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Archives for December 2019

December 24, 2019

Mary’s Story: Part Five

The Birth of Jesus

by Rhonda Waters

There once was a young woman named Mary.  We don’t know much about her except that she was engaged to marry a man named Joseph and she lived in a town called Nazareth.  Then, one day, something extraordinary happened to Mary.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part One)

After she was pregnant, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also having a baby.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part Two)

When the baby was almost ready to be born, Mary and Joseph got some news.  Do you remember what they had to do? (Read Part Three)

Well, after that long, long walk – probably at least a whole week long – Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem.  But even when they finally arrived in Bethelehm, their problems weren’t over.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part Four)

That’s right – in the barn!  But it was warm and quiet which was what Mary needed because she had very difficult, very important work to do.  This is that story:

______

Mary:
I was so glad to be off my feet, even if all I had to sit on was a pile of hay.  Joseph got some blankets from the innkeeper and I was actually quite comfortable – but that didn’t last.  

Joseph:
It’s a good thing we found that helpful innkeeper when we did!  I barely had time to fetch the blankets when the pains hit Mary.  Her face went kind of white.  My face went kind of white.  I rushed back to the inn to see if one of the women there could come and help.

Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid.  Do not, do not, do not be afraid.

Joseph:
Things probably weren’t really that bad.  We were just tired.  And Mary kept insisting that the baby was on its way.  Her back hurt in a new way, apparently?  If it hadn’t been for that, we’d have been fine just squeezing into someone’s back room with the whole crowd.  But Mary needed more space.  And no one wanted to have front row seats at a stranger’s birthing bed.  So we kept looking.

Mary:
I had seen my mother give birth – and heard her, too.  So I knew it wasn’t easy.  But there’s knowing and then there’s knowing.  I was so grateful to the women who came to help, bringing water and towels and – most importantly, calm.  Of course, they had no idea that this birth was anything unusual.  But I knew.  I knew my baby was a miracle baby – even more than every other baby. I remembered the angel.  I thought of Elizabeth and her sweet little boy.  I gave thanks for Joseph and his faith in me, in us.

And then all the thinking stopped.  It felt like the whole universe was holding its breath; like my body was the only thing, the only place that mattered.  I remember the woman telling me to push.  And then, he was here.  My sweet, little Jesus.

Joseph:           
I stood outside under the stars and waited.  It felt like forever.  And then I heard him cry and the universe stood still – until the woman came to tell me I could go in to Mary…and to Jesus.

He was in Mary’s arms and they looked so beautiful, so perfect.  “He has your nose”, the woman said to me.  Mary and I looked at each other, across the head of our little miracle baby, and laughed.

Mary:
I wrapped my little boy up, nice and warm, and, once he fell asleep, laid him in the cows’ feeding trough.  Joseph had cleaned it all out and put fresh straw in it – it was a strange first bed but something about it seemed just right.

And then Joseph and I just sat there and stared at our little miracle baby.

Away in a Manger

______

Meanwhile, on the hills outside Bethlehem, shepherds were watching their sheep – just like they did every night.  

They had no idea that this was a special night.  The sheep just kept on sleeping.  The shepherds just kept on watching and chatting with each other.

But then, all of a sudden, an angel appeared!  The shepherds let out a shout of surprise and the sheep all woke up!

Angel: Do not be afraid, said the angel.  

Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid.  Do not, do not, do not be afraid.

I have wonderful, happy news for you!  A very special baby has just been born in Bethlehem – this baby is the Messiah, the one God has sent to be the saviour of all.  He’s all wrapped up, nice and warm, and laying in a manger.

And before the shepherds could say anything, a whole crowd of angels appeared and they all started singing: “Glory to God in heaven and peace to all on earth!”

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

The shepherds decided to go see the baby so off they went to Bethlehem.

They found baby Jesus just as the angels had described.  Very quietly, so they wouldn’t wake the baby, the shepherds told Mary and Joseph all about the angels – and also, of course, about how perfectly adorable baby Jesus was.

And that is the end of the story of the birth of Jesus.  
I wonder which part is your favourite?
I wonder if you can remember the story so you can tell it to someone else.
In fact, I hope you share the good news with lots of people tonight, tomorrow, and every day after that!  

Jesus Christ is born!

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December 23, 2019

Mary’s Story: Part Four

Arriving in Bethlehem

by Rhonda Waters

There once was a young woman named Mary.  We don’t know much about her except that she was engaged to marry a man named Joseph and she lived in a town called Nazareth.  Then, one day, something extraordinary happened to Mary.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part One)

After she was pregnant, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also having a baby.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part Two)

When the baby was almost ready to be born, Mary and Joseph got some news.  Do you remember what they had to do? (Read Part Three)

Well, after that long, long walk – probably at least a whole week long – Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem.  This is the story of what happened next

______

Innkeeper:
What a zoo that week was.  People just kept pouring into town – people we hadn’t seen for years, decades!  Bethlehem is a place where people are from – it’s David’s city, after all.  So when the Romans sent everyone to their hometowns – well, they came to Bethlehem.

 It was bananas.  Everyone had brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins, second-cousins, third cousins stuffed into every corner of their homes.  And still, the people came.  Overflowing family homes, filling up friends’ homes, and spilling into the inns and pubs.  

It was actually kind of fun.

Mary:
I wouldn’t call it fun.  Joseph’s family had left Bethlehem generations ago so we had no family to claim a bed from.  Joseph kept dragging me to this house and that house – old friends of friends of friends of distant cousins.  They’d take one look at me, smile politely, and send us on our way.  I wasn’t going to have the baby by the side of the road but I was beginning to be afraid that he would be born on some stranger’s front step.

Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid.  Do not, do not, do not be afraid.

Joseph:
Things probably weren’t really that bad.  We were just tired.  And Mary kept insisting that the baby was on its way.  Her back hurt in a new way, apparently?  If it hadn’t been for that, we’d have been fine just squeezing into someone’s back room with the whole crowd.  But Mary needed more space.  And no one wanted to have front row seats at a stranger’s birthing bed.  So we kept looking.

Mary:
I thought this baby was something special – a holy child, the Son of God, heir to David’s throne.  He’s coming tonight.  I’m sure of it.  Special or not, when it’s time for a baby to come, they come.  I just need somewhere warm, dry, and reasonably private.  I don’t care about anything else.

We knocked on another door.

Innkeeper:           
Oh my.  Oh, you poor dear.  I’m so sorry.  We are just so full – you would never find the floor space for what it looks like you need to do tonight.  Oh my.

Mary:
Do you have a covered stable?

Innkeeper
A what?

Mary:
A stable.  With a roof.  I don’t even care if it has four walls.  All I need is a roof and some clean straw and some water.  And a little quiet.

Joseph:
This is why I’m sticking with Mary.  The innkeeper led us around to the stable.  We lay fresh straw on the ground and a few blankets.  The innkeeper’s wife and mother came out to help.  Mary’s face was white.  This was it.  The baby was coming tonight – Jesus.  Jesus was coming tonight.  Nothing would ever be the same again.

Mary:
Joseph looked so worried.  But I wasn’t afraid.  Jesus was coming tonight, just like the angel had promised me so many months ago.  I thought of Elizabeth and her beautiful baby boy, John. I remembered my song.  Jesus was coming.  The world was about to turn.  Nothing would ever be the same again.

Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid.  Do not, do not, do not be afraid.


Mary’s Story: Part Five

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December 22, 2019

Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 22, 2019

… and they shall name him Emmanuel …
Matthew 1:18-25
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

December 16, 2019

Joseph – a righteous man we know almost nothing about

The Story
Dec 22, 2019
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. 


Something to Do

Pay Attention to Dreams

Joseph is not the only person to receive a message from God in a dream – which is not to say that all dreams are messages from God but maybe some of them are.

Consider keeping a dream journal or, if you live with other people, get into the habit of sharing your dreams. At the very least, you’ll hold only to some wacky stories and, just maybe, you’ll hear the very voice of God!

Last Minute Preparations

Christmas is right around the corner so take a minute to check in with yourself and your household. What needs doing so that you can really enjoy the celebration?

This might involve some last minute grocery shopping or advanced food prep or house cleaning. It might be decorating or gift wrapping (or gift buying).

Or maybe it is more internal than that. Maybe you need to lay down a grievance or a regret. Maybe you need to express gratitude or love. Maybe you need to find an opportunity for quiet or give one to someone else.

You’ve got a week – so hop to it!


Something to Wonder

They shall name him Emmanuel – “God is with us”

Think of a time when you felt God’s presence with you. What was going on? What did it feel like? How did you react?

Do you often think of God as being here with us? Or do you more often think of God as being beyond us in some way? Which seems more comfortable to you? Why?

Spare a thought for Joseph

Joseph doesn’t get a lot of space in the Biblical story but because of his role in the Christmas story he gets quite a lot of space in our imaginations.

What do you think you know about Joseph?
How do you feel about Joseph?
How do you imagine Joseph’s personality? Describe him as if you were describing someone to a friend who doesn’t know them.


Something to Learn

What Tradition Says about Joseph

Although Joseph does not feature prominently in the Biblical record, Christians through the ages have given lots of thought to him.

The St. Joseph Wikipedia page is, as always, a great place for an overview.
It covers what the Bible says; what other ancient traditions say; and the areas of responsibility Joseph has as patron saint (they are numerous!)

What’s with all the Isaiah?

If you’ve been in church in December, you may have noticed that all of the Old Testament readings have been drawn from the Book of Isaiah. These prophecies have long been interpreted by Christians as pointing to Jesus, the one whom we await in Advent (our Jewish and Muslim siblings obviously have other understandings of those prophecies). In fact, Isaiah is where we get the first mention of the Messiah as Emmanuel.

Watch the Bible Project’s overview of Isaiah from a Christian point of view.


Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

December 16, 2019

Mary’s Story: Part Three

Journey to Bethlehem

by Rhonda Waters

There once was a young woman named Mary.  We don’t know much about her except that she was engaged to marry a man named Joseph and she lived in a town called Nazareth.  Then, one day, something extraordinary happened to Mary.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part One)

After she was pregnant, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also having a baby.  Do you remember what happened? (Read Part Two)

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months before going home to Nazareth.  Things were quiet for a while.  Mary’s baby grew and grew and even Joseph seemed to be getting excited for the birth of the miracle baby.

Then they got some news.  This is that story.

______

Joseph:
I couldn’t believe the news when we heard it.  I mean, really?  A census?  Like the Romans weren’t already collected plenty of taxes – all we could pay and more, in fact.  Did they really need to count the tax payers?  And why make us go back to our home towns?  Why not count us where we were, if they had to count us?

Because Rome likes to push us around, that’s why.  But there was nothing to do but do as you’re told so Mary and I headed off for Bethlehem – with her almost 9 months pregnant.

Mary:
This sucks.

Joseph:
I know.  At least we were able to take the donkey – it’s better that we aren’t carrying everything.

Mary:
I am carrying everything.  I’m carrying an entire baby.  My back hurts.  My feet hurt. I’m hot and thirsty – but if I drink anything I just have to pee.  I hate Rome.  If I give birth at the side of this road, I am not going to be happy about it.

Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid.  Do not, do not, do not be afraid.

Joseph:           
But what could we do.  We trudged on, up and down the hills, with dust kicking up around us.  It must have taken at least a week.  It was good to have the donkey but, half the time, we practically had to drag it along behind us.  It would have preferred to stay home, too.

Donkey: Hee Haw

Mary:
And the whole time we’re walking, I’m wondering about Joseph and how he’s feeling about the baby.  Will he love it, like I already love it?  He decided to stay with me; to help me take care of him -this little Jesus who is coming any day now.  Although hopefully not before we get off this road.

Joseph
And the whole time we’re walking, I’m wondering what I’m doing.  Do I really believe this story about an angel?  Am I ready to be a father? Especially to a miracle baby? What will happen once the baby comes?  Will God want more from Mary? From me?  Will we be able to say “yes” again?

Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid.  Do not, do not, do not be afraid.


Mary’s Story: Part Four

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