Come Sing! ICSV Elementary Christmas Concert 2022

It was wonderful to celebrate the Christmas season with all of you at our elementary concert last night. My heart is full when I hear the children sing about Jesus’ birth. So often we get caught up in the commercialism of the season. We run around trying to find just the right gifts for our family and friends. We purchase the ingredients for the special food items that we enjoy at this time of year. We are awed by the shining lights and displays. 

Now, don’t misunderstand me. Nothing is wrong with wanting to spend extra time with family and giving to others out of the abundance of what God has given to us. We just need to make sure that Christmas doesn’t become all about the traditions and what we get out of the season. I realized that I was finally starting to grow up when I no longer cared what I got for Christmas. I only wanted to make sure that my kids got what they wanted. My gift was the excitement and joy on their faces, knowing that I had played a small part in putting it there.

There’s a commercial running on American TV right now that shows that the greatest joy isn’t being the child who gets just the right present. It is the joy the father feels watching how happy he has made his son by getting him that perfect present. This commercial kind of reminds me of how God must have felt when He gave His only Son to come to earth for us. He knew that Jesus had to give up all that He had in Heaven to be born as a lowly baby. He knew that the sacrifice that Jesus would make on the cross cost Him everything. And yet, it was because of how much God loved us that He gave us this amazing gift of salvation knowing that it was worth it. 

There are two parables in the book of Luke about the rejoicing that takes place in Heaven when someone is saved. The parable of the lost son tells of the excitement of a father whose son had left home and squandered away his inheritance. When he returns home in shame and desperation, the father throws a huge party because his son “was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:31). Another is from the parable of the lost coin. It is about a woman who has ten coins, but has lost one. She looks and looks for it until it is found. Luke says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

Just imagine the joy of God the Father when someone receives God’s free gift of salvation – when someone acknowledges and repents of his sin, asks God for forgiveness, and gives his life back to God as his Lord and Savior. Now that’s one amazing Christmas party! The angels rejoice over one sinner who repents. Amen.

A huge thank you goes out to Ms. Fitcher and the elementary teachers for stepping up to help make the concert a reality in Miss Castro’s absence. We sometimes take for granted that all the steps needed to live and work here in Vienna will go through easily. Every once in a while, someone has difficulties, which is what happened to Miss Castro. ICSV truly is fortunate to have such capable teachers. God has been faithful over the years to help us walk through all the steps to get them here. We are thankful that Miss Castro is now back in Vienna and able to organize the secondary concert next week. Please join us at St. Peter’s Church on Monday evening at 7:00 pm. 

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon Brobst. Director