THE MESSAGE
18th Dec 2013
Last Sunday at Living Waters Church was our Special Christmas Celebration. We were rammed full of people - families, friends, parents, grandparents - everyone was there. The highlight of each year’s event is the Christmas Play, which this year was specially written and produced by our granddaughter Ella and her friend Anna. They always manage to give the familiar story a new slant, a fresh twist.
The play began with a group of angels who were assigned the task of bringing messages from God to Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. So, Gabriel was trying to sort out a very competitive bunch of angels who were all vying with each other to be the one chosen for each message.
They were told, “As you speak, don’t frighten, your message needs to be brief and clear, and the recipient must understand what you have said.” As each message was brought from heaven and particular angels were sent on their assignment. The novelty of the play was that the angels were so competitive and full of themselves that they considered their performance more important than the message they were carrying!
It was powerful, because it showed how we allow the razzmatazz of Christmas to mask the real message. We make the wrapping paper more significant than the present. Later as Daniel shared his message, he picked up and applied the theme of the production.
Each message had the same key elements, “Don’t be afraid!” The words were clear and simple, “You have found favour, you have been chosen for a special purpose.” And each time there was action, Mary said, “May it be to me as you have said”, Joseph played his part, the Shepherds obeyed and the Wise Man followed the star.
Each year Christmas is so spoilt by all the tinsel and kitsch that we miss the message. God wants you to have Peace, you are part of His special purpose on earth, and bringing your life in line with His will is the best possible way to live.
Don’t miss “The Message” God has for you this Christmas!
by Charles Sibthorpe
