Shepherd's Heart 11/13/26
Every year, as August comes to a close, a twinge of excitement and anticipation flutters within my heart. While many are simply looking to welcome the season of fall, those of us in vocational ministry are already looking ahead to Advent and Christmas.
For the past 17 years, a key part of that process for me has been discerning what God has in store for a special night of worship and Christmas carols called Encounter Christmas. I’ve often told the origin story of the very first Encounter Christmas, when God placed a crystal-clear image in my head of our church gathering to sing our favorite carols, centering our hearts on the peace Christ brings amid the craziness of the busy holiday season.
17 years later, the call and invitation remain the same.
At the beginning of October, as my team and I held our planning session for this year's Encounter Christmas, we were led to an incredible new song called “In the Presence of the King,” by Charity Gayle. Give it a listen.
After listening, the theme for this year's Encounter Christmas was as clear as day…Presence. How humbly God incarnate came into this world. Unexpected, vulnerable, and mysterious. To dwell with US! It’s a story almost too wild to comprehend, yet it’s a truth that changes everything. The apostle John writes in his gospel that:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” -John 1:14 (NIV)
In this instance, I quite like the way the Message translation puts it:
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…” -John 1:14 (MSG)
How cool is that image? That God became embodied, skin, lungs, hair, veins, organs, fingernails…all of it! And in this way, God moves into the neighborhood. As I write this, I’m looking out my office window, taking in the sights and sounds of my neighborhood: a neighbor raking leaves, a family walking their dog, girls setting up a stand to sell bracelets and lemonade. Here in Oswego, IL, in the presence of the King.
Where are you sitting as you read this? Think of you and your context. Think of those struggling around the world. Think of those longing to find freedom. Think of those celebrating. Christmas reminds us of the extraordinary truth: our omnipresent God chose to become one of us. Not to remain distant from our struggles, but to enter directly into them. All of creation, all of humanity, we exist in the presence of the King.
Nothing we’ve done has earned this gift, yet God, in infinite mercy and grace, reached out to us and gave us Jesus. We respond to that gift with transformed hearts.
Ask yourself: what kind of song will you sing to God? What kind of gifts will you bring? What are you withholding from God? In what ways might our presence help change and transform our neighborhoods in Jesus’ name by joining in what God is already doing? The invitation is here to give him everything! Don’t hesitate; don’t hold back. Emmanuel is here with us, in our midst. What an honor it is to be in the presence of the King!
As we approach this Christmas season, my prayer is that we would become more aware of God's presence among us. In our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our celebrations, and even in the places where life feels overwhelming.
And I hope you'll join us for Encounter Christmas on Thursday, December 10, or Friday, December 11, at 7:00 PM. For 17 years, this special evening has been an opportunity to step away from the busyness of the season, gather together, and fix our eyes on the incredible gift of Christ's birth. Save your seat by getting tickets here.
Because the greatest gift of Christmas isn't something we can wrap or place beneath a tree.
It's the presence of the King.
Ryan Hammer
For the past 17 years, a key part of that process for me has been discerning what God has in store for a special night of worship and Christmas carols called Encounter Christmas. I’ve often told the origin story of the very first Encounter Christmas, when God placed a crystal-clear image in my head of our church gathering to sing our favorite carols, centering our hearts on the peace Christ brings amid the craziness of the busy holiday season.
17 years later, the call and invitation remain the same.
At the beginning of October, as my team and I held our planning session for this year's Encounter Christmas, we were led to an incredible new song called “In the Presence of the King,” by Charity Gayle. Give it a listen.
After listening, the theme for this year's Encounter Christmas was as clear as day…Presence. How humbly God incarnate came into this world. Unexpected, vulnerable, and mysterious. To dwell with US! It’s a story almost too wild to comprehend, yet it’s a truth that changes everything. The apostle John writes in his gospel that:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” -John 1:14 (NIV)
In this instance, I quite like the way the Message translation puts it:
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…” -John 1:14 (MSG)
How cool is that image? That God became embodied, skin, lungs, hair, veins, organs, fingernails…all of it! And in this way, God moves into the neighborhood. As I write this, I’m looking out my office window, taking in the sights and sounds of my neighborhood: a neighbor raking leaves, a family walking their dog, girls setting up a stand to sell bracelets and lemonade. Here in Oswego, IL, in the presence of the King.
Where are you sitting as you read this? Think of you and your context. Think of those struggling around the world. Think of those longing to find freedom. Think of those celebrating. Christmas reminds us of the extraordinary truth: our omnipresent God chose to become one of us. Not to remain distant from our struggles, but to enter directly into them. All of creation, all of humanity, we exist in the presence of the King.
Nothing we’ve done has earned this gift, yet God, in infinite mercy and grace, reached out to us and gave us Jesus. We respond to that gift with transformed hearts.
Ask yourself: what kind of song will you sing to God? What kind of gifts will you bring? What are you withholding from God? In what ways might our presence help change and transform our neighborhoods in Jesus’ name by joining in what God is already doing? The invitation is here to give him everything! Don’t hesitate; don’t hold back. Emmanuel is here with us, in our midst. What an honor it is to be in the presence of the King!
As we approach this Christmas season, my prayer is that we would become more aware of God's presence among us. In our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our celebrations, and even in the places where life feels overwhelming.
And I hope you'll join us for Encounter Christmas on Thursday, December 10, or Friday, December 11, at 7:00 PM. For 17 years, this special evening has been an opportunity to step away from the busyness of the season, gather together, and fix our eyes on the incredible gift of Christ's birth. Save your seat by getting tickets here.
Because the greatest gift of Christmas isn't something we can wrap or place beneath a tree.
It's the presence of the King.
Ryan Hammer