Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for December 2023 - Merry Christmas!

First off, I look forward to seeing many of you at the Dragoons Christmas Social on December 8th! My thanks in advance to those who have worked so hard to make this a memorable event. I look forward to it each year. Not just because it is a great event and I get to eat great food and socialize with many of my Dragoon and SCV brothers, but also because it forces me to pause. See, I work in Retail, and Christmas can be anything but joyous and jolly. People are especially hateful this time of year, when they should be joyous and kind.

But then I remember why we gather through the month of December with friends and family.  We remember that there is no gift under the tree that is greater than the gift of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. He was modestly born in a filthy stable. He would eventually go to that Cross, die, and rise again! For me! For you! For everyone! This tiny child would bring light to darkness, smash fear and anger with love. There is no greater love, no greater gift, than a God who loved us so much that He sent his son to be tortured and killed so that we can enter his presence in heaven. I could go on, but there is nothing I can write that can attest to this great gift adequately.

It is a gift, no, the gift that you can give yourself. If you have not already done so, open your heart to the baby in the manger. Be still, get away from the chaos of the world. Head to the manger and give yourself the gift of salvation.

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-20:

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.