Rev. Gregory Armstrong of S.S. Morris Community AME Church
Christmas past and present
Christmas past and present
There were also the people in Armstrong’s life who were truly gifts from God and helped shape him into the person he has become, something Armstrong
never forgets. “In 1979, my godfather died and not two years later, my godmother died,” Armstrong said. “And they are entombed at the Forest Home cemetery
outside of Milwaukee. They had such an impact on me. On every holiday, at every special event, they were always there. They always wanted to be a part of
that celebration and that event. I never forget that.”
So the first thing I do on Christmas morning is go to their grave,” Armstrong continued. “Since I got married in 1986, my wife goes with me. And we put
flowers on the grave. Since 1979, there have been other people who have been just as important who have passed away. My wife’s grandmother and others have
passed. They have held a very special place in our lives. And our celebration includes them. We go back very early on Christmas Day to put flowers on their
graves. We spend a few moments just talking to them spiritually. We thank them for what they have done. It gets a little tearful sometimes because we miss them.
But also, it brings back the memory of what role they played in our lives and what they have done to bring us where we are today. And we are very grateful. And
it keeps expanding as we get older.”
In this time of economic upheaval and threats near and afar, Armstrong feels that it is important to not forget the greatest gift that God has given on
Christmas Day, His Son. “God sent Jesus into a world that was dark,” Armstrong said. “They couldn’t find a place to live. Taxation was quite high. Herod had heard
that there was a child who was supposed to be born king and he felt his throne was being threatened. So he sent out his men to kill all first born children. Joseph
and Mary escaped to Egypt to have this child. And there was no room at the inn. The innkeeper told them there was a stable they could use. And that is what
they did among the donkeys and the animals. That’s the kind of world that Jesus came into. Thank God when he came, he came with the promise. He was the
most precious and the most powerful gift that God gave to the world. Jesus died for us. There is no greater power on earth that could bring us salvation and could
bring us hope and into a relationship with God.”
“The fact of the matter is that when we received Jesus, we have received the most precious gift that is more powerful than anything on earth,” Armstrong
continued. “He came so that we might have life and that we might have it abundantly. He came and spoiled the plans of the Evil One. He came so that we
might have the sense of self-esteem to be what God intended us to be. And that is to release our souls to Him and to give Him praise for all that he has done.”
And in Armstrong’s view, this precious gift also allowed us to appreciate the role we play in each others’ lives. “His gift has been for us to share with and enjoy
each other and to be real with one another. There is such value in that type of relationship. Material things only last for so long. And then they lose their value.”
So when you and your loved ones are opening your gifts around the Christmas tree, keep in mind the meaning behind the gift giving. It isn’t to have the best and
the most expensive. It is to express feelings that come to us from God above.
“These are the gifts that I think make Christmas special and what give Christmas its true meaning,” Armstrong concluded. “Again, supremely and most
importantly, it’s God’s gift to the world that is most important. He gave us His only begotten son. And he who shall believe in Him shall not die for thou shall have
eternal life. He brought a way back to God so that we could understand the real meaning of what Christmas is about and what life is all about. It’s not rocker
science.”
And to all a good night!
never forgets. “In 1979, my godfather died and not two years later, my godmother died,” Armstrong said. “And they are entombed at the Forest Home cemetery
outside of Milwaukee. They had such an impact on me. On every holiday, at every special event, they were always there. They always wanted to be a part of
that celebration and that event. I never forget that.”
So the first thing I do on Christmas morning is go to their grave,” Armstrong continued. “Since I got married in 1986, my wife goes with me. And we put
flowers on the grave. Since 1979, there have been other people who have been just as important who have passed away. My wife’s grandmother and others have
passed. They have held a very special place in our lives. And our celebration includes them. We go back very early on Christmas Day to put flowers on their
graves. We spend a few moments just talking to them spiritually. We thank them for what they have done. It gets a little tearful sometimes because we miss them.
But also, it brings back the memory of what role they played in our lives and what they have done to bring us where we are today. And we are very grateful. And
it keeps expanding as we get older.”
In this time of economic upheaval and threats near and afar, Armstrong feels that it is important to not forget the greatest gift that God has given on
Christmas Day, His Son. “God sent Jesus into a world that was dark,” Armstrong said. “They couldn’t find a place to live. Taxation was quite high. Herod had heard
that there was a child who was supposed to be born king and he felt his throne was being threatened. So he sent out his men to kill all first born children. Joseph
and Mary escaped to Egypt to have this child. And there was no room at the inn. The innkeeper told them there was a stable they could use. And that is what
they did among the donkeys and the animals. That’s the kind of world that Jesus came into. Thank God when he came, he came with the promise. He was the
most precious and the most powerful gift that God gave to the world. Jesus died for us. There is no greater power on earth that could bring us salvation and could
bring us hope and into a relationship with God.”
“The fact of the matter is that when we received Jesus, we have received the most precious gift that is more powerful than anything on earth,” Armstrong
continued. “He came so that we might have life and that we might have it abundantly. He came and spoiled the plans of the Evil One. He came so that we
might have the sense of self-esteem to be what God intended us to be. And that is to release our souls to Him and to give Him praise for all that he has done.”
And in Armstrong’s view, this precious gift also allowed us to appreciate the role we play in each others’ lives. “His gift has been for us to share with and enjoy
each other and to be real with one another. There is such value in that type of relationship. Material things only last for so long. And then they lose their value.”
So when you and your loved ones are opening your gifts around the Christmas tree, keep in mind the meaning behind the gift giving. It isn’t to have the best and
the most expensive. It is to express feelings that come to us from God above.
“These are the gifts that I think make Christmas special and what give Christmas its true meaning,” Armstrong concluded. “Again, supremely and most
importantly, it’s God’s gift to the world that is most important. He gave us His only begotten son. And he who shall believe in Him shall not die for thou shall have
eternal life. He brought a way back to God so that we could understand the real meaning of what Christmas is about and what life is all about. It’s not rocker
science.”
And to all a good night!
By Jonathan Gramling
Part 2 of 2
For Rev. Gregory Armstrong, pastor of S.S. Morris Community AME Church, Christmas isn’t a
time of crass commercialism or a time of complete austerity. There is something behind gift
giving that has meaning and beauty. “The meaning of Christmas is still there,” Armstrong said
during an interview with The Capital City Hues. “Sometimes, it is just camouflaged. So much of
what Christmas is, is the giving of gifts.”
As with other children when he was young, Armstrong was taken with the physical presents.
And it was only later that he began to understand the meaning behind the gift. “Back when I was
a kid, we had a hard time buying a pair of Chuck Taylor Converses,” Armstrong recalled. “And that
was the shoe to have back then. We had some brand names like PF Flyers. In spite of that, it still
gave the Christmas event something special. It may not have been best gift. It may not have been
the most expensive thing. But it was the gift of love that was received, which made Christmas
what it is. Did I know that back then? Probably not. But as the years go by and I get a little grayer
around the mouth, those things become more crystallized in my mind. It was those things that
contributed to make me who I am today. And I would like to think that I am not too bad. We didn’t
have much, but what we had we valued and it gave us a sense of purpose.”
Part 2 of 2
For Rev. Gregory Armstrong, pastor of S.S. Morris Community AME Church, Christmas isn’t a
time of crass commercialism or a time of complete austerity. There is something behind gift
giving that has meaning and beauty. “The meaning of Christmas is still there,” Armstrong said
during an interview with The Capital City Hues. “Sometimes, it is just camouflaged. So much of
what Christmas is, is the giving of gifts.”
As with other children when he was young, Armstrong was taken with the physical presents.
And it was only later that he began to understand the meaning behind the gift. “Back when I was
a kid, we had a hard time buying a pair of Chuck Taylor Converses,” Armstrong recalled. “And that
was the shoe to have back then. We had some brand names like PF Flyers. In spite of that, it still
gave the Christmas event something special. It may not have been best gift. It may not have been
the most expensive thing. But it was the gift of love that was received, which made Christmas
what it is. Did I know that back then? Probably not. But as the years go by and I get a little grayer
around the mouth, those things become more crystallized in my mind. It was those things that
contributed to make me who I am today. And I would like to think that I am not too bad. We didn’t
have much, but what we had we valued and it gave us a sense of purpose.”
Rev. Gregory Armstrong, pastor of S.S. Morris Community
AME Church (r) with wife
AME Church (r) with wife
