December 26, 1982

Comment: Having focused on doing the story sermonsduring the summer of 1982, all fall I missed the creativityI had felt. When Christmastime came around, the urge hit meagain. Some years earlier, I had done a Christmas story (seethe next story sermon) and so I decided to try it again.

What really happened Christmas Day? Who took care ofthe sheep while the shepherds went to town? What happenedto Joseph and Mary and the baby? How did they get into ahouse where the Wisemen were to find them several dayslater?

Our congregation was becoming accustomed to my practiceof having a hymn sing every few months during the regularworship service. At Christmastime, there is rarely enoughtime to sing all of the carols the congregation wants tosing, so I scheduled a carol sing for the …