Poor old Murphy. The look on his face says to me … “seriously?”
I will admit to not having a lot of patience in the past with people who dress their pets up. But I have to admit … this one makes me smile.
It’s kind of how I felt a few weeks ago when I began to plan Advent and Christmas, and to imagine how I was going to jump on board the moving train that is Bethany United Church during the upcoming season. It is truly dizzying trying to keep up with everything that happens within this community of faith.
Last year at this time I was newly retired, exhausted, and slightly burnt out, having just moved back to Halifax after living in Toronto for five years. A large part of my exhaustion was the stress of living in two places at once (my home in Halifax, and a small apartment in Toronto), while leading a congregation through Covid and several other major projects during those five years. If I am honest … I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to set foot in a church again. I suspect this is not a surprise to those who have heard me preach these past few months.
But something happened at about the nine month mark after my official retirement. I have a good friend and colleague who used to refer to God’s call as a pesky mosquito who keeps coming around to bite you. Even though, and despite the fact, that you keep swatting it away. I heard God saying … “I’m not done with you yet …”
As we approach the first Sunday in Advent, I am pondering the significance of the nine month gestation period for the birth of something new in my life.
Christmas is all about the story.
A good story speaks to us over time. We gain new insights each time we return to it. We see ourselves in the story from new perspectives and different points of view.
There’s a reason nativity scenes are so popular. I have a collection myself. Many are from different parts of the world. It offers a way of entering the story, just like Christmas pageants, holiday movies, Christmas carols and decorations.
Sometimes during the sermon or reflection times I ask folks who they relate to in the story.
Many years ago, I attended a workshop with John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland. He told stories of his work with working class and marginalized people in Glasgow, and he helped us see how the Christmas story can connect to people in their own contexts.
Joseph’s story might particularly resonate with step-parents, and blended and adoptive families. Those people who open their hearts to a child that is not their biological child.
The shepherds, we are told, were the first to hear the news about the birth of Jesus. In those days, shepherds were on the lowest rung of society – on the margins. What are the implications that the good news came first to them? Who are the shepherds in our midst, and are we listening to them?
Someone took pity on that couple as they wandered the city that night – one person took them in and offered them a place to at least have a bit of shelter. A simple act of hospitality, in the midst of what would have been a noisy, overcrowded, chaotic scene, that would change the world.
The wise ones traveled from a foreign land for years to meet this new King of the Jews. According to Matthew’s gospel they don’t even get to Jesus until much later. But somehow, they have found their way into the manger scene. They bring the gift of recognition by outsiders.
We are told that after they met the baby, they had to go home a different way. Don’t we all?
There are all the folks on the margins of the story who often don’t make it into the nativity scenes. Zechariah and Elizabeth, Anna and Simeon – the gift of the aged and the wise ones at the beginning and end of the story.
And the angels – of course the angels who announce the birth to the nations. The messengers that bring good news.
And, there is Mary, the pregnant teenager.
What is Mary’s story?
Over the next four weeks we will explore all of these stories.
How will you enter the Christmas story this year? And whose story catches your attention? Here are two videos that an Australian church put together a number of years ago, but they still bring me joy even though I have seen them many times. And a smile.
Just like the picture of Murphy.
Angels among us indeed.
https://youtu.be/kWq60oyrHVQ?si=35D3BA2aL3i5d0Jw
and this one that they did a couple of years later …
https://youtu.be/TM1XusYVqNY?si=AoHXmLT_EsqXuFFr