[To the kids gathered around the altar] Kids, I asked you to wear your favorite shoes for Mass today. Can you show your shoes?
Now, with your shoes, do they help you:
Stand tall?
Run fast? [I have them run in place]
Jump high? [I have them jump high]
Stand on one foot [I have them stand on one foot]
Do any of your shoes sparkle? Light up? Well, I have my new favorite shoes also [Bring out a pair of bright yellow Crocs and put them on.]
Now with the Christmas story (which we call the Infancy Narratives) there is a lot of traveling going on.
The Angel Gabriel travels to visit Mary with the news that she will bear Jesus
Mary travels to visit her cousin Elizabeth when she found out she was pregnant.
The Angel travels to Zachariah to tell him that his barren wife will give birth to John the Baptist
Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Later on we will hear about the Wise Men traveling from the East to see Jesus.
and how the Mary, Joseph and Jesus needed to travel to Egypt to live for a few years.
And today we hear about the Angels traveling to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus
Then the shepherds travel to visit Jesus.
Traveling is a big part of the birth of Jesus story, so are angels. I have some thoughts from kids that I want volunteers to read [I hand out the angel descriptions and they read from a microphone]
Gregory, age 5: I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold.
Matthew, age 9: It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.
Sara, age 6: Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.
Henry, age 8: My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.
Jared, age 8: Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.
Jamie, age 7: What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.
Mitchell, age 7: Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.
Well, as that last quote said, angels do work for God. The word angel means messenger. They do lots of things like bring news to people (like they did to shepherds). Sometimes they give warnings or encouragements. But the big job of angels is to help us.
[I SING] Calling all angels, calling all angels
Walk me through this one, don’t leave me alone.
Calling all angels, calling all angels
We’re trying and we’re hoping, but we’re not sure how this goes
[Instrumental continues]
Yo see, there are many areas that we’re not really sure how it will go. We can overwhelmed with all the problems out there in the world . . . with global warming, and politicians fighting, and crimes happening and bad weather.
Or we think of our own travels and not sure which direction to take, or which decision is the right one.
That we receive the announcement, like the shepherds did that says, “Do not be afraid, for behold I proclaim to you good news of GREAT JOY, a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”
This means that God isn’t “up there” away from us, but God who walks in our shoes, who knows our struggles and accomplishments.
I believe that God sends us angels all the time. Maybe not angels with wings and harps, but angels who are messengers for God. Bringing God’s news to us. Maybe that is in the scripture, or a song, or gathering at Church. I encourage all of you to come back and continue to hear God’s messages for you,
Message that tell us that light is always stronger than darkness, that goodness is better than badness, that no matter how difficult life seems and we are not really sure how this goes, or what we are to do next.
We just need to take it ONE step at a time, one breathe at a time.
[I SING] Calling all angels, calling all angels
Walk me through this one, don’t leave me alone.
Calling all angels, calling all angels
We’re trying and we’re hoping, but we’re not sure how this goes
(repeat)
We may not be sure, but God is . . . that all will be well. Don’t be afraid.