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Why Christmas Music in Public Spaces?

Many years ago, I was helping to deliver Christmas Hampers.  Two deliveries stand out.
    
The first, to a single mother of two teens. As the mother opened the door, one of the teens was right behind her. He was about 14 +/- years of age. He spotted the two loaves of bread on the top of the box, and immediately reached over—and retrieved one. “Mom, there’s bread!”  With a sense of joy and gratitude, he headed off to enjoy a quick snack.

I later reflected about the significance of bread. How often have we heard, “Bread is the staff of life?” What we may take for granted, others hunger for. 
    
The second delivery was to an elderly couple—recent newcomers to Saskatoon, from India.

Atop each delivery box was a Christmas card and a handmade cross of cedar. The woman touched the cross and said, “Thank you for sharing your Jesus!” Christianity was not her religion, yet she received the cross as a blessing. 

Her words have stayed with me for over 20 years.  Time has yielded a theological interpretation.

What does it mean to share ‘our’ Jesus? There are many possibilities. 

Perhaps, one aspect of sharing Christianity is reaching out to the world with kindness and generosity. Doing the work of Jesus is not always about making disciples. Yet, as we “share our Jesus,” with acts of generosity we are doing discipleship, (‘quiet evangelism,” according to a colleague.) 
     
Recently, when I was at a restaurant for lunch with a colleague, our server came over to our table as we were about to leave. She remarked how she had overheard some of our conversation—in which we had talked about evangelism and sharing the social gospel, particularly sharing food. The server remarked how she was encouraged by our conversation and asked two questions, “What church?” “When do we worship?” 

Quiet evangelism in action.

The value of Christmas music in the store?

The message of the music may encourage some to give with generosity, and others to live with hope. As we enter into Advent, let us not underestimate the value of our work in the world!

Advent Blessings,
Archdeacon Brian+

 

 


PS: Friday Focus is taking a “vacation” until after Christmas.