Grace Congregational UCC

“God’s Son: A Trust To Us”
Luke 2:1-20
Titus 2:11-14

December 24, 2006 (6:30p) - Kim M. Henning

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Angel Gabriel has a birth to announce. “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

The Angel Gabriel has an announcement to make. That is why we are gathered here this late afternoon. The announcement of a child’s birth always brings a thrill to the human heart. I can hardly think of anything more exciting. Hold a child in your arms and notice the tears that come to your eyes. Count the child’s fingers and be utterly amazed that they add up to ten. Watch a baby breathe, stare into her eyes----and experience what is nothing short of a miracle.

This afternoon we listen to a birth announcement. Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus Christ—and we, you and I, are invited to respond. Shall we sing? Shall we fall to our knees? Shall we pray? Shall we bring an offering? Shall we go home different than when we came?

I love babies. I love the three that Fay and I were blessed with. Beyond that, one thing that brings great pleasure to me is watching parents who love their children.

Last summer I was on an airplane that flew from Milwaukee to Tampa, Florida. Typically, when I travel, I splurge on a good cup of coffee–I’ll pack a good book and purchase a newspaper and settle into my own small world. I’m happy: a book, a newspaper, and a cup of coffee.

Last summer, however, I was distracted. It wasn’t the typical distraction. Usually, it seems the person in front of me reclines their seat against my knees. That, however, wasn’t my distraction. What distracted me on that flight from Milwaukee to Tampa Bay were two parents who were quietly and entirely devoted to their child who was probably two years old. I couldn’t stop looking at them. This Mom and Dad were so totally committed to the art of parenting that it made my heart leap. They held their child, they caressed their child, they engaged their child in quiet conversation. Everyone was relaxed. It was beautiful.

It has been said that each child that is born is a sign that God has not yet given up on this world. A child is born, how now shall we respond? A child has been born—is this one priority among many? A child has been born----will we bless that child with the knowledge, the love, the wonder of God?

We have a young family here at Grace Congregational Church that has just taken on the joy of parenting. A year ago November, Scot and Danielle Waak began the process of adopting a baby. Do you know what adoptive parents must go through? The forms they must fill out? The interviews they must respond to? Thirteen months ago, Scot and Danielle, started the long process of bringing a child into their lives. No stone was left unturned. The son that would become theirs was born on February 15 in Guatamala, but there were still many hurdles to jump.

They took parenting classes. They flew to Guatamala. They flew back. They read books. They studied Guatamala. The process of adopting a childis so thorough. The trips back home without Dominic were heart-breaking and heart-growing. Then the phone call arrived—this son was theirs to bring home. Last week I visited with Dominic for the first time. What joy! In the midst of sitting on the floor and playing and talking, Dominic’s mom, Danielle said, “You do all this preparation, the work, the study.....and with the child is in your arms, you feel like you’ve had no preparation at all.”

Tonight, an angel announces, “I am bring you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” We have one task before us this evening, the announcement of a birth.

The response of the angels is so appropriate: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom God is well pleased.”

Tonight God sets before us his Son in human flesh and he awaits our response.

God does not come with a sword and great power, as if to say, ‘now obey me.’

God does not come with authority and control issues as if to say, ‘you owe me so much.’

God does not attempt to muscle us into obedience.

What he gives us is his Son.

Look at his eyes. Feel his breath.

Martin Luther once told his little congregation in Wittenberg to meditate on the nativity, not with some abstract notion of God, but by looking at human babies. Luther said, “I would not have you contemplate the deity of Christ, but rather his flesh. Look upon the baby Jesus. Divinity may terrify man. Irrepressible majesty will crush us. That is why Christ took on our humanity.”

One of the all-time great lines in the Bible is, “And the Word (with a capital W) became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” We have a birth announcement to make this evening.

And when the announcement is through, the question becomes, “what effect will this birth have upon you?’ Will you find it in your heart to love a little deeper? Will you find within yourself some patience that is necessary if we are to behold a baby? What effect will this birth have upon you? Can you forgive what you thought was unforgivable? Can you contemplate perhaps that the way of peace is more powerful than the way of war? Will you allow God to get into your heart?

Tonight, the church has an announcement to make, and it sounds something like this:

Of the Father’s love begotten,

ere the world began to be,

he is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he,

of the things that are, that have been,

and that future years shall see,

evermore and ever more.

we really see what we’re made of when we bring a child into this world

a child.....is vulnerable

Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, there is a proud, middle-aged by the name of Sonny. Seven of us from Grace Congregational Church met Sonny last summerSonny and his wife, Mary Jane, live on $454 a month—that is how much he collects from Social Security. Sonny had been a Pepsi truck-driver for twenty-two years. is a proud, middle-aged father who lives in Knott County, Kentucky.

We have a birth to celebrate this evening. That is why we have come together.

Christian faith is that God comes to us a vulnerably as he can...

faith, Jesus is trusted to us....

have you ever noticed how much music there is at Christmas...

singing....I can’t sing Happy Birthday....to my children...

Give gifts to children....to observe their sheer delight...

We give gifts to adults.....in order to honor them....

About 15 years ago, I was told a story about a very successful businessman. Whatever he touched, seemed to turn to gold. He knew how to grow a business. He was creative. He was imaginative. He knew how to work employees. His name, his family name was on his product that was distributed across the United States. He was a celebrity. He rubbed shoulders with politicians. I did not know the family—except from a distance. But it was once said to me in a caring way, “So–and–so knew how to run a business, but he didn’t know how to be a parent.”