I have been looking forward to Christmas Day since I wrote the worship outline for SeasonsFUSION last year. I had this idea for the characters of the nativity to process in and gather around the manger, lighting the Advent candles on their way, Mary lighting the Christ candle before placing Jesus in the manger, and then leading the prayers and telling the story from around the manger.
So a young shepherd gathers us, the angel calls us to worship (and then we sing Angels from the realms of glory); Joseph leads us in a prayer of thanks, the inn keeper’s wife welcomes us and leads a prayer of confession; the young shepherd asks Joseph to please tell the story now, and Joseph begins, with the Inn Keeper’s wife taking over before the young shepherd tells their part of the story and Mary ‘ponders these things’.
A townsperson is reminded of a prayer / poem (psalm) from the Jewish tradition, and the angel (aka minister, Rev Sarah, in alb & angel wings!) invites the people to ponder what difference this story will make in our living?
This story of God seeing those who are forgotten by the world and long for hope, and coming among us. This story of God hearing the cries of those who suffer and yearn for peace, and coming among us. This story of God remembering God’s promises and restoring joy, coming among us. This story of God’s heart breaking out of love for all creation and wanting to restore relationship – and so coming among us.
The story we celebrate today is a story of profound love, deep hope, lasting peace – and exuberant joy! Can we hear this story and not be changed? Can we sing Joy to the world and not live joyfully? Can we sing of peace and still instigate conflict? Can we welcome the light of Christ among us and then hide it under a table, in a corner, keep it to ourselves??
What difference does this story make for you?
How will you respond with your living, through your relationships with the world?
Mary led our prayers for others, and we left on the wings of angels singing Hark the Herald Angels sing.
I hope the people enjoyed this telling of, this entering into, the story of the birth of Christ, as much as I did. And almost no one gathered would have known they were my words … my secret (until now) delight.
