
family would gather around our little evergreen tree in the living
room and my parents would give each of us children one gift to
open. As I write this, I can feel myself smile inside as I
recall sitting on the couch ̶ trying very hard to be
patient. I wonder now if part of my excitement was not the
“present” itself, but actually the anticipation of knowing that we,
as church school children, were to fulfill the assignment, the
responsibility, the privilege of sharing the story of Jesus’ birth
later that night at the Christmas Eve church service.
One Christmas Eve, when I was in second grade,
my family drove to church as gentle white snowflakes hit the
windshield of the car. We arrived and walked past the
cemetery to enter a side door so I could join my Sunday school
teacher and classmates. My mother took my coat with her, and
I pushed wrinkles out of my new dress, a gift of a dark blue, soft
velvet dress. After the thrill of processing into the
sanctuary during the opening hymn and standing on the altar steps,
we quieted to listen as the older children took turns narrating the
Christmas story from Luke 2.
It came to pass in those days,
that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be taxed ... And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night … And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a
sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and
saying…
This was our cue! Our teacher put up her
right hand and pointed at us with her finger! We opened our
mouths to proclaim clearly and loudly: Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men! We did it! Our teacher had a smile
on her face! We were the heavenly hosts! I looked
around and took a deep breath as the older children continued with
the story. And it came to pass, as the angels
were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to
another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing
which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the
babe lying in a manger.
Today again, we sing together with the angels
and all of the heavenly hosts, Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Karen Hardecopf, RN, FCN, Certified Lay
Minister
Programming Coordinator, LCMS Parish Nursing,
USA
Parish Nurse at Cross Lutheran Church and
School
Yorkville, IL 60560 USA
khardecopf@hiscross.org