For the last Sunday of Advent we spent some "open mic" time hearing from folks talk about special Christmas memories. I shared a story about my most memorable Christmas wish as a child; I wanted the official Alien action figure/monster. You can see me with it below here with my Coke radio. I wanted that Alien so bad and begged and begged and begged... and I got it!

I was on top of the world until I went to bed that night and discovered his face and whole head glowed in the dark. It slept in my closet, with the door closed, always.

We heard lots of stories, some connected to the amazing Alien movies and others having more to do with family ornaments and traditions. We heard the stories of special parents and friends who enriched our lives and loved us so much.

What did it really have to do with Advent? Well, just like our reminiscing about our Christmases past, folks once sat and reminisced about the arrival of Christ and all those momentous events. What "special memories" do you think Elizabeth and Mary shared at parties? Did Zechariah and Joseph stand around the grill and laugh about their various angelic visitations... Joseph having emerged relatively unscathed compared to Zechariah's muteness.

Listen to these opening words from the gospel of Luke, "Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught." How fun! With whom did Luke sit and reminisce? What was it like hear the stories from those involved?

This Christmas we remembered. Our stories are a part of a long, amazing list of stories. Christ truly has come, is here and comes again. Our stories keeping rolling along.