A Christmas Letter To Churches and Laity
A Christmas Letter to Pastors, Churches, and Laity
Merry Christmas and a blessed season of Epiphany to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
This letter comes from the heart and is intended for my dear brother pastors, their congregations, and for my fellow lay brothers and sisters in Christ. This year on Christmas morning, we had more visitors and guests than ever before who could not worship Christ their newborn king at their church, simply because there was no Service offered. It crushed my spirit. To my brother pastors, please, feed your sheep. I completely understand the busyness of the season. We get to preach a lot of extra sermons in December. Recall what happened in the book of Acts when the disciples got overwhelmed with work: “Now in those days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables” (Acts 6:1-2). The twelve picked seven men to assist with these other duties so that they could “devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:4).
The true Church is completely based on the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments. Without it, we are nothing. We can be tempted to get caught up with all the extra curricular activities surrounding the Office of the Holy Ministry, but these are distractions from our first duty: to forgive sins (Jn 20:23). The great apostolic commission that Jesus gives to pastors are that “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in [My] name to all nations” (Lk 24:47).
Christmas Day is inarguably the second highest day of the entire year (second to the Day of the Resurrection of our Lord). We need to offer our people Jesus. “Born of the virgin Mary” we confess in the Creed! All those Second Article of the Creed clauses deserve recognition from us pastors, and we can do so by offering a worship service in honor of them. We need to re-devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
We pastors can be tempted by low turnout to think offering worship services are not worth it. Or, worse, we pastors just want to have the day off because we are tired from the Advent and Christmas Eve grind. Don’t let these crude lies and temptations of the devil persuade you to cancel Christmas. There is enough canceling of all that is good happening in today’s world. Instead, let “low turnout” inspire you to preach exhortation to faith more fully. The Gospel changes hearts. Show your people, and believe it yourself, that we need our Savior and the forgiveness of sins He freely offers through the Means of Grace.
We Lutherans are so fervent, and if we are honest, proud, to have weather policies such as, “If the bars are open, our Church will be open”, or “If the pastor and organist can make it to Church, then we will have Church!” Yet when it comes to celebrating the Incarnation of our God becoming flesh, we say things like, “We tried it once or twice, but only a handful of people showed up.” Jesus said, “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am among them” (Mt 18:20). Jesus is there with His gifts even if it’s only for a handful. The smallest handful gathered together is still worshipping with “all the company of heaven” as we confess in the Proper Preface. The smallest handful that desires their Savior should have the opportunity to receive Him.
Christmas is literally the one and only day of the entire year that is specifically named after our Christ. It’s Christ’s Mass! In a world where we are constantly told the Church is shrinking and dying, by not having worship on Christmas we are withholding the “one thing needful” (Lk 10:42) to grow and sustain our Church: the Word.
To all my dear brother pastors, devote yourselves to the ministry of the Word like the twelve apostles that precede you. To my fellow churches, encourage your leadership to offer Divine Services especially on Christmas. To my dear lay brothers and sisters in Christ, go to Church and receive the forgiveness of sins that your Savior purchased for you on the cross. “Don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another all the more as the day of the Lord draws near” (Heb 10:25). Let us boldly confess with our words and actions that Jesus is the one thing needful especially on His Holy Day. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, Merry Christmas!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Wes Hromowyk
Zion Ev. Lutheran Church Columbus, OH
Circuit Visitor, Southeast Region 2