Takin' It To The Streets
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
David C. Wright
Luke 2:8-20
December 19, 2010

        Let’s take a few minutes to enjoy this YouTube clip which has been making the rounds.  (SHOW YOUTUBE CLIP of a surprise singing of the Hallelujah Chorus in a shopping mall.)   When I first saw this clip, I was deeply moved by it.  I think it was seeing the Good News proclaimed in such a wonderful way in the midst of an ordinary day and place.  It also reminded me of the Christmas story!  On the night when Jesus was born, the angels appeared to the shepherds out the fields in the midst of an otherwise ordinary evening.  The first thing the angels said to them was, “Do not be afraid; for see- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)  I love that the Good News is for ALL the people.
          But getting the Good News to ALL people is a real challenge today, isn’t it?  Our Visioning and Planning team is reading a book called “A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations.”  Its research supports what we already know.  The percentage of folks participating in church is declining significantly in this country, especially among young people.  And the percentage of people who say they have no religion at all is climbing rapidly.  Consequently, congregations are aging and shrinking in number.  Many will not survive the next ten years.  In addition to the challenge that this brings to the institution of the church, the larger, more important issue is that fewer people are hearing the good news that the angel said was for ALL people!  So, what do we do about that?  How can we spread the Good News, when fewer people are willing to come to church and hear about it?
          I recently attended a seminar with Allison and Dan Seiwert, who are attempting to start a new church for younger people in the Hershey area.  They have found that since many young people will not come to church, the only way to reach them is for ordinary Christians to reach out to them and share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ with them one-on-one.  Almost any Christian can do this by asking careful questions that invite a spiritual conversation.  
For example, if someone is going through a rough time, you could offer to pray for them and ask how they see God in the midst of their situation.  If someone expresses criticism of the church or religion, ask them to talk more about what leads them to feel that way.  You might even agree with their critique, but tell them you’ve found a Christian community that isn’t like that.  If someone is lamenting the current state of affairs in this country or in the world, you could ask how they find a sense of hope in this midst of all the turmoil we see.  Just look for ways to turn an ordinary conversation into a faith-sharing conversation and let God do the rest!
          You could also invite someone to come with you to a service here, like Christmas Eve, or you might even include a short word of witness when you pass along a YouTube video like this one!  Who do you know who needs to hear the Good News?  As we prepare for Christmas, pray that God would give you opportunities to have a spiritual conversation with that person.

          The angel said, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

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