Nativity Nonsense
How lovely to see those Christmas cards with a beautiful nativity scene on the cover! The angels are hovering over the stable. The animals are perfectly submissive. The shepherds and their sheep are watching with delight. The wise men have arrived with regal gifts. Mary and Joseph display nothing but glee over their new born child. And, of course, the newborn Jesus is lying perfectly at peace in a manger – no crying he makes. It all makes for a beautiful, heart-warming picture. But it’s not likely the way it was.
One thing I know having been raised on a farm, is that stables are often dirty and spider-ridden. Animals can emit foul odors and manure is usually not far away. Giving birth is often a messy, bloody process. And, newborns usually cry. Mary and Joseph had just traveled about 80 miles through mountainous terrain to get to Bethlehem; they were no doubt tired and exhausted. The Bible tells us the wisemen didn’t arrive until sometime after Jesus’ birth. The shepherds were likely unkempt. Not exactly a “silent night.”
On this third Sunday of Advent, December 17, we shed the sanitized, romanticized version of Mary & Joseph’s experience and remind ourselves of the true biblical account. Traveling to Bethlehem while pregnant and giving birth in a stable was not easy. What Mary & Joseph went through to bring the Christ-child into the world, was incredible! Yet, God’s hand was guiding them all along the way. Join us and Mary & Joseph this Sunday as we continue our journey to Bethlehem to meet Jesus personally. Prepare to be uplifted!
Traditional worship begins at 9:00 AM. Contemporary worship begins at 10:45 AM. Both services feature the same inspiring message, heart-felt worship, warm friends, and the healing presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. A nursery and Busy Bags are available for children. Refreshments will be served between services. And we’ll begin each service by lighting three candles on our Advent wreath. It’s going to be another Spirt-filled Sunday at Grace Church. Please join us and invite a friend to share in the blessing!