At Family House Schollevaar, they look back on a Christmas party with a lovely gathering.
They go to see, the shepherds. Luke writes that they say to each other, "Come, we are going to Bethlehem. For God has told us what has happened. Let's go and see."
Let's go and see. Let's go. There is something of curiosity in this. The shepherds go in search of the Child. It reminds me of a young person looking for the Family house visits. She comes regularly with her mother and sisters. Stories from the Bible and songs she remembers from her time at the children's and girls' club. And from school.
At the November meeting, she was the king of the place. After all, she had 'won' a booklet explaining the Bible when we did the exchange game as part of St Nicholas. And, even better, she got a real Bible. Immediately she started reading in it.
Half eating, half browsing, it came up what the programme of the Christmas gathering on 24 December would be. That we wanted to have dinner together and that those who were interested could attend the Christmas Eve service. The girl looked up at her mother expectantly, "Shall we go there?" Her mother seemed to like it too. "But," was her question "are we allowed to go there?" I emphasised that she and her children were very welcome. "If so, we would like to look inside the church building and experience such a service."
And so recently they sat in the front row together. They had even brought someone with them. (Perhaps with the invitation: 'Let's go and see'.) After the Ere zij God, I walked a bit beside this young person out of the church hall. "How did you like it?" I asked. "Lovely! I'm going again tomorrow morning!" she spoke radiantly. Whether that happened, I don't know. But she wants to go and see. She wants to go out and discover what God is saying to her!
Reprinted with permission from the Family House Schollevaar newsletter.
