It’s that most wonderful time of year when my mind is filled with thoughts of. . . . Christmas? Yes, Christmas. As I read plays, cantatas, and Christmas musicals this summer in preparation for the holiday season, one theme keeps recurring. A lot of dramas are built on the idea that we get too caught up in the tinsel and wrappings of the season to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Does anyone else see the irony there? Let me get this straight: We are producing a Christmas extravaganza (with all the lights, costumes, and pressure it involves) to remind us that we should remember the true meaning of Christmas without all the lights, costumes and pressures? That’s just weird. I think I’ll keep reading. . . .

The truth is, though, that Christmas IS worth all the pressure. It is exactly the hoo-ha of the season that captures our attention. Without all the craziness, we would have. . . .what?. . . just another day like every other day.

Have you considered that the same principle is true of every Sunday? It is deliberately designed to be different from the rest of our week to remind us of truths we otherwise tend to forget to remember. Know what I mean?

But let’s be honest here. A lot of our “Sunday heartburn” is a result of the same irresponsibility that causes “Christmas heartburn”. Am I right? Christmas Eve shoppers love to complain about the pressures of the holiday. But even more, they love the adrenaline rush of knocking down other Christmas Eve shoppers to get the last pitifully generic gift. And they wouldn’t have it any other way! If they truly wanted a peaceful Christmas, they would decorate, entertain and shop early. In the same way, I am convinced that some Christians actually plan for their Sundays to be hectic; that way no one can fault them for not being focused on what the Spirit is saying to them in the service.

Ouch! Here are some thoughts on how to remedy the Sunday Carnality Festival that we sometimes choose to indulge in.

1. Fix wrong thinking. Sunday is not your day to rest. It is not a family day. It is not the same to you as it is to your unsaved friends. It is the LORD’s day.
2. Plan meals for Sunday. —breakfast, lunch and supper. Honestly, now, how many times have you been distracted from the message because you’re thinking about what you can feed you family?
3. Be careful about late nights on Saturday. Imagine being rested and awake during the service!
4. Lay out clothes for yourself and the kids the night before. Since you’re not staying out until all hours on Saturday, you may actually be able to pull this off.
5. Don’t start big projects on Sunday afternoon. You won’t have time to finish it and you will resent the entire evening service (or you will skip it entirely and then feel guilty all week long—and rightly so!)
6. Get committed on Sundays. Hey, if I just didn’t show up on Sunday, I would have 500 people wondering where I am! Get involved in an ABF, teach children’s Sunday School, join the choir. Accountability is your friend.

I’m sure there are many more suggestions you can think of. The bottom line is: we can continue to whine about how stressful Sundays are, or we can make choices to use that one day each week to honor God by giving Him our full attention. As Pastor Mark always says, “You say you want to do right. Now are you willing to do right?”

David Stertzbach II, B.A.
Music Pastor