1st Sunday of Christmas
Luke 2:41-52
Illustrations
Bill Cosby once said, "Human beings are the only creatures that allow
their children to come home." We spend two years teaching our children
to walk and talk, and the next 10 asking them to sit down and shut up.
Streiker, Lowell D., Nelson's Big Book of Laughter, Copyright 2000 by
L.D. Streiker, from a sermon by Michael Phillips
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Some wise saying of children
"Never trust a dog to watch your food." Patrick, age 10; "When your dad
is mad and asks you, 'Do I look stupid?' don't answer." Hannah, 9;
Never tell your mom her diet's not working." Michael, 14; "When your
mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair." Taylia, 11;
"Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a Tic-Tac." Andrew, 9;
"Never hold a Dust Buster and a cat at the same time." Kyoyo, 9; "You
can't hide a piece of Broccoli in a glass of milk." Armir, 9; "If you
want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse." Naomi, 15; "Felt
markers are not good to use as lipstick." Lauren, 9; "Don't pick on
your sister when she's holding a baseball bat." Joel, 10; "When you get
a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone."
Alyesha, 13; and finally, the number one pearl of childhood wisdom,
"Never try to baptize a cat." Eileen, 8
(Streiker, Lowell D.). from a sermon by Michael Phillips
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There's a wonderful children's book by David McKee, called "Not Now,
Bernard." (Published by Random Century Children's Books, 1980. ISBN 0
09 924050 5) In it, Bernard keeps trying, without success, to capture
his parents' attention. Every time he says anything to either of his
parents they say: "Not now, Bernard." Eventually he says to his mother:
"There's a monster in the garden and it's going to eat me." She says:
"Not now, Bernard." So Bernard goes out into the garden, and the
monster eats him up, every bit.
Then the monster goes indoors and roars behind Bernard's Mum. She says:
"Not now, Bernard." So the monster goes through to the lounge and bites
Bernard's father on the leg. Bernard's father, who's buried behind the
newspaper, says: "Not now, Bernard." Mum puts Bernard's dinner in front
of the television. The monster eats up Bernard's dinner. Then it
watches television and reads one of Bernard's comics and breaks one of
Bernard's toys. Mum calls out: "Go to bed. I've taken up your milk."
And the monster goes upstairs and climbs into bed and says dolefully:
"But I'm a monster!" And the final line in the book is Bernard's Mum
saying: "Not now, Bernard."
Bernard's parents were good people who cared about him. They made sure
he was well fed and well clothed, and had plenty of toys and books to
entertain him. But somehow, they didn't enable him to blossom. They
were busy with their own preoccupations, and hadn't got the time to
spend on Bernard. They hadn't the time to follow childish pursuits with
him or to listen to his childish prattle.
from http://www.sermons-stories.org/
Rev Janice Scott
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THE MANGER AND THE CROSS ˆ
A New Christmas/Easter Carol
On Friday, Jim Taylor offered a gift to a group of friends who had
gathered for the evening. "The crucifixion must always be part of the
nativity story, he explained, "but most Christmas carols completely
ignore that."
And so Jim wrote this carol, and sang it to us in a warm baritone, to
the melody of Finlandia.
Sleep softly, child... in breathless wonder sleeping,
Sleep safe and warm, the world awaits your birth.
Your time will come, a time for tears and weeping,
Long years ahead, to show the world your worth.
Lord Jesus come, while we our watch are keeping.
Lord Jesus come, and bring new life to earth.
Sleep softly, child... let nothing spoil your dreaming.
Sleep safe and warm upon your mother's breast.
Your time will come, when hostile forces scheming
Long years from now, lead to a hilltop's crest.
Lord Jesus come, your sunshine brightly beaming,
Lord Jesus come, and set our hearts at rest.
Sleep softly, child... your mother's loving molds you.
Sleep safe and warm, until you stand alone.
Your time will come, one lifetime cannot hold you.
Long years ahead, your spirit still is known.
Lord Jesus come, and let our hearts enfold you.
Lord Jesus come, and make our hearts your own.
from a sermon by Michael Phillips
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A closing story by the late Erma Bombeck illustrates this lesson
clearly:
She says:
"Once when I was autographing books in a department store, a woman
practically in tears explained she was upset because her child was
going to get married. The kid was 24 years old and I thought, 'My gosh,
lady, you've done it all. You can't do anymore. You're finished raising
the child and you don't know it.
She says further, 'I did a column about that subject entitled "Is you
child an investment or an insurance policy?"