Cam Huxford IV » Worship Church Music Wisdom Culture

Christmas is always a heavy time of year for church staff and volunteers. There is simply more work to be done: more events, more services, more musicians, more band practices, more everything. But there’s one thing that church leaders need to remember about this season.

“Well happy birthday Jesus, sorry your party’s so lame.” –Michael Scott, The Office

I’ve been on staff at a church as a worship director for nine Christmas seasons, and this year will be number ten for me. But the one I remember most vividly is number eight.

It was early December, and we were in the thick of it with preparation for Christmas services and events. Late one night, I had just gotten home from a band rehearsal, the kids were in bed, and I was eating a really late dinner with my wife.

Turning to my wife, I said in a totally matter-of-fact way, as if it was obvious, “Man, don’t you just hate Christmas?”

There was a long pause. I kept eating for a minute or so in silence, and then finally she said, “Oh wait, you’re serious?”

Hating Christmas

That Christmas was brutal for me. Maybe it was an accumulation of years of the same rhythm, but somewhere in the midst of all the choirs, orchestras, stage sets, and event planning, I hit a wall. After weeks of melting down, I found myself alone on Christmas Day. My family was with my in-laws in Texas, and I stayed in Seattle, got a stomach virus, and spent the day leading worship for five services and being sick under my desk between sets.

Turning to my wife, I said in a totally matter-of-fact way, as if it was obvious, “Man, don’t you just hate Christmas?”

At some point, without realizing it, I had become a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge. On Christmas Day, as I choked out some songs that I wasn’t really believing, the Spirit convicted me. How could I sing about the God of the universe coming so close to us that he became a man, and not be overjoyed by that? I had lost my joy in what should be a joyful season of ministry. 

Great joy for all people

Christmas is always a heavy time of year for church staff and volunteers. There is simply more work to be done: more events, more services, more musicians, more band practices, more everything. But church leaders need to see that the one thing driving the extra work in churches at Christmas is the same thing that drives the extra work at Easter: it is a greater evangelistic opportunity than other times of the year.

How could I sing about the God of the universe coming so close to us that he became a man, and not be overjoyed by that?

Some people come to church only at Christmas and Easter, and that means churches have the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to hundreds or thousands more people than they would on a normal Sunday. The Christmas season is a glorious time of year because you get to proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ, incarnate Son of God, to a lot of people. The fact that we get to be part of such a huge opportunity to reach people should fill us with joy, as the angel told the shepherds: “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

Worth it all

My Christmas last year was different. This time, I, along with my family and my volunteers, experienced more joy during Christmas than in the years before. It was also more work than it ever had been before.

We were joyful because we saw Jesus do something miraculous, and we got to participate in it. Our church moved into a new building, a cathedral that belonged to Seattle’s first church. We worked around the clock to get it ready for a Christmas Eve service. That night, we opened the door and three thousand people came in. So many people came that people were standing in the aisles and on the front porch. The gospel was preached, people sang so loud it hurt my ears, and many people heard about Jesus for the first time and were saved.

It was hard work. Renovating the building was hard. Recruiting and training the choir was hard. Rehearsing with the band was hard. Working late nights was hard. But it was worth it to be a witness as Jesus showed his glory to people who had never heard about him.

The Christmas story, the story of God coming to earth to save his people, brings joy. It always has. Don’t let your work get in the way of that. Ministry leader, as you lead others to worship, don’t forget to worship!

 

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