Curly head dolls that toddle and coo. Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too. Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
You’ll hear those lyrics often during the holiday season—a song about a man who’s coming to bring all sorts of gifts. But, are they really gifts? The definition of a gift is “something given voluntarily without payment or condition.” The man in red has conditions.
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout.
He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good…
If you give someone a gift only if they meet certain qualifications, that is not a gift.
There is one who is coming, bearing real gifts, profoundly important gifts. Jesus came that first Christmas to win forgiveness and give all the gifts that come with it: hope, peace, joy, love. He is coming again at the end of this world to give you the gift of resurrection to eternal life. In the season of Advent, we connect Christ’s first coming with his second coming. We rejoice in all the unconditional gifts he gives.
He is coming, bearing gifts. Let us prepare our hearts…and the hearts of others…to meet him
Join us each Sunday in the weeks leading up to Christmas to hear more about the gifts God gives us through Christmas:
- Dec 2nd: The Gift of Hope
- Dec 9th: The Gift of Peace
- Dec 16th: The Gift of Joy (Sunday School Christmas Program)
- Dec 23rd: The Gift of Love (Grade School Christmas Program)
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