Christmas Magic
Luke
18:16 Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
As
many of you know, I spent Christmas in Aspen looking after my two
grandsons, Ethan, 6, and Charlie, 3. On Christmas Eve we attended the
Aspen United Methodist Church, built in 1890. Since we had squirmy
children, we got to church really early and staked out the very back
pew in case we needed to usher noisy kids to the Fellowship Hall. We
got to church so early that I had a chance to chat up the minister
and she mentioned that she was extremely pleased with her organist
and that we were in for a treat. (Not wanting to “one up her” and
being a tourist, I didn’t mention our own amazing organist,
Douglas). (I not incidentally helped put out their luminaria. Did I
say we were early?!).
So
the service started with a lovely prelude, as good as the minister
had promised. And when the music stopped, the church was breathlessly
silent. And then Charlie, age 3, never known to let silence last more
than 2 seconds if he can help it, cheerfully chirped “thank you.”
And since the church was so quiet, everyone heard him. And most
people chuckled but I am sure I was not the only one who thought of
the expression, “out of the mouths of babes.”
The
service continued and the minister announced Children’s Time so
both boys went up to the altar where there was a manger with the
minister’s very own doll from childhood laying in the manger. Ethan
was so taken by the minister’s comments about the doll that he
reached in and cradled the doll in his arms and looked intently into
his eyes. Frankly it was almost as if Aspen UMC had hired my
grandchildren to be adjuncts to the service, players in this pageant
called Christmas Eve.
Prayer
Focus: That we all too may experience the awe and wonder of the birth
of Jesus.
Vivian
Anderson
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