How Does a Weary World Rejoice? We Make Room.

Our Advent Vigil is over! We have waited a long time for the warmth of Christmas Eve. We’ve sat with our weariness, leaned into companionship, opened to awe, and practiced being generous on Christmas Morning. We have remembered together beautiful old stories that tell of the birth of Jesus. 

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you, to your families, and ALL those you held dear. I pray you feel this week the truth that God is near you, always coming near you, waiting for you in your heart, and accompanying you in facing whatever strange house guests arrive at the door.

I hope that you know that we as a church want to be near you too, and that your presence matters so much to us. There is room for you at Southpoint, even if we have to squish and get close to each other in a cold barn. Even this is our practice—the practice of making room.

Here are two snippets from A Sanctified Art material to deepen your celebration and practice of Christmas this week:

“We believe in a God
who makes room for us—
who opens the door,
pulls up a seat,
puts the kettle on, and says,
“Tell me everything.” 
—A Sanctified Art

…we can turn on the porch lights.
We can add chairs to the table.
We can keep clean sheets on the guest bed,
just in case.
We can hold the elevator,
and learn pronouns.
We can tell stories of belonging,
and take turns listening.
We can learn each other’s names,
and plant trees for our children.
We can study privilege
and advocate for mental health.
We can insist,
every single day,
in a million different ways:
there is room,
there is room,
there is room for you here…

—Excerpt from There is Room
by Rev. Sarah Speed

Deep peace and blessing,

— Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, The Church at Southpoint