Can you give me? We can do. The highs the Now, this is a story all about how our life got flipped turned upside down our virtual pageant, our effort to tell the story of Jesus. our Emmanuel this year has brought changes, frustration and grief. so this pageant is meant as a form of relief, comedic and theologically sound a promise of light where it start all around. So. Open your hearts to this old gospel story Each telling is different The tale evergreen and each year. a new part is revelatory. So listen up now, I will just share my screen. Our story begins with young Mary who is humble and willing, but weary when during her prayers, she was caught unaware by an angel with news a bit scary. Mary Holy Lord be peace Be with you don't be afraid. I'd bring you good news like what kind of good news um. Uh uh I put it all down here. Lord be with you. Um and you conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him. Jesus. You'll be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give him to the front of his ancestor. David you reign over the House of Jacob Forever and his kingdom will have no end. How is this going to work? even what the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will oversize you. Therefore, the child will be born will be holy. He will be called the son of God. It's all going to be okay because nothing is impossible with God. It's going to be okay. Okay, here I am the servant of the Lord. Let's do this. Now, Mary lived in Galilee in a tiny town called Nazareth. She needed a friend, so she hurried to see her elderly aunt Elizabeth, too, was expecting the birth as Mary came near the child leaped in her womb. Her body was flooded with reverence and mercy as she cried out and praised at this holy as the Holy. Be found. Thank you. That you have come to see me bless you and bless the fruit of your world. I'm sorry. I just need you a friend. This is so overwhelming. nothing is going the way you're expecting this year. How do you feel? I feel nervous and scared but also excited God's doing a new thing and I'm a part of it. My soul magnifies the lord, my spirit rejoices in God our savior. Can I sing you a little song to come help? calm your nerves? Silent Night Holy Night. This All is well. Your heart. Mother and child and my sleep. And Sleep in heavenly peace. Brave Mary pondered these things in her heart and only one thought caused her spirits to sink. She was due to be married a new life to start with the Carpenter Joseph Now what would he think shy Joseph had hardly found words when he talked to her? How would she tell him of this baby so awkward? But she didn't have worried and angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to say it wasn't so weird. Joseph Son of David do not be afraid I bring you good news. What kind of news? Alright, let me check my notes by now you've heard that Mary's gonna have a baby and you know you're not the father. lots of people would expect you to leave me don't do that. That's it, that's the whole message right. The shall conceive in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you are to name him. Jesus for he will save his people from their sins and all of these will be to fulfill what has been spoken by the Lord through the prophets. Now, this is a dream right well. Check this out here. Come the prophets now look a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him and then you to Bethlehem. So you're small among the. Tries of Judah out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old from ancient times and in the days of those kings, The God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed and it shall stand forever. I shall give you rest from all your enemies. your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me your throne and. Be established forever rejoice Greatly Daughter Zion Shout Jerusalem, See your kingdom come to you righteous and victorious, lonely and riding on a donkey on a quote, the foul of a donkey. The spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness. For the prisoners to proclaim the ear of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all more. Pretty neat huh pretty neat huh. I dream I know what to do. Mary and Joseph were soon reunited their journey to Joseph's Hometown Bethlehem Augustus and had lately decided to count other subjects and tax them times ten in the city of David. by August's decree. Our heroin suddenly went into labor. Pull up. What can you place this guy because of the uh I used to work for the stinking King. He fired me and thank you so much for bringing up such a painful subject. Why don't you just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice in my wounds? There's no room in the end. Why why why you get back? Witch? I'm not a witch. I'm your wife and you're a liar. There's room in the barn. Okay fine. You're welcome to stay in the barn for half price. Alright here you go. On that, very night, a few miles away, some shepherds were watching on the side of the hill. Their sheep were all snuggled up waiting the day. The night sky was clear and the cool air was still some shepherds were snoozing beneath the moon rise. Some baby lambs were saying all bundled and fleece when suddenly the sky split and angels saying surprised. Surprise surprise surprise. Glory to God in the highest glory to God and the glory to God in the highest and peace to God's people. peace to God's people on earth peace to God's people on earth. He's the God on earth. The shepherds were terrified it all seems so wrong. Finally, one angel detached from the throne and lifted her voice above the singing so loud and gave them good tidings from out of the cloud. Hey shepherds. Yeah you sorry. This is probably really scary. We're angels. We get that a lot. Do not be afraid. Actually be afraid I'm just kidding, but for real do not be afraid So great news is a great joy for all people. In fact to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior is Christ the lord you'll find in the manger. Go See And just as suddenly the sky was glow with only the stars and all the shepherds, said Whoa. Wow. Let's go to Bethlehem. Yeah, let's go to Bethlehem. Let's go to bed to see the Savior. Let's go to bed. So they walked into town along with their sheep, a hard scrabble village really where all were asleep and they're in a stable, The messiah they born homeless and poor born close to the bone. Our Jesus broke into our own broken world to show those who are down and out they are never alone, the shepherds and shepherds while carrying their flocks. They had lost lambs and parents and shed tears of grief. They spent their whole lives caught between rocks and hard places. And now they cried with relief because this was peace. This was God with that Emmanuel. That's really nice. Yeah. I love that song so peaceful. It's like Christmas Eve is already here and I could just so it's advent. We must keep awake and our soaring needs outsiders journeying strangers who have come from afar who have felt the world shake at the coming of God Sound asleep in his manger of course, me and wise people here on the door, but this year won't travel restrictions. cause trouble this barnyard back. Has space I presume, but these wise people aren't in the nativity bubble. Maybe they could visit baby Jesus via zoom. Uh Casper, you're muted right. Sorry. We wish we could be there in person, but I'm sending you gold. I'm sending you frankincense. it smells good. I'm sending you more for sensitive skin and diapers. There's just something about this baby. I know I feel like somehow everything is different now. Yeah. But in a good way, I feel like I'm growing, hey guys um before we go, I just wanted to say I miss you. Yeah. I miss having adventures together me too, But this year is a different kind of adventure and we're in it together. These wise people logged off and went on their way. pondering What kind of gods can be not hold up in heaven not far away, but Noble touchable here given free. God comes to us too. When we keep our hearts open in thin places moments of gracious release from our hurts and resentments when we're somehow awoken to our heart in the. Of God's, justice and peace, Yeah, God meets us where we receive and we give of ourselves and our talents our wisdom. Our witness and Zion is just such a place where we live for each other and for God and wish each other. Merry Christmas Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Miss. Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas It's really good. Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas