— by Margie Doyle —
Light in the winter darkness — the Community Church
Pastor Dick Staub of the Orcas Island Community Church, like most of us, has memories of a childhood Christmas with snow, Christmas tree lights, Grampa playing the piano (poorly), parents reading the Christmas story from the Bible, simple gifts – and the bizarre sight of a frozen deer with its hoof sticking out of the snow.
And he says the wonder, simplicity and mystery of those early childhood memories – Baby Jesus, Santa, snow and stars – are all magic stories. “Whether you have nothing or are wealthy, the joy of Christmas is in its simplicity – the love, laughter, joy, hope – and setting aside of differences.
“You come to understand that the way you saw Christmas as a kid is the real meaning of Christmas, that God’s love for the humans he created was so great that he became flesh and dwelt among us, or as Eugene Peterson said, ‘God became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.’
“As we get older, we understand more of the meaning and depth revealed in this story.” The Christmas message, says Staub, is that “Humans are both physical and spiritual, and every humans has a spiritual as well as a physical destiny.
“We are created by God for God; we rebel against God; and God loves us so much that he became one of us to call us back to full human life.
However, contemporary celebration of Christmas creates high expectations which are not matched in reality. For example, Staub questions why it’s not as common to ask of each other, “What did you give for Christmas?” instead of “What did you get?”
The Community Church offers Christmas observances that are “a unitive experience, regardless of individual religious beliefs.” Staub notes that there are over 40 different denominations that worship in the Island Community Church: “There’s a lot of theological diversity, a real cross section of the island in age, education, income, gender and ethnicity. Our mission is to pursue God in the company of friends for the benefit of the world,” Staub says.
“Christmas reminds us of one of the deeply held values of God: that every person matters.Those who seem least among us are equal in the eyes of God. Every human is created in God’s image and has value and worth. We should learn to respect each other and seek what we have in common without having to lose our individuality.
“I think we’re created that way so we’ll be interdependent,” Staub says.
At its Advent services, the Community Church considers “The Paradoxes of Christmas.” One of these mysterious paradoxes is that “Jesus was fully human and fully God. Christ in the Manger becomes Christ on the Cross and both are expressions of God’s love for humans. The meaning of Christ’s birth is not complete until the Crucifixion and Resurrection.”
“Jesus is always about the real stuff, not Hallmark cards or bumper stickers, but truthful and honest,” Staub says.
Year-round, the Community Church gives gifts of food to the Food Bank, brand new blankets and its give-and-take firewood pile. Its three pastors, Grant Myles-Era and Scott Harris, as well as Staub, are available at all hours to serve the community. The Church office is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday – Friday. “We’re available to meet for counseling and try to connect to resources, spiritual and material,” says Staub.
During the Advent-Christmas season, the Church celebrates with the Celtic Christmas Concert, which “brings delight in the cold and darkness.”
- This Sunday, Dec. 15, the Christmas Kids Musical will bring “a lot of fun,” beginning at 9:30 a.m., when kids of all ages, through high school will celebrate in song and dance.
- On Sunday, Dec. 22 at 9:30 a.m. Advent Worship Services continue to observe “The Paradox of Christmas.”
- On Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. Community Candlelight Service takes place, “packed with people of all traditions to celebrate with candles and music.”
