Every nativity set I’ve ever seen has three magi (wise men). I’m not sure that’s the right number. After all, Matthew isn’t precise in his report. He describes magi (plural) arriving with three gifts. Over the centuries, we’ve assumed that there was one magi for each gold, another for myrrh, and a third for frankincense.
That’s why we invite every child that wants to be a magi to come to the 5pm Christmas Eve service in a magi costume. You could wear a fancy robe and wrap up a present in glittery paper. Or just a pin on a bath towel and wear an old burger king crown.
Even easier is to come a few minutes early and borrow a costume from Mrs. Donna’s collection. Not only does she have magi, she also has shepherds, angels, and a few animals for the stable.
We don’t know how many people followed stars to worship the baby Jesus. There were at least two. Maybe 200!
Now someone is saying to themselves that we know there was only ONE Mary and ONE Joseph. What if two Marys show up? Or three Josephs?
That would be fine, too. When Joseph and Mary were told that they would be making a home for Jesus, they obeyed. They said, “yes”. Wouldn’t it be lovely if every child heard this and wanted to make a home for Jesus in some way? And every adult, too!
All of the services over the next few days will be lovely, each in their own way. On Sunday at the combined service at 10:00, we’ll aconsider the story from Joseph’s point of view, and Pam Smith will sing a solo of Mary Did You Know.
On Christmas Eve, at 5 we’ll sing carols, and as we sing about shepherds, the shepherds will come forward; as we sing of angels, angels will come forward, until all of the characters in the story come to the front of the sanctuary and create a living nativity. Although the sermon is short—just a children’s sermon—there’s enough to feed the soul. The service includes Holy Communion, a trio of Susan Allen, Jan Baker, and Wayne Cook playing bells and organ, and all of us singing Silent Night as we light candles.
The 11:00 Christmas Eve service will be more traditional, with multiple choir selections, Allie Bankston singing O Holy Night, and the bell and organ trio. And of course, Holy Communion and lighting candles during Silent Night.
It’s always my prayer that God will use something in our worship services—a prayer, a song, a scripture, a welcome, a story—to draw people closer to God, one another, and strengthen us to love our neighbor. Would you take a moment now and pray that for these services Sunday at 10am, and Christmas Eve at 5pm, and 11pm? Ask that God will give an extra nudge to those who are wondering if they would be welcome.
You’ll be glad you did, and so will they!
Pastor Cyndi
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