“I’m praying for a quiet Christmas day,” Petty Officer Torres sighed before the meeting began. Boson Johnson nodded in approval, “It’s not usually bad on Christmas day, it’s Christmas Eve and the 26th that things can get a little crazy.” Torres nodded in approval as they both waited for the meeting to start.

This was the year-end Coast Guard Station Galveston meeting, on December 16th, 2024. The members of my church and I were there to bring some simple gifts to the service members and wish them a Merry Christmas. You could see many of them were itching for the meeting to begin so that they could begin their Holiday celebrations. But for some in that room, their Christmas season would be spent standing watch in the barracks and station office in case an emergency arose. For Johnson this was nothing new, “I’ve stood the watch on Christmas day the past five years, I’m used to it by now.” I inquired if he ever had anything happen on those days. He nodded, “We’ve had everything from boat collisions, sinking ships, and drunken boaters to deal with, you never can tell what’s going to happen.” Both Johnson and Torres would be sharing the Christmas watch standing with others, they were from places like California, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, and as far away as Guam and American Samoa.

The Master Chief started the meeting, and it concluded with the gifts from Fairfield United Methodist Church being distributed. There was great excitement over the simplest and most humble of items. Cheers erupted when boxes of silverware, plates, and drinking cups were unwrapped (they usually had to bring their utensils while standing on duty for days on end). Shouts of acclamation occurred when a filtered water dispenser was opened up (the water on the base was notoriously gritty and unpopular, now they could have it filtered). Each Coastie received a stocking that had been stuffed by members of the Youth Group, inside was a cold weather beanie, a bottle of hot sauce, a travel game, a Christmas pastry, candy cane, a Christmas ornament, and a handwritten card from members of the church.

I watched as my three-year-old daughter Shiloh, as well as members Mike Pratt and Russell Keaton handed out these stockings. Each recipient was extremely appreciative, gratuitous thank you’s and smiles were abundant throughout the room. For some, this would be the only Christmas gift they received this year. For those who came from places like the U.S. Territories, Alaska, or Hawaii, there would be no going home this Christmas. It would be spent alone in a barracks or celebrating with friends who had opened their homes. Once the meeting was concluded, a picture was taken with everyone wearing their beanies. After that, we all went our separate ways. Mike and Russell headed back to Fairfield, Shiloh and I were headed to Bay City to visit family, and the Coasties were dispersed to their various destinations. But, for just a few moments, the town of Fairfield, First United Methodist Church Fairfield, and persons from all across our nation had gathered in Christmas fellowship and shared in moments of peace, hope, love, and joy.

The Shepherds gathered with Mary and Joseph at the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke chapter two states, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” The fellowship that Christ draws us towards is one that still amazes and overcomes. Just a simple act of authentic kindness brings us into the Spirit of Christ’s entry upon this earth.

The blessing that day, on a spit of sand jutting out into Galveston Bay, was not the gifts exchanged, it was the laughter, the appreciation, the firm handshakes, the warm embraces, the fist-bumps to my daughter by each member of the crew, the sharing of experiences from members and coast guardsmen, the fellowship of humanity that day was one of the greatest Christmas gifts I have ever witnessed or received. It gives hope for the promised, “Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards men.”

May we remember the men and women like Johnson, Torres, and others who will be standing watch over us this Christmas. May we pray over them, pray for them, and if possible, invite them into our Advent celebrations. For our joy will not be found in any specific present under the tree, but in the love that is shown to others and through others in the name of Jesus.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless us…everyone.

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Pastor Mike McVey
Minister – First United Methodist Church, Fairfield TX
ACS Chaplain – United States Coast Guard, Station Galveston TX