December 26, 1982

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

What really happened Christmas Day? Who took care of the sheep while the shepherds went to town? What happened to Joseph and Mary and the baby? How did they get into a house where the Wisemen were to find them several days later?

Our congregation was becoming accustomed to my practice of having a hymn sing every few months during the regular worship service. At Christmastime, there is rarely enough time to sing all of the carols the congregation wants to sing, so I scheduled a carol …