The Life of Christmas Present (Ashtabula)

I. THE GATHERING

Welcome & Announcements

Good morning, and welcome to Ashtabula First United Methodist Church.

Can you believe we are already at the Third Sunday of Advent? We have journeyed with Marley's chains, and we have walked down memory lane with the Ghost of Christmas Past. Today, the story shifts. Today, Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present—a spirit of generosity, abundance, and life.

This fits perfectly with our Advent theme for the day: Love. Not a sentimental, greeting-card love, but a love that is active, present, and willing to see the people right in front of us.

Just a reminder that our Bible Study on "The Redemption of Scrooge" continues this Tuesday at 5:00 PM. We are going to have a great conversation about how we treat our neighbors.

Now, I invite you to stand as you are able as Jeff, our Acolyte, brings forth the symbolic Light of Christ to our Altar.

Prelude

Call to Worship

Leader: Look around! The world is filled with signs of the season.

People: We see the lights, we smell the pine, we feel the anticipation.

Leader: But do we see the Love that came down to earth?

People: We are here to open our eyes to the gift of the present moment.

Leader: God is not just a memory of the past or a hope for the future.

All: God is Love, and God is here, right now. Let us worship Him!

Opening Hymn

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, you are the Great I AM. You live in the eternal now. Forgive us for living so often in the regrets of yesterday or the worries of tomorrow that we miss the blessings of today. Open our eyes this morning. Help us to see the abundance of your grace and the needs of our neighbors. Fill this room with your Love. Amen.

Lighting of the Advent Candle ADVENT WEEK 3: LOVE

Reader: This week we light the candle of Love. Christina Rossetti, a late-nineteenth-century poet, wrote, “Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.” Jesus was the fully divine (love came down) and fully human (love was born) Son of God.

Reader: Making sense of Jesus’ full divinity and full humanity existing in the same place and same time is confusing. The point is that love both “came down,” and “was born,” because love is who God is. God is the creator of all things seen and unseen. God is full of majesty and glory.

Reader: God’s presence also lives intimately within us, closer to us than the air we breathe. When we learn to love God and love one another, I am convinced that what we share is the very presence of the divine. Yes, it can be confusing, and there is a tension when trying to explain it, but love lies at the center of it all. We light the candle of Love as a sign of the beautiful mystery of God’s love.

(Light the two purple candles and the one pink candle)

Prayer: Gracious God, whose love came down and put on flesh to walk among us, help us to accept and share your presence, so that the world might know your love. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

II. THE WORD

Scripture Reading 1: Luke 1:46-55

Luke 1:46–55 NIV

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Hymn of Response(Hymn Selection)

Scripture Reading 2: Luke 14:12-14

Luke 14:12–14 NIV

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The Life of Christmas Present

Prayer of IlluminationLord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Open our eyes to see the abundance of your grace and the needs of our neighbors right here, right now. Amen.

Sermon

Friends, as we gather this morning, we are already halfway through this journey into the Advent heart. Two weeks ago, we lit the candle of Peace, discovering the courage to break the transactional chains of the past. Last week, we lit the candle of Hope, finding that our memories, even the most painful ones, can be redeemed by God’s love.

This week, we light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Love.

Love. The Apostle John tells us simply: “God is love.” Love is not just what God does; it is who God is. The mystery of this season, of the Incarnation, is the ultimate expression of that love. As the poet Christina Rossetti wrote: “Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.”

Today, this Love shows up in its most tangible form: The Ghost of Christmas Present.

If Marley was a haunting reminder of the past and the Ghost of Christmas Past was an ethereal memory, the Ghost of Christmas Present is unapologetically real.

When Scrooge finally finds this Spirit, he discovers that his own cold, barren room has been transformed. It is no longer dark. It is hung with living green holly, mistletoe, and ivy. The fire is roaring up the chimney—a warmth Scrooge hadn't felt in decades. And heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, great joints of meat, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, and immense twelfth-cakes.

Sitting on this throne of food is a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bears a glowing torch not unlike a Horn of Plenty. He calls out in a booming voice: "Come in! Come in! and know me better, man!"

This Spirit is life. He is abundance. He is the very opposite of the scarcity that rules Scrooge's heart.

This is the meaning of the present: it is the only time that truly feels real. The past is a memory, the future a dream, but the present is where all the action is. Every word of comfort, every embrace, every prayer shared—it all happens in the "now." We often use the phrase, "There's no time like the present." And that is true, because the moment we start thinking about the present, it has already become the past. It is fleeting, but it is also where God lives.

This is why we say that God lives in an eternal now. God is independent of our concept of time. God is omnipresent, the eternal "I AM." Not "I Was," and not "I Will Be." Everything we have ever experienced or will ever experience is contained in God’s eternal presence. And this Spirit challenges Scrooge—and us—to stop living in the regrets of yesterday or the anxieties of tomorrow and to wake up to the abundance of today.

God's Eternal "Now" and the Scarcity Trap

The vision of the Ghost of Christmas Present—that extravagant room overflowing with food—is a brilliant picture of God’s abundance.

We often struggle to see this abundance because we are trapped in a mindset of scarcity. We are constantly confusing our needs with our wants. Our sin causes us to be gripped by the fear that we won't have enough. This fear manifests in a constant scramble for more: more food than we can eat, more clothes than we can wear, more money than we can spend.

We find ourselves acting like the Israelites in the wilderness. When God provided manna—bread from heaven—He told them to gather only what they needed for that day. But some of them, driven by fear of the future, tried to hoard it. They gathered more than they needed, and the next morning, it had spoiled and rotted.

The Ghost of Christmas Present sits on a throne of food to remind us: God provides. The problem isn't the supply; the problem is our fear. The fourth-century monk, Basil of Caesarea, offered a convicting word about this fear-based hoarding: “This bread which you have set aside is the bread of the hungry; this garment you have locked away is the clothing of the naked; those shoes which you let rot are the shoes of him who is barefoot.”

When we live in fear of scarcity, we miss the joy of the present. We become like Scrooge, counting coins in a cold room while a feast sits just outside our door. Jesus came to break that cycle. He was born in Bethlehem, the "House of Bread," to show us that the Bread of Life has come down, and there is enough for everyone if we would only learn to share.

Unwrapping the Gift: Love's Call to See

The Ghost of Christmas Present doesn't just stay in that room; he takes Scrooge out into the world. He wants to show Scrooge how God's love manifests in the real, tangible struggle of life. He takes him to the home of his lowly clerk, Bob Cratchit.

Now, if we looked at the Cratchit home through the eyes of the world, or through the eyes of Scrooge's ledger, we would see only poverty. We would see threadbare clothes and a meager fire. But through the eyes of the Spirit, we see a feast.

The Cratchits’ Christmas dinner is a masterful lesson in abundance found in scarcity. When the goose is brought out, the family reacts with pure wonder. Bob declares, “There never was such a goose!”

It was a small bird for a large family. But because it was shared in love, because it was seasoned with gratitude, it became a banquet. They didn't focus on what they lacked; they focused on who was present.

The truth of the first Nativity is very similar. It is a story born out of poverty. It begins with a decree from Caesar, the most powerful man in the world, sitting in a palace. But the camera of Scripture zooms past the palace, past the power, and focuses on a feeding trough in a stable.

The angels’ message of "Glory to God in the highest heaven" shines precisely on the poverty of a family who could find no room in the inn. God entered history in a manger to tell us a profound truth: God’s Love is not found in the affluent center of power, but in the vulnerable, overlooked margins.

This is the context that makes Tiny Tim’s presence so vital. He sits close to his father, frail and weak, leaning on a little crutch. And yet, he is not bitter. Scrooge overhears Bob speaking of their son:

“He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

This is not just a sentimental line for a Hallmark movie; this is a prophetic sermon. Tim is using his own broken body, his own vulnerability, to witness to God's transformative power. He knows that his presence reminds the comfortable churchgoers that the King who has come is the one who lifts up the lowly and heals the broken.

The question for us today is: Would Tiny Tim be seen in our congregation? Do the realities of poverty, illness, and marginalization serve as a comforting reminder of God’s healing power, or do we, in our subtle ways, look past them? Do we prefer a sanitized Christmas, or are we willing to welcome the "Tiny Tims" who remind us of why Jesus came in the first place?

The first act of Love, the essence of the "present" gift, is to see the sacred worth of every person, especially the one whose circumstances make us uncomfortable.

Justice, Not Equality: The Spirit's Incense

There is another powerful moment in the book that we often miss in the movies. As the Spirit travels with Scrooge through the streets, they see people rushing to dinner with their meals. The Spirit carries a torch, and now and then, he stops to sprinkle incense from his torch onto their dinners to bless them.

Scrooge notices something interesting. The Spirit sprinkles the most incense on the dinners of the poor. When Scrooge asks why, the Spirit replies simply: "Because it needs it most."

This leads us into the heart of Social Holiness. It teaches us the difference between equality and justice. Equality means everyone gets the same thing. It means everyone gets one sprinkle of incense. But Justice means everyone gets what they need to thrive. The poor meal needed the blessing more than the rich banquet.

Throughout Scripture, God’s justice is consistently defined by a lifting up of the lowly. Mary’s song, the Magnificat, declares it clearly: God "has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty."

This isn't about God hating the rich; it's about God bringing balance to a broken world. It's about the Shepherd leaving the ninety-nine sheep who are safe to find the one who is lost. It's about the father throwing a party for the prodigal son who had nothing, while the older brother who had everything complained.

We must guard against the sin of doing in God’s name what God would never bless. That happens when we offer charity without dignity. That happens when we focus only on giving gifts for stockings rather than addressing the difficult questions of why so many children are on that list in the first place.

This is where Marley’s message—"Mankind was my business"—takes on its practical, loving shape. The presence of God's love requires us to move beyond just "wishing people well." It requires us to sprinkle our incense—our resources, our time, our influence—where it is needed most. Love is the active, present work of justice.

Conclusion: God Bless Us, Every One

As our time with the Ghost of Christmas Present concludes, the Spirit grows old. The "present" is fading into the past. But before he leaves, we are left with the echo of Tiny Tim's prayer: “God bless Us, Every One.”

This is the ultimate theological statement of Christmas. It is a declaration of Universal Grace.

In Charles Wesley's famous hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," he writes: “Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” Note that he doesn't say "God and some sinners." He doesn't say "God and the people on the nice list." The grace is free in all to whom it is given. God has already blessed everyone by sending Christ.

The final gift the present offers us is Joy. When we stop worrying about the future, and stop regretting the past, and start seeing the abundance of God right now, joy erupts. As the psalmist proclaims: “Our mouths were suddenly filled with laughter; our tongues were filled with joyful shouts… Yes, the Lord has done great things for us, and we are overjoyed.”

Scrooge sees the Cratchits laughing over a small goose. He sees his nephew Fred laughing at a party. He realizes that joy isn't found in the counting house; it is found in the connection.

Joy is the steadfast assurance that God is with us—not just in the grand mystery of the past or the future promise of heaven, but right here, right now, in this moment.

May the Love of Christ, illuminated by this third Advent candle, empower you to live fully in God’s abundant and redeeming present. May you share your laughter, engage in the work of Social Holiness, and receive the gift of the Savior who meets you in your Bethlehem to transform it into hope.

Amen.

Anthem(Choir Selection)

III. RESPONSE AND INTERCESSION

Transition to Prayer

As the echoes of the anthem fade, let us allow the music to settle into our souls. The music reminds us of the beauty of God's presence. In this quiet moment that follows, let us bring our own needs—our joys and our heartaches—to God in silence.

Silent Intercession

Pastoral Prayer

God of the Present Moment, we thank you that you are not a distant God, but Emmanuel, God with us. We pray for this world, so often divided by fear and scarcity. Teach us the ways of your abundance.

We pray for the "Tiny Tims" in our midst—those who are struggling with health, those who are facing poverty, those who feel invisible. Open our eyes to see them and open our hearts to love them.

We pray for our church, that we might be a beacon of welcome and warmth. Help us to keep the feast of faith and invite everyone to the table.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Invitation to the Offering

As we have prayed for God's kingdom to come and for our daily bread, let us now participate in that kingdom work through our giving. In response to the abundance of God's love shown to us in the present moment, let us offer our gifts with glad and generous hearts.

Offering & Hymn of Thanksgiving "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (UMH 211 Verse 3)

Prayer of Dedication

Lord of Love, we offer these gifts as a sign of our trust in you. We ask you to take our time, our talents, and our resources, and use them to build a future of hope for this community. Redeem our past mistakes and multiply these gifts for your Kingdom. Amen.

IV. SENDING FORTH

Transition to Closing Hymn

We have worshipped, we have prayed, and we have given. Now, as we prepare to go out into the world, let us lift our voices in song, carrying the spirit of Christmas Present—the spirit of active love—with us.

Closing Hymn(Hymn Selection)

Benediction

Go now in the Love of God. Live in the present moment, for it is God's gift to you. Be generous with your time, your attention, and your love. And may the grace of Jesus Christ bless us, every one! Amen.

Postlude(Music Director Selection)