The Secret of Christmas Sermon delivered at Glen Cairn United Church, Kanata, Ontario January 2, 2000 by Deborah Cross, Chair of Worship Committee. When I was 9 years old, in fact, 2 days after my ninth birthday, our family of five moved to Europe. My father was in the Air Force, and he had been transferred to France. We were only permitted to bring with us two suitcases and two packing crates, which contained all our worldly belongings. We had just about everything we needed, except music and television. Television never became a reality, but music did. Dad bought a stereo, and we slowly acquired a collection of ‘60s music. Our first Christmas in France was different though, no snow, no Santa, no Christmas music. Dad couldn’t affect the weather, and Santa looked decidedly weird, but Dad was able to fix the music issue with a record album, and I, inadvertently, started a family tradition. The source of that tradition is the basis for my talk with you today, and for much of my life.

On that record was a song entitled "The Secret of Christmas". To this day, I cry every time I hear that song. The family thought it was quite amusing to see a little girl moved to tears over a song, but the words moved me then and still do. The song talks about the secret of Christmas being "not the things you do at Christmas time, but the Christmas things you do all year through". This thought moved a little girl of nine...and it moved her again the next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. In fact, when Emmett sang it at the carol evening last year, it made her cry all over again.

We all have songs, hymns and carols, especially at Christmas, that have special meaning for us. Mine has a message that is pertinent to everyone, everywhere. When the hustle and bustle of the holiday season are over, the message of the season still holds true. Christmas is a season of love, promise and hope. It’s easy to put aside the feelings of the season in a box with the decorations, not to be truly used again until the next year. But we need to remember the sentiment of my song, "it’s not the things you do at Christmas time, but the Christmas things you do all year through". Giving needs to be perpetual. And we have great models for that giving.

The best example of a perpetual gift is that of God’s to us. He gave his only son; to live and to die. The most wonderful gift ever. Can we ever match that, I think not, but what a wonderful challenge is to be found in trying. It’s not difficult to give. In fact, it feels great. Most of you already know this. Look at the money our congregation raised to move the minister, fix our Y2K bug, support the refugee families. But it doesn’t have to be only money. Members of our church volunteer with the food bank, sit on various church committees, or teach Sunday school, and outside our church outreach programs, people are involved with United Way, Scouting and Guiding, the Food Cupboard, school PTAs, and countless others.

But how often, by about the middle of January, just about the time the Valentine’s Day merchandise is dusted off and set out again in the stores, we so easily forget the secret of Christmas.

I urge you to make a vow here and now, to consider the gifts you have been given. To make to most of every opportunity that presents itself. The late service on Christmas Eve was packed, and many of you were here. David spoke of Christmas presence. The act of giving of ourselves, not necessarily things.

And that is just what my song is about, giving of ourselves all year long, not just at Christmas. Can it be done? Of course. Does it take special effort? Yes, but with each time, the giving becomes easier and easier. Simple little things. One of the things I like most on TV is the ad from the Mormons. Mom, I’m sure more than once, has told her child to not take any of the groceries out of the car. Well, the child does, and the result is a dropped bag, and a smashed pie. Mom goes into the house, and emerges with two forks. Now maybe that is an exaggeration, but what a wonderful code to live by. Basically, don’t sweat the small stuff. I think we can all picture ourselves, if faced with a similar situation in December, reacting in a similar fashion. Now, picture it on a hot day in July. Results may not be quite so picturesque.

You are in the mall, a child is screaming its lungs out. In December, we assume that the child is over excited, perhaps is tired from one too many Christmas outings. Now, on that same hot day in July, we make judgments about the parenting skills of the adult holding that screaming child.

The man who grabs the last parking space, the lady who doesn’t hold the elevator, the guy who cuts his grass late in the evening, the teenager whose hair is just a little too long. They don’t need our irritation, our judgments, or our condemnation. Let it go. Live a better code. Try it a few times. It works, and you’ll feel great. The secret of Christmas is not the things you do at Christmas time, but the Christmas things you do all year through.