"It's a Party"
Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-14

Does Christmas qualify as a party?
I wonder what makes a party a party?
Or at least what makes a party a good party?

Is it decorations?
Maybe. There often seems to be some sort of decorations -- or at least a bit of a tidying up and making the place look nice. Balloons, streamers, lights ? How about a star in the sky that moves. How does that go?

Music? Presumably a party has some sort of music
Dance music? Classical? Even a good recording of Devo. Always some sort of music. How about a multitude of Angels singing at the top of their lungs (do angels have lungs?). And lighting at the sky that same time? How does that go?

People coming from all over the place?
For a good party people would be willing to travel for ages, wouldn't they? I recently travelled to a party in Sydney, and discovered the lots of people had travelled a lot further than I had. It made party pretty special. How about people leaving their work as shepherds and travelling from out-of-town or a bunch of people with camels coming from another country maybe even another continent. How does that go?

And presents. Good parties always seem to have presents.
It doesn't even seen that important whether they are for us or not at a good party. Even just having to presents there makes the party special. So how about gold, special perfume and an ointment that is worth a fortune How does that go?

And finally, good parties seemed to go late
(though I think from a parents point of view into parties always a little questionable) maybe even late into the nice, early into the morning. Well from all reports, for the first Christmas the party didn't even start until well into the night. and I am pretty sure that Joseph and Mary didn't get much sleep.

Christmas is, by any means, meant to suggest that there is a reason for us to party and not just us, but all people
"Peace on Earth to everyone" sing the angels in fact Christmas isn't just for all people to celebrate and party it is for the whole creation -- the whole world.

We see signs of the every year.
And even when the world around us seems confused as to why it would celebrate and even confused about what it is celebrating something deep within us knows there is a reason to celebrate something deep at the very core of us knows that we are involved in a universal party

And the universal party is celebrating that God is with us right now the universal party, which is worth celebrating every year, every day if we are game is wonder that humanity, with all our stupidity, cannot ever end or extinguish.

Are if we don't join in the party, then, in the words of Jesus "the rocks and stones themselves will start to sing".

Have you look for the moving of the stars in the heavens lately
Have you listened for Angels singing recently?
Have you noticed people from all over the place from all walks of life and all countries?
Have you received or given a gift that it is designed to help someone feel special?
I hope so.
Because I hope that you have joined in the Christmas party, celebrating and God is with us, that is not limited to any Christmas day or Christmas day service. Party is a party that echoes around the universe every moment of everyday - this party really lasts

Live with a sense of celebration
Let your joy become infective
Don't allow it to be a put on mask over misery,
but let the joy of life move deep within you and transform you.

Why?
Because of any barrier that people thought existed between God and humanity has been shredded, ripped apart and tossed out like ticker take on a celebration parade.
No barrier. No separation

Nothing that can stop us from experiencing the fullness of relationship with God and with others as long as we are willing to join in the party.