A Sermon by Rev. Dr. Rhonda A. Blevins

Senior Pastor, Chapel by the Sea, Clearwater Beach, FL

A Service of Lessons & Carols for Christmas Day

Reflection: A Story So Beautiful It Has to be True

It’s Christmas Day. Perhaps more than any other day of the year, this day is filled with nostalgia and wonder.  Children wake up early, running before their feet hit the ground to see what Santa left for them under the tree. Moms and Dads and Grandparents smile joyfully, happy to have given good gifts to the children. Lovers kiss under the mistletoe. Long drives to look at Christmas lights. Eggnog, candy canes, and stockings hung by the chimney with care. There’s “A Wonderful Life” and “Charlie Brown Christmas” and other family traditions that make this the most wonderful time of the year.

Except when it’s not.  Sometimes these events, intended for merriment, only conjure up feelings of grief and loss. . .someone is missing at the table. Something isn’t the same as it used to be.

But there’s one thing that never changes about Christmas.  One thing that remains the heart of Christmas day since the word “Christmas” was first uttered.  At the heart of Christmas, is the story of that very first Christmas. A story so beautiful it has to be true.

The late Phyllis Tickle, religious expert, writer, and lecturer, told a story about a talk she was giving at a church several years ago.  The teenagers of the church had served dinner for the event, and as Phyllis talked to the adults about the historicity of the Virgin birth, you know, whether the Virgin birth was fact or metaphor, as she was leading this discussion, the teenagers were cleaning up after dinner. She says she noticed one particular kid, he couldn’t have been more than 17, he began paying attention to the discussion the adults were having. Slowly, he abandoned his clean-up duties and began to be quite absorbed in the discussion.  When the talking was done, he hung around after all of the adults were gone and said, “May I ask you something?”

Phyllis said, “Certainly! What about?”

“It’s that whole Virgin birth thing,” he said. “I don’t understand.”

Curious, Phyllis pressed him for more.

“I don’t understand what their problem is,” talking about the adults that had just been there.

“What do you mean?” Phyllis asked him.

“Well,” he said, “it’s just so beautiful that it has to be true whether it happened or not.” [1]

This morning, I invite you to FEEL the story of Christmas. Because, indeed, it is a story so beautiful it has to be true.

MARY

Reading: Luke 1:26-37:

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[a]29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” 35 And the angel said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born[b] will be called holy,
the Son of God.

36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Reflection:

“With God nothing shall be impossible.” Have you ever been amazed by God? Mary was just a kid, maybe 14, a humble Nazarene, when an angel came to her telling her of her favor with God. Telling her of giving birth to a son who would become a great man. . .a leader of their people. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would be the child’s father. Does it make sense to you? If not, that’s OK. It certainly didn’t make sense to Mary. But the story of this virgin mother. . .this is a story so beautiful it has to be true.

Solo: Young Mary Lived in Nazareth, Verse 1 (WORDS: Rae E. Whitney, 1982; MUSIC: David W. Music, 1994)

 

JOSEPH

Reading: Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25 

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and his name shall be called Emman′u-el”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

Reflection:

“He shall save his people from their sins.” Joseph would not father Mary’s child, but he would raise him.  Joseph was probably just a kid too. He was a carpenter, which in those days was more like what we might call a “handy-man” today.  Once again, we read of an angel visiting one of lowly estate. Telling him unfathomable things about virgin births and this child becoming the redeemer of Israel.  Does it make sense to you? If not, that’s OK. It certainly didn’t make sense to Joseph. But the story of this dutiful, righteous man. . .this is a story so beautiful it has to be true.

Carol: The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child, Verse 1 (WORDS: Thomas H. Troeger, 1985)

 

THE MANGER

Reading: Luke 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Reflection

“She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.”  Can you imagine a more humble beginning for the one who would carry the most revered name in all of human history? Christianity remains the largest religion in the world, named after one born in a stable, laid in a manger.  Never in its wildest dream did that manger imagine holding the redeemer of humankind.  Does it make sense to you? If not, that’s OK. It certainly didn’t make sense to that lowly manger. But the story of this feeding trough for animals. . .this is a story so beautiful it has to be true.

 Carol: Away in a Manger, Verse 1 (MUSIC: James R. Murray, 1887)

 

ANGELS

Reading: Luke 2:8-14

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

Reflection:

“Fear not.”  Every time we read of angels in the birth, the first thing they say is “Fear not.” When humans encounter these celestial beings, it can be terrifying.  But their message is always one first of comfort. “Fear not, Mary.” “Fear not, Joseph.” “Fear not, shepherds. Today, a savior has been born to you!” I wonder if these angels knew that this would be the most important pronouncement in human history?  A recent AP poll suggests that 77% of Americans believe in angels.  But I don’t think it matters whether or not you BELIEVE in angels with your head.  I do think it’s important that you can FEEL the angels with your heart.  Because this story of the heavenly host. . .this is a story so beautiful it has to be true.

Carol: Angels We Have Heard on High, Verse 1 (Traditional)

 

SHEPHERDS

Reading: Luke 2:15-20

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection:

“Let us now go,” the shepherds said to one another.  The scriptures say that they hurried. . .they made haste.  There was a sense of urgency. . .they were compelled to go and see.  Perhaps they left their responsibilities behind that night. . .they went to see this newborn. . .the son of strangers.  Isn’t that what we’re doing today? You have responsibilities, don’t you? Perhaps you have a casserole to make for the gathering this afternoon.  Maybe the house is a mess from family or friends.  Maybe you take care of an ailing loved one, and he or she doesn’t stop being sick just because it’s Christmas Day.  You have responsibilities. . .but like the shepherds, you left your responsibilities behind, if only for a little while, to worship Christ, the newborn King. It doesn’t make sense, does it?  To come to church on Christmas Day when there’s so much to do? But perhaps it is entirely appropriate to worship Christ on Christmas day, just like the shepherds did some 2,000 years ago. The story of these irresponsible, yet faithful, shepherds?  This is a story so beautiful it has to be true.

 Carol: The First Noel, Verse 1 (Traditional)

MAGI

Reading: Matthew 2:1-11

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will govern my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Reflection:

“They presented unto him gifts.”  These men traveled so far to present gifts to a humble infant.  Some say they came from modern day Iraq, which probably would have been roughly 6 months by foot.  They faced danger, even death.  And when they found the baby Jesus, they worshipped him.  They brought valuable gifts. . .the most valuable items of the time.  Presenting their gifts was the most important act of worship for them.  Like the wise men, we are all on a journey to discover Christ.  When we find the Lord, our response is to offer something as our primary act of worship.  Their gifts were of gold and frankincense and myrrh.  What gifts did you bring the Christ child on this Christmas day?  Wise men from afar. . .a story so beautiful it has to be true.

Carol: We Three Kings, Verse 1 (WORDS & MUSIC: John Henry Hopkins, Jr., 1857)

 

Offertory: He is Born! (arr. Derek K. Hakes)

 

JESUS

Reading: John 1:1-5, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 

Reflection:

“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”  I love this poetic description of what happened on that very first Christmas Day.  The Word became flesh.  God took on human form.  Incarnation.  What’s amazing about this incarnation is that God came in the form of a baby.  Is there anything more vulnerable, more messy, more humble than a baby?  Completely dependent on fallible humans for nourishment, warmth, cleanliness, survival.  In the 1st Century Roman Empire, roughly half of all children would die before the age of 10.[2]  God came in the form of a baby.  Does that make sense to you?  If not, that’s OK.  No one has ever fully comprehended this great mystery.  We proclaim this mystery every time we sing “What Child is This?”  We will never fully understand what Christ’s coming into the world means, but one thing is certain, it is a story so beautiful, it has to be true.

Carol: What Child Is This, Verses 1-3 (WORDS: William C. Dix, 1865)

 

The Benediction