By Pastor Dennis Morales

“Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Savior Was born on Christmas Day, To save us all from Satan’s power, When we were gone astray, Oh tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy…”

These are the amazing words from the Christmas Carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”  I love these words.  Such a reminder of the Heart of Christmas.  During this Covid-19 Climate, people have unwittingly said “we have to cancel Christmas.”  I understand the reason for the phrase, I understand the fear and the hurt that this year has brought.  I also understand not meeting with family because of uncertainty.  But the message of Christmas is so much more than a gathering or gifts. 

I pray that this Christmas, we don’t miss the heart of the celebration of Christmas.  We see some in the Gospels who missed the heart of Christmas.  We see the innkeeper who missed out on Jesus because he was too busy (Luke 2).  We need to make time for the Lord.  We see that King Herod was too fearful to let Christ rule his life (Mat 2).  Turn to Christ today.  Don’t let the pandemic replace Christmas in your heart.  May we not allow anything take the place of worshipping Jesus Christ, who is the true meaning.  Christmas is the ushering in of hope to this world.  The hope of eternal life.  This hope was wrapped and placed in the manger. 

We remember Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).  In time, your Christmas gifts will mostly be forgotten.  But God has given us the ultimate gift—the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.   This year lets mindfully peel back the exterior and look at the Heart.  Jesus is our gift.  May we remember it’s God’s eternal Gift that cancels out the power of sin and death over us who trust in Him (John 3:16).

Due to school closures, Calvary Chapel Eastvale is temporarily meeting in a “Drive In format” at American Heroes Park at 8:30am and 10:30am.  All midweek services can be viewed on Facebook Live at 7pm.  All of our services can be viewed on our Facebook Channel (Calvary Eastvale).  Download our online bulletin to stay current at calvaryeastvale.org.