Phil's Thoughts

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.           -           - Luke 2: 8

During December, our denomination, the United Church of Christ, will air a TV ad as a part of a new identity campaign that emphasizes openness and diversity. The goal of this phase of the campaign is to run the ad throughout the country so that it will be seen at least three times by sixty percent of the population. The national church is raising $1.5 million to pay for the advertising and our church has contributed $1000 toward the effort.

In the ad, two bouncers stand in front of a gated walkway and determine who gets into church and who is kept out. Well-dressed white couples are allowed into church, but people of color, gay couples, and a person in a wheel chair are prohibited from entering. The ad then declares, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we." It ends by showing a joyous gathering of diverse persons in front of the church with the announcer saying, "The United Church of Christ: No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey - you're welcome here."

As I thought about this ad running during Advent and Christmas, I was struck by how appropriate this is given that the first Christmas news was announced to shepherds. Have you ever thought about the shepherds and why these rural strangers were picked to attend the birth? Unlike the quaint and pastoral images of shepherds that some of us may have been raised with, shepherds in First Century Common Era Palestine were labeled "undesirable" by the dominant culture. They were among the oppressed who struggled to eke out existence on the margins of society. And yet, according to Luke's gospel, they were the first to hear the Christmas message! They weren't bounced out of the manger and neither will anyone be unwelcome at our church this Christmas. Now that's "Good news of great joy for all the people." Let's go and spread the word. Merry Christmas, everyone.