“All religion is of life; and the life of religion is to do good.” - Doctrine of Life §1
Kempton New Church

Christmas 2012

Dear Neighbor,

You are invited to come see a living, reverent portrayal of the Christmas stories, with a choir and a harp providing background music. The script is entirely from the Gospels. The times are 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 16. Bring your children and grandchildren.

A beloved Christmas carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, includes these words:

Hail! the Lord, the Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.

These lyrics were inspired by the words of the prophet Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament before the Lord came into the world. God commissioned Malachi to write, “But to you who fear My name the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2). This is a beautiful promise that in a time when the world was spiritually cold and sick, the Lord would come, bringing warmth and healing.

It’s easy to see that the Sun of righteousness is our Lord Jesus Christ, since His face shone like the sun when He was transformed on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-2). The sun especially emphasizes the Lord’s love, and His wings, which bring healing, picture His truths, protecting us and lifting us up.

The Lord came into the world so that we might be warmed by His love and His righteousness, and so that we may share His love with each other by acting righteously, that is, honestly, justly and faithfully toward each other. In the Christmas stories we have the example of Joseph, who was a just man and therefore unwilling to make Mary a public example (Mat. 1:19); and the shepherds, faithfully watching their flocks by night. These are examples of the Sun of righteousness shining into people’s hearts and minds, leading them to do the right thing.

When our world had grown spiritually dark and cold because we had turned away from the Sun of righteousness, He was born among us so that His sun might rise again and give us life. May we, by the way we live and treat each other, sing with the angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men” (Luke 2:14).

Merry Christmas!

Rev. Lawson M. Smith