From the General Presbyter

When I discovered ChatGPT, I shared my enthusiasm with Frank, our communications manager. He responded with something to the effect of “it’s a great tool but be aware; sometimes it makes stuff up.”

In seminary several students walked out of my Old Testament class when the professor proclaimed the story of Adam and Eve as a myth. After the rancor died down, he continued by saying “a myth is a story that imparts a truth.” Whether you believe the Christmas story is a first century ChatGPT creation or a word for word narrative of an actual event, the truth is this: Emmanuel! God is with us.

It’s hard to believe that God would want to be with us after we have made a colossal mess of creation. It’s hard to believe God would want to dwell with us in the person of Jesus. Just look at how we treat one another – with judgement, disdain, prejudice, and apathy.

The good news is that God has decided to remain, through the Holy Spirit, with God’s beloved people even as we are absorbed as Rev. Elizabeth McLean said in her sermon, by the Christmas Machine! How we got from a manger to a mall is not surprising. We are nothing if not materialistic. But in this holy season we would do well to remember the words of Dr. Seuss from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas: “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

So, whether your Christmas is festive, busy, quiet, blue or somewhere in between, you can know that somewhere in the carols and gifts and food and football that God is closer than our breath and loves us much more than we love ourselves. Best gift ever!

Merry Christmas!

Jackie