First of all, I just want to thank Carol Ann, Jarod and the children’s choirs for being such wonderful worship leaders this evening.  Boys and girls, you have managed to both tell and SHOW us the true meaning of Christmas through your music, storytelling and smiles.  Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the gifts that you have brought to us today.  Jarod, it has been a joy to have you in our midst these past few years.  You have such gifts in music and in your ability to bring out the gifts of these children.  Carol Ann, you have shared the story of Christ with so many through your leadership and, of course, your music and we know that you will forever be in the hearts of the many lives that you have touched.  I know I speak on behalf of everyone here, when I say thank you for your ministry to North Broadway United Methodist Church, we can only hope that you have learned half as much from us as we have learned from you and our wish for you tonight is that you may experience the love of Christ as you have shared with us over and over again through your words, your music and your compassion.

As I thought about what I would say tonight, I couldn’t help but reflect on past Christmases.  In those reflections I was filled with many memories (some bad, but mostly good) of family gatherings, Christmas carols and many varied worship services.  As a pastor and a pastor’s kid, I realized that I have now attended nine different churches on Christmas Eve and though each of those congregations had their own traditions, there was something very familiar about the Christmas experience that could be transferred with me to each new congregation.  And that familiarity extended much further than in the telling and retelling of the familiar scripture text from the second chapter of the book of Luke.

There is something about the hope, love, peace and joy that we experience through this story and through each other that helps us to experience Christ in both familiar and new ways each year.  But there are times when we take for granted this story that we have heard so many times and we forget what that baby taught us so long ago.  So tonight, I thought I’d remind us of the adventure that took place long ago by sharing a story with you about a little boy in Russia who heard the story for the first time.

It was 1994.  Two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools.  They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.  About 100 boys and girls, who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.

They relate the following story in their own words:  It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas.  We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem.  Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.  Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.  Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger.  Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me.  No colored paper was available in the city.  Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.  Small squares of flannel, were used for the baby's blanket.

A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.  The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.  All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat.  He looked to be about 6-years-old and had finished his project.  As I looked at the little boy's manger, was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.  Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.

Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.  For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately – until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.  Then Misha started to ad-lib.  He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.

I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.  Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him.  But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did.  But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift.  I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift.  "So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me.'

So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him – for always."  As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks.  The little boy had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him – for always!

And though Misha didn’t tell the story exactly as it’s written for us in the book of Luke, he got it.  He understood much about Christmas that we too often forget.  He understood who’s birth we really celebrate.  He understood that Christmas is more about the gifts we give than the gifts we receive.  Misha understood that the gift of Jesus lying in a manger was a gift that is available to all of us – for always.  He understood the message of hope in the midst of uncertainty and darkness that lie with that baby.

In just a few moments we are going to take up a very special offering.  In this offering we will be taking not only a traditional monetary offering, but also an offering of teddy bears and other stuffed animals to give to children who have been victims of violence and/or disaster.  These teddy bears will go to children who like Misha, may not have a place to call home.  The children who will receive these teddy bears have experienced pain or loss that we wish no one – child or adult – would have to endure.  Yet, perhaps, these teddy bears will bring the light of Christ to someone who has forgotten or even never felt the love of Christ.

As the ushers pass the plates, you are encouraged to bring up your teddy bear offerings after the plate has passed your row.  If you did not bring a stuffed animal of your own, you are welcome to take one of the stuffed animals in the back of the church and bring it forward as your gesture of love.  And as you give these gifts – whether financial or soft and cuddly, I encourage you to think about ways you can continue to share the love of this little baby all year round.