Finding Beauty in the Messiness of Christmas

"Even though we have lots of fun and we have lots of joy coming together today it's going to get a little messy so I don't want you to think that we're just messy people even though I think we are all a little messed up aren't we but today is a celebration of Christmas and we've entitled it a very messy Christmas and always at this time of year when we're having a family service we like to have a bit of fun and have a few games so we're going to have a game of Christmas and we're going to have a game this morning." [00:04:53]

"I think all of us can feel like we're in a mess sometimes, but you fit right in with our Christmas story. Yes. While that's all true, I think if you listen carefully and closely enough, you might find that the first Christmas was in fact a very messy one. Shall we tell the story together? Good idea. No worries. And I've got some helpers that are going to take part in our telling the story. So keep an eye out for some amazing, talented actors." [00:23:52]

"As messy and confusing as this situation seemed, Mary agreed that she would do what God asked of her. But now, to tell Joseph. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Joseph. Joseph. Joseph. Joseph. would expect joseph didn't react so well to the news he felt hurt confused and he just couldn't believe her unbelievable story what yep that's true until an angel visited him in a dream. It confirmed everything that Mary had said was true. This baby was God's son." [00:27:01]

"After camping rough along the road to Bethlehem, Mary would have looked forward to a warm, comfortable place to rest as they enter Bethlehem. But as I said at the start, this story is a very messy one. So when they got to Bethlehem... No way. let's see what happens. This is not acceptable, is it, Samara? It's not. mess. Now that's a mess. Welcome to your home. Same with me. A stable would not be anyone's first choice of a delivery suite, but that is where God's son would be born, amongst the mess." [00:30:19]

"So many questions. So many questions. But, you know, we don't know the answer to all those questions. But what we do know is that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger, which is an animal food trough. Hmm. Now, when I had my first baby, I had so many visitors. Like, it was ridiculous. Mom, dad, that's expected. In-laws, brothers and sisters, neighbours, anyone that thought that it was worth coming in to look and see the new baby, they came. Me too. Yep. Well, when Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had a very different set of visitors." [00:33:20]

"And the interesting thing is that God made this announcement to not the popular influences of the time, but to a group of dirty, smelly, messy shepherds. Okay, exit the angels. Yes. So they told Mary and Joseph everything that the angel had said. And then they went away telling everyone, about the good news of the promised Saviour's birth. Okay, shepherds, go and tell everyone that Jesus is born. Tell them. Yes. Charlie, you go tell them too. And Mary, she treasured their words in her heart." [00:37:02]

"Now, after Jesus was born, a group of wise men travelled from the east. Now, Tim, you might need to get thrown on the stage as well. Sorry. A group of wise men came from the east and they were following a... What were they following? They were following a... Star. Star. those who haven't been here, this is the star. They went to King Herod and they asked him... Now, when Herod heard this news, he was not too pleased." [00:39:05]

"was born exactly now herod was not too pleased to hear about the new king in his kingdom so he asked the wise men to find the child and to report back to him where he was located so he could worship him hang on if think herod was hatching up a bit of a plan but we'll get to that in just a moment so the wise men went on their way following the star to the place where the child was follow me wise man follow me follow me sparkle i think you need to sparkle thank you" [00:40:47]

"they are not but they are gifts fit for god's promised King gold for he was a king knows frankincense for he would become our great high priest amen And myrrh, for the death he would die for all people. Oh, that last one sounds a bit morbid. Now, the wise men were supposed to go and tell Herod where Jesus was. But they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, for he had bad intentions. So they headed home another way. Anyway, I'd suggest this way, because Herod's that way. Off you go, wise men." [00:42:26]

"Well, funny you should say that. Because an angel appeared to Joseph as he slept. Sleep, Joseph. Thank you. And he warned him that Herod was searching for Jesus to destroy him. So Joseph and Mary packed up all they had. They took Jesus and they fled to Egypt. Off you go, Mary and Joseph and Jesus. What a mess. Definitely. And that... End of our story. Didn't everyone do a great job? How about we get all our cast up here again and you can give them a big round of applause. Come on, angels. Come on, shepherds. Come on, town crier." [00:43:48]

"question, Samara. You know, Jesus, God with us, came into our mess as he knew he was the only one that could actually clean it up. God didn't just see all our mess. He didn't just see our messiness and command us to try harder and to live better. He came close. By sending Jesus, God ran right into our mess for us. Samara. This baby, he changed everything." [00:45:19]

"And that maybe you can see that God is interested in your mess. He doesn't want to leave you in the mess that this world is, but he wants to come close. And he wants you to see Jesus as the one who can come into your life and transform it. We want to invite you to stay and have some Christmas fun with us this morning. But before we get into that, I just want to let you know that, yes, we have a Christmas Day service here on Wednesday morning at 9am." [01:12:14]