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Sunday morning worship at CUC is at 10:00 AM
with the He/SheBrews Café following in the Van Roon Community Hall
Advent/Christmas Dates
- Sunday, December 21
- Worship with The Winnipeg Brass
- Wednesday, December 24
- 5:00 PM Christmas Eve Family Service
- 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Communion Service
- 9:00 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion with Senior Choir
- Sunday, December 28
- 10:00 AM Worship and Baptism
- Sunday, January 4
- 7:00 PM Lights for Lives Worship Service
Dear Friends
Welcome to worship for Sunday, December 14, 2025.
The story has long been told that there was a hospital for the mentally ill in England during the middle ages that was run by a religious group called St. Mary of Bethlehem. Needless to say, it was known by most as Bethlehem Hospital. To locals, over time, it was contracted to Bedlam Hospital. Supposedly that is how the word bedlam came to enter the English language.
My study dictionary says that the definition of bedlam is “a scene of uproar and confusion”. I’m quite certain that a so-called insane asylum in the middle ages would be quite chaotic. There are many places today that remain so.
It is quite coincidental to the naming but ‘bedlam’ wouldn’t be worst way to describe the birth story of Jesus on the gospels of Matthew and Luke. What kind of uproar and confusion might have erupted during the untold moment when Mary explained to Joseph that she was expecting a child and that more was expected of him than he probably thought he was prepared for. How uproarious and confusing would it have been if everyone living in Judea had to travel to the place of the birth for the sake of a census imposed by the occupying authority. What sort of bedlam would there have been in Bethlehem as sojourners arrived looking for a place to stay. Mary and Joseph would not have been the only ones in town even if their personal situation was a touch more precarious than most. Of course, there was no room at the inn, there’s no app for that.
Would it be a scene of uproar and confusion when shepherds (who they did not know) showed up at the manger with news that angels had sung to them of this birth? Now, in fairness, Mary and Joseph might have been more comfortable with the idea of heavenly messengers than most, but still, come on. Bedlam. More uproar and confusion when foreign star gazers showed up. At least they left some gold behind. Sometimes a little peace and order can be attained with the proper purchase.
One of the most understated line in scripture comes at the end of the story as it is told in Luke. When the shepherds left it is said that “Mary pondered all these things in her heart.” Perhaps that is the antidote to bedlam, carving out time to ponder things in our heart.
December has a momentum all its own. It can be caused by forces within our control which we fail to temper but sometimes that propulsion is not something that we can do anything about. Bedlam ensues as expectations run high, anxiety builds, and the stress of deadlines or limitations is felt. Our ‘scenes of uproar and confusion’ can come upon us by circumstances beyond our control. Where can we turn?
Let us do as Mary did. Ponder the gift that comes in the midst of the bedlam. It is the ultimate source of the hope, peace, joy, and love which is our heart’s desire.
Grace and peace,
Michael
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- Read this week’s scripture lesson here: Luke 1:26-38
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