Christmas, It Is Not Finished!
As I drive in my car to various hospitals or meetings, I spend a lot of time listening to the radio.  To my surprise this year I've heard some radio personalities and advertisements talking about the Twelve Days of Christmas.  One person talked about the twelve days of Christmas as weekends and days of football games.  Others talked about the twelve days as the last shopping days leading up to Christmas, as if they were a countdown.  Occasionally we even hear the song ?The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation for the coming of the Christ.  Christmas is celebrated on December 25.  Yet, Christmas doesn't stop on December 25.  The Season of Christmas or Christmastide is twelve days.  December 25 until January 5 are the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Christmas is not just a day but a brief season of twelve days.  January 6 is Epiphany and the Season of Epiphany celebrates the Light of God coming to us.  The Season of Epiphany ends on Ash Wednesday, which this year is on February 21.

The Season of Christmas is our celebration of God with us in our Savior and Sovereign Jesus Christ.  It's more than returning gifts that don't fit and bowl games, although they have become part of that season, too.  Christmas is our chance to reflect on how God has come to us in Jesus Christ.

Your partner in ministry,

Bill

The Rev. Dr. William R. Nirote