Words for Worship

Ministry Today

Now what do you think is  

the most popular subject

for the pictures

on Christmas Cards?

 

Of course, robins are up there

With the best of them.

 

So are snow scenes

With windswept trees

 

And there are

even the ones

I especially like

- showing stage coaches

and top hated travellers

embarking at a bow fronted

country inn.

 

But the Christmas card

‘Top of the pops’ is

undoubtedly won by

- the nativity

in the stable.

 

You know the sort of picture –

the crib is usually depicted

in a cosy byre

and packed around

by admiring humans

and animals.

 

 

Yet because of

the picture’s familiarity –

we tend to take it for granted.

 

We don’t often, for example

give any thought

to those people

standing,

sitting

or kneeling

at the manager.

 

We don’t often think to ourselves

what had they done

to be there.

 

More importantly,

we don’t often try

to learn anything

from the way

they came into

the presence of Christ.

 

So lets invest a few moments

To do that - now.

 

Firstly, our picture card

Usually cannot resist showing

the three wise men

dressed in all

their finery

and crowns.

 

But they were present

not because of

any supposed riches

but for other reasons.

 

For they had made

very careful observations

and had confidence

in their calculations.

 

After a long

and very determined search,

they had found what

they were looking for.

 

They subsequently

put side their grandeur

and bent down

and worshiped the God-child.

 

Their wise teaching to us today

Must then be

- strive unrelentingly

to find the truth of

the Christmas message

but expect it in simplicity

and accept it

without over sophistication.

 

Of course,

no nativity scene

would be complete

without those wild men

of the hills;

 

 

The shepherds.

 

When they were informed

by the angels

that Christ has been born,

they were getting on with their work

of shepherding.

 

Not, I have to say

an easy job,

not a comfortable job

indeed it was sometimes

a very hazardous job

when wild beasts were around.  

 

Needless to say it was not well paid

or glamorous

or bestowed any power.

 

Those shepherds were

just ordinary men

doing an ordinary days work.

 

But it was to them

that the angels appeared

and not to the wealthy

and powerful.

 

A remainder perhaps that it is

when we are doing

our routine work -

where nothing exciting

ever seems to happen,

when we are simply living

and living simply

-  that God frequently reveals himself.

 

It is in our everyday then

that we should be

most open

To Jesus choosing to be

our God of surprises.

 

Next in our picture is Joseph.

 

He is in the nativity scene

because

he was chivalrous,

brave and

knew the right.

.

 

Therefore, he remained

true and loyal

to Mary

even when others

must have tempted him

not to be.

 

Never, on that long journey

to Bethlehem

and in the dangerous days

and years that followed,

did he ever leave Mary unprotected.

 

Her and his families’

welfare and comfort

were always

his prime duty.

 

And it was this simple devotion

 that did not go un-rewarded –

 

It was his ordinary bravery

That brought him honour-

 

It was his straightforward honesty

That brought him back home

 

Just as ours will

- if we preserver.  

 

Finally, let’s take Mary.

 

Now she was chosen to be

the mother of Jesus

because she was faithful,

trusting and pure.

 

And when we see

her serenely sitting

In our Christmas card picture,

we are reminded of

our Lord’s words

when he was in adult life.

 

Because he said –

Blessed are the pure in hearts

for they shall see God.

 

Certainly then maybe

above eveyrthing

we must cultivate

our own purity of heart,

Thought and motive.

 

For that seems to be

the only way

to accept Christ’s invitation

And to turn the commonplace

into someone

that is literally

Out of this world.

 

But there is one other

nativity character

that isn’t too often displayed

in pictures.

 

Yet from him we can learn

the best lesson of all

at Christmas.

 

And the character in question

is the Inn keeper.

 

He had his hand in

the birth of Jesus

because he felt sorry for

someone in difficulty.

 

He saw Someone tired,

far from home

and heavy laden

and did something to help.

 

From the Innkeeper alone

we can learn

to look for those in trouble

in mind,

Body

and spirit

around us.

 

To willingly open our hearts to them.

 

Then do more than just feel sorry

but lean out

and say

come join the picture of my life.

 

Come let me help you

with your painful load.  

 

Indeed to say

come let us go together

in search

of  a new born child

and kneel again

at the nativity of our salvation.

 

Amen

 

Hymn…………….

 

Amen    

 

 

 

 

Christmas Card Figures