In our worship today, let us praise and glorify God for all we have seen and heard this Christmas, and look forward to the New Year.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, for all our human failures, forgive us.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, as we leave behind the old year, make us new.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, as we look forward to a New Year, make us clean.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 2:15-21
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." [16] So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. [17] When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, [18] and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. [20] The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. [21] On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
Story:
When the shepherds met with Jesus, their lives changed. Jesus didn't 'do' anything - he couldn't, he was only a baby!
This is a story to show that we only have to meet with Jesus for him to order our lives. Jesus doesn't necessarily have to 'do' anything. And we don't have to change anything about ourselves, because Jesus loves us just as we are.
Mr Skillett and Mrs Round Make Changes
Mr Skillett, who was as tall as a bus and as thin as two pieces of paper stuck together, had to fold in half at the waist when he entered his house in The Street. And once inside, he had to sit down very quickly in case his head went through the ceiling. His neighbour and dearest friend Mrs Round, was quite short and very, very fat.
When Mr Skillett and Mrs Round walked down The Street together to do their shopping, some unkind people would look at them and snigger, because they did look very, very funny. But most people were now used to Mr Skillett and Mrs Round, and they liked them. So most people would greet them with a wave of the hand and a cheery "Hello!"
Mr Skillett and Mrs Round were happy most of the time. But just occasionally they would each despair over their shape. "My!" sighed Mr Skillett. "I wish I could be more like you, Mrs Round. I'd love to put on a bit of weight. Then perhaps I'd look more normal."
Mrs Round stared at him, her eyes and her mouth like three large round Os in her face. "Mr Skillett!" she replied. "I can't believe you said that! Why, I'd give anything in the world to be slim like you."
They looked at each other and began to think very hard. Then Mrs Round's face cleared. "I know," she said. "Let's change. I'll go on a diet to get thin, and you can eat all the cream cakes and chocolates and Christmas goodies that are left. Then you'll grow a little bit fatter."
It was such a good plan that they nodded and smiled at each other for half an hour. Then they thought they'd better get started. Mrs Round gathered together all her biscuits and cakes, her packets of crisps and her jam doughnuts, her Christmas cake and boxes of chocolates, and took them all next door to Mr Skillett's house.
Mr Skillett stared at them and went a little green. But a bargain was a bargain, so he manfully began to stuff himself with everything he could eat, while Mrs Round continued to nod and smile and urge him on.
After a week of eating hardly anything, Mrs Round still looked enormously fat. After a week of eating everything in sight, Mr Skillett still looked as thin as two pieces of paper stuck together. But he found he was wheezing and coughing whenever he moved. Mrs Round felt as though her legs had turned to jelly. They both had some difficulty walking to the shops that day, but they were glad they'd made the effort because they saw a poster inviting them to Church. They decided to go. Mr Skillett wanted to go because there would be mince pies and mulled wine after the service. Mrs Round wanted to go because the church was half a mile away, and she knew the exercise of walking there would help her lose weight.
At the church, nobody laughed at them or made them feel that they looked odd. In fact, everybody welcomed them so much that both Mr Skillett and Mrs Round almost forgot their resolves.
During the service they heard about the angel visiting the shepherds and telling them to go to Bethlehem, where the shepherds saw baby Jesus in a stable with his mother and father. Mr Skillett and Mrs Round loved the story. "Fancy!" said Mrs Round. "That poor Mary, having to give birth in a dirty stable. But the baby was just perfect. It didn't matter a bit what the surroundings were like."
Mr Skillett nodded. "And God called such ordinary people to be the first ones to see the baby," he added. "There was nothing special about the shepherds." Then an idea struck Mr Skillett. He turned to Mrs Round. "Do you think some of the shepherds might have been tall and thin, and some of them short and round and fat?"
"I shouldn't be a bit surprised," agreed Mrs Round. And she added for good measure, "Maybe some had beards and some were bald. Maybe some were old and some were young. And maybe, just maybe, some looked awfully odd!"
"But they were all called to see the newborn King and they were all welcomed when they got there," finished Mr Skillett. "Do you think we've been a little silly, Mrs Round? Trying to be something we're not, when God welcomes us just as we are?"
But Mrs Round didn't reply. She was too busy munching a large mince pie and drinking a glass of steaming mulled wine.
Activity:
Give each child a diary for the coming year - this can be as simple as a spiral bound notebook. Explain that the diary is theirs, but that you'll be storing it for them so that they don't have to remember to bring it each Sunday. Explain that the diary is entirely personal and confidential, so no-one else, including you, will read it, although the children may wish to discuss with you some of the things they want to put in their diaries and may need help with the entries. If possible, show the children a box or cupboard where the diaries will be locked away each week.
The purpose of the diary is for the children to record events, thoughts, ideas and feelings which are important to them. They may record by drawing pictures, by cutting out from magazines etc. and pasting into their diaries, or by words. It would be good to encourage them to begin to record their relationship with God, so they may want to add particular prayers. If these are asking prayers (and they probably will be!) make sure there is time each week to go back and look again at these prayers and record any answers.
Remind the children that after the shepherds had seen Jesus, their whole lives changed. They returned 'glorifying and praising God.' Tell the children that they have a whole new year stretching out ahead of them, in which exciting changes may occur. Start the diaries today by asking the children what hopes, expectations or even fears they have for the coming year? What would they like God to do for them this next year? For their families? If they come up with inappropriate answers, use this as a point of discussion. What makes a reasonable request to God? How specific should requests be?
Intercession:
Welcoming God, may we learn to welcome people into our Church just as you welcome us. Help us not to stare if people look odd, but only to notice their inner being. In this New Year, give us the courage and the joy to go out just as the shepherds did, to tell other people about you.
Welcoming God, this year may every human being in the world know that you welcome them and love them. At this cold time of year, when you were born in a stable, we remember before you all those who don't have a proper home. May they find the shelter they need, so that they are warm and comfortable this winter.
Welcoming God, we pray for everyone who lives or works in our area, asking you to pour your blessings into them. We pray especially today for those who work in our area but who are not paid for their work, remembering particularly Grandmas and Grandpas and Uncles and Aunts who help to look after children during the school holidays.
Welcoming God, we pray for those who are sick, asking you to touch them and make them better. Be with all who care for them or who worry about them. We remember especially ... Welcome into your presence any who have died recently, and give comfort and strength to their families and friends. We remember especially ...
Blessing:
May you experience the joy felt by the shepherds,
the glory shown by the angels,
the delight felt by Mary and Joseph,
and may you ponder all these things in your heart.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
this Christmas season and always.
Amen.
