To be perfectly frank, we have always found the high celebrations of the church year, most especially Christmas and Easter, among the most difficult of preaching situations. That is so for a couple of reasons. First, the Christmas and Easter stories are so familiar that it is hard to find a way into the listeners' minds and hearts that hasn't already been used and perhaps abused. The situation is fraught with a stupefying familiarity. Many in our congregations may know ahead of time what it is they want us to say. It is usually a theme they have heard before and expect to hear again.
