Today we do the final shopping, wrap the last of the gifts, bake the last cookies or pies, prepare the meal for tomorrow, or if you're Italian, tonight. What are our plans for celebrating Jesus? Is going to church in your plans? Will you read the story of that first Christmas from the gospel of Luke? This is what religious educators call a "teachable moment." This is a time when children are open to hear the reason why we celebrate, to know that it's not about Santa Claus. Do they know the story of the real Saint Nicholas? Christmas has become so overly commercialized that we need to be current day prophets. This is the perfect time to tell our faith story, to pass on the reasons for our beliefs. It used to be that churches would be full on Christmas morning or at Christmas pageants on Christmas Eve or at midnight services. Why have Christians stopped practicing their faith even on Christmas? I guess I don't understand. Inviting a girl to midnight services was a sign that their dating was getting serious. Families shared this special time together. I hope that there are still families that do this. Perhaps I will see you tonight. Have a blessed Christmas.