Gathered Home
Like a few others this year, I was asked to share a tradition that was special to our family at our Christmas Carol Service.
One word kept returning to my mind: 𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.
I then realised how deeply gathering is woven into the Christmas Season.
At Christ’s birth, people gathered to Him, including shepherds drawn from the fields, wise men from afar, and even angels filling the heavens.
Christmas, from the very beginning, has been about coming together around the Light of the world.
This year has felt much the same.
With family and friends gathering, around tables, games, stories, cemeteries, memories, laughter, and a rather delicious turkey dinner too with our family once more.
Gifts
These past few days of simply being together have been a beautiful gift in themselves.
And tomorrow, we’ll be gathering again!
This time online, with so many dear friends from our Belgium Netherlands Mission.
Different places, familiar faces. Screens instead of stables perhaps, but the same spirit of connection, shared faith, and shared memories.
For me, there’s something sacred about gathering.
It slows us down. It reminds us of who we belong to. And it quietly points us back to Him.
Perhaps that’s why the idea of being “𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆” feels so meaningful at this time of year.
Not only in the sense of coming back to familiar places and faces, but also in the deeper, eternal promise that those we love are never truly lost, only gathered ahead of us, safely home with Him.
As the angel declared on that first Christmas night:
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10–11)
May our gatherings, both large and small, in homes and online, continue to centre on Jesus Christ, the reason for the season and why we gather at all.
Remember Christmas begins with Christ.
And I hope that the warmth we feel together this Christmas will linger much longer, even after the decorations come down.
What has it meant for you to be “gathered home” this Christmas?
