The Lights of Christmas Shine

Christ Church Charlotte

The Lights of Christmas Shine

December 13, 2023 • Allen Pruitt

There is a moment in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation when Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold plugs in the Christmas lights and he finally gets to see his vision come to life (after his wife fixes the tripped breaker). In that moment of illumination, Clark’s wife and children huddle around him, his parents get teary with pride, and the magic of Christmas feels possible. The whole Griswold family is surrounded by the light of love.

Then… the power goes out across the city. Then… cousin Eddie arrives. Then… Clark’s Christmas bonus turns out to be a subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club.

I wonder if part of the reason that Christmas Vacation has maintained its relevance is because the movie tells the truth. The truth is that in one moment, we see the brilliance of the light shining in the dark night and in the next, we are out at the gutter with cousin Eddie dealing with… lesser things.

When the Gospel of John told us that the light shines in the darkness, he wasn’t just trying to be poetic. John tells the truth. John reminds us that there is darkness. John reminds us that God knows the hidden places where the shadow tries to cover the light. John also reminds us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.

What gutter are you standing near? What moment of brilliance are you worried is about to be cut short by a tripped breaker? In what hidden place are you hoping to see the Light shine? These are the questions we articulate most clearly during the season of Advent, but they are the questions with which we wrestle in every new year too.

God chose to be born, the brightest light even in the howling darkness. That is a miracle. The light of God shines from each of our faces, born in us as much as any manger. That is a miracle.

We’ll lose sight of it. The breaker will trip; the difficult cousin will arrive; our victory will turn to defeat. We’ll lose sight and forget that the light shines out of us and out of our neighbor too. The darkness will crowd in.

God’s light shines still. God’s light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will never overcome it.

That’s not just the magic of Christmas. That is the truth. That is the victory of God.

Facing Our Fears

October 30, 2024

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. As a child, I loved dressing up and going door to door for candy. (Who doesn’t?) We lived on a street with sidewalks and kind older people who were glad to remark on my Star Wars costume or the time that my brother dressed up as Maverick from Top Gun. For years, I held onto the plastic hook that was part of my pirate costume. We moved to Charlotte about the time our kids no longer needed us to go trick or treating. This means that every year, my wife and I get to sit on our porch and welcome the ghosts and the Swifties and the characters from the Marvel Universe. We hand out Fun Dip because nobody’s parents will ever let them have Fun Dip. We chat with neighbors we rarely see. And the kids love us because, did I mention that we hand out Fun Dip? You can read the Wikipedia page or a scholarly article about the origins of Halloween as easily as I can. I only want to emphasize that the haunted houses and the creepy decorations and even the masks that we wear all help us to face our fears. On All Saint’s Day, we honor the saints who’ve come before us, and that also means acknowledging the sometimes scary reality of death. Whatever we’re afraid of – a new job, a new town, a new school, the end of a relationship, or the first Christmas without a loved one – can feel a little bit like dying. “I’ll just die if I don’t have any friends at my new school.” “I can’t imagine going on without her at the Christmas dinner.” Whatever our fear or our loss, these feelings of dread are real. And that burden is lighter when it is shared. In handing out sweet treats (like Fun Dip), our wild costumes, and our neighborhood rituals, we are sharing that burden of our fears. We are facing our fear of death together. In our costumes, we can become the scary thing, or we can play the part of the impervious superhero who is never afraid of the scary thing. We put on a costume hoping to become something that remains just beyond our reach. We hand out candy and we delight in each other’s costumes and decorations as a way to share the burden of our fear. Church is the place where you can face those fears without a mask, without dressing up as anything other than yourself: a beloved child of God. We may revel in our annual Trunk or Treat celebration, but that’s only once a year! Every week, the church invites you to be known: not for your costume, but for the unique gifts that God has given to only you. We want to help you discover those gifts, share those gifts, and celebrate those gifts. We want to walk alongside you in your fear and in your loss. And, we want to have fun together! God is in your whole life. It feels like everything in church begins with, “The Lord be with you.” And he is. God is with you. Not just the perfect you (whenever you figure that out). Not just the holy you (in those moments when you get it right). Not just the happy you and not just the mindful, best version of you. The Lord be with YOU. All of you. Unmasked. No special costume required.

A Pastoral Message from Christ Church Clergy

October 24, 2024 • Christ Church Clergy

Dear Church Family, As we approach the upcoming election, we know that many are feeling a mix of emotions – hope, anxiety, and uncertainty. In this moment, we want to remind you that our church is a home for all. Our unity is found in Christ and we are called to love one another. We encourage you to spend time in prayer – pray for our leaders, our nation, and for each other. Pray that we may all work together for the common good. Our mission remains the same: to love God, care for each other, and serve the world in the name of Christ. Psalm 46 reminds us that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." In the midst of uncertainty, we stand firm on this foundation of God's love, knowing that we are held by a power far greater than anything this world can offer. As we move through this season, let us be a church that models grace, love, and hope to the world around us. Together, let us continue to trust in God's presence and in the peace that surpasses all understanding. In Christ's love and service, The Clergy of Christ Church _______ Nurture Your Wellbeing at Election Time On Election Day and the day after (November 5 and 6), the Chapel, the Church, and the Contemplation Room will be open for silent prayer and meditation. There will be a Wednesday (November 6) Noon Holy Eucharist and Prayers for Healing in the Chapel. Also on Wednesday, November 6, we invite you to come and break bread with your friends at the https://christchurchcharlotte.org/events/wednesday-dinner-buffet/ (5:30 - 7 pm in the Blue Room) and feed your spirit at https://christchurchcharlotte.org/events/the-well/, a contemplative worship experience in the Church.

An Invitation to Hope and Wellbeing

October 16, 2024 • The Reverend Chip Edens

In John 5, Jesus asks a man at the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to be made well?” It’s a simple question, yet profound. Wellbeing looks different for each of us, because we all have unique needs and desires. Where in your life do you need hope and healing? As we approach the https://christchurchcharlotte.org/wellbeing/, we reflect on the many ways we each long to be made well, both individually and as a community. This center is more than a building; it’s a space dedicated to nurturing spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, and vocational/work wellbeing for all who come. We are thrilled to invite you to this exciting journey ahead: Friday, October 18 at 7:30 pm: An Evening of Bach & Haydn: Music in a Time of Anxiety, featuring the Christ Church Choir and the Queens University Chamber Orchestra, raising awareness for https://hopeway.org/, an organization committed to mental health. Saturday, October 19 at 6:30 pm: Contemplative Worship with The Reverend Becca Stevens, followed by a reception and open house for The Center for Wellbeing & Care. A time to reflect and connect, grounded in the peace we seek. Sunday, October 20: Blessing Prayers for The Center for Wellbeing & Care at all worship services. Becca Stevens, our Faith Forum guest, will invite us into a deeper conversation on what it means to live well in body, mind, and spirit. This weekend is more than a celebration of a new space. It’s an invitation to embrace wellness – wholeness – in every part of our lives. The journey ahead is full of possibilities for transformation as we continue to support our mission of wellbeing for all. Together, united in love, let’s embark on this adventure of transforming hearts and changing lives. May we always seek to be made well and to bring wellness to others.