House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church December 2020
Strangers Meeting Around Mangers
Years ago I read an article by Eddy Hall entitled “A Second Look at the Christmas Crèche.” He says he used to be bothered by all of the historical inaccuracies portrayed in typical Christmas manger scenes, the ones that have Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus surrounded by shepherds, angels, and wise men, along with assorted sheep, camels and donkeys, all gathered at the stable at the same time and place.
It is obvious from the texts, of course, that the angels return to heaven immediately after announcing the birth of the Messiah, and the wise men in Matthew’s account are led by a star to a house where they bring Mary and Joseph their gifts, not to a manger, suggesting this was some time after the stable birth.
“I’ve long assumed that it was just pure sloppiness,” Hall writes, “Caught up in the less than accurate traditions that surround Christmas, people just didn’t care how the story really happened.”
But Hall has come to believe the Christmas crèche is meant to convey something deeper, that the main focus of these manger scenes is to show how this promised Child brings us all together, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, insider and outsider, shepherds and scholars, not because of any appeal they have for each other, but because of their common reverence for Immanuel, God with us. Even God’s non-human creatures are included in this great celebration of good news.
This unlikely coming together, he says, is the Incarnation story in a nutshell.
- Harvey Yoder
Notes, Prayers and Praises
WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE Sundays from 4-5:30. For a phone connection (audio only) dial 646-876-9923. For video click on https://zoom.us/j/2849269967. Problems? Call 574-606-8917.
PRAY FOR NEAL NELSON who has tested positive for COVID-19 at Envoy Nursing Home and for Elly as she deals with the distress this creates.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to to Karen Campbell 12/26/69!
WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT on Bible passages to study in the coming year. Esther? Favorite Psalms? One of the New Testament letters? One of the Prophets? One of the books of the Law? Give us your ideas.
December Bible Studies
Various members of our congregation will lead us in scripture-based reflections on how Christ became born in them and became a lifelong part of their own stories. The fourth Sunday in December will be a service of scriptures and recorded Christmas carols and chorales.
December Services, 4-5:30 pm
6 Location: on line
Worship, sharing, scripture and life stories: Lewis and Mary Ellen Overholt
13 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study and interview with James and Ruth Stauffer ℅ Harvey Yoder
20 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing Lois Rivera-Wenger
Bible Study and life story: Dick Dumas
27 Location: on line
A Christmas service of worship, sharing and scripture reading, with recordings of sacred music and carols: ℅ Kent Palmer
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