PICK UP PAGEANT

Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar happened upon a young fellow with a blanket, who was practicing for tomorrow’s pick up pageant.  He was really hoping to play one of the shepherds.  They know, after all, what Christmas is all about.

WESLEY’S QUESTION:  Is Christ real to me?

SCRIPTURE:  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

FOOLISH WISDOM: “Oscar Wilde says in his De Profundis, “There is always room in an ignorant man’s mind for a great idea.” It is of profoundest significance to me that the gospel story, particularly in the Book of Luke, reveals that the announcement of the birth of Jesus comes first to simple shepherds who were about their appointed tasks. After theology has done its work, after the reflective judgments of men from the heights and lonely retreats of privilege and security have wrought their perfect patterns, the birth of Jesus remains the symbol of the dignity and the inherent worthfulness of the common man.” (Howard Thurman)

MUSIC SELECTION:

The Friendly Beasts arranged by Larry Shackley

© 2007 Lorenz Publishing Co.

Laura Hesse, piano

The music is presented with permission under One License X-732009.