Today we celebrate that fact that God became one of us. This occurred in a very humble and innocent way . . .
When I think of all the times the world was ours for dreaming,
When I think of all the times the Church seemed like our home,
Every heart alive with its own longing,
Every future we could ever hope to hold
All the times our laughter rang at Christmas,
All the times the carols sang our tune,
Was there already sadness in this season?
Some stormy story waiting to be told?
Where O where has the innocence gone?
Where O where has it gone?
Snows falling down wash away my memory;
Where O where has it gone?
Where is innocence? I’ll show you. [Invite kids]
Ok, I want you to join me in faking a sneeze. Don’t sneeze, just lead up to it [We fake the breathing before a sneeze]. Ok this time, let’s lead up to it and then fake the sneeze [We sneeze].
Oh hick, remember you’re supposed to sneeze into your sleeve, or a Kleenex. Let’s do it again properly [We sneeze into our sleeves].
Now, after someone sneezes, what’s the proper response? [Elicit Responses] Every culture has some kind of response. “Gesundheit” is a German word. It is formed by a combination of gesund (healthy) and heit (hood). Basically meaning that a sneeze may indicate an illness coming on. So we wish them luck to remain healthy. Gesundheit, at one time, also served as a toast when drinking (much like the English counterpart “to your health”).
“Bless you” or “God bless you” is another response. I like that one. The origin is funny, for it stems from a fear that that the soul could exit the body during a sneeze, causing ill health, so folks said “God bless you” to ward off this danger.
But saying “Bless you” or “God bless you” isn’t something we should do ONLY after a sneeze. I think that it’s great idea to do it all the time. For example, to bless this food, bless this Church, bless the person sitting right next to you. Try it kids [Have them say “Bless you” to each other]
Now just think if you were to spend more of your time blessing people, instead of talking bad about them? Here’s your challenge for today, actually all Christmas Season go around a bless others. Leave today blessing as many things and people as you can. For when you bless continually you don’t have time to complain or look at bad aspects.
Bless them that they are at their best. Bless them so that they can know that God is with them.
We use the term Emmanuel during this season. It means, ”God with us” I challenge you to go out and acknowledge that God is with others. Say, or just think to yourself, “God bless you.”
[Send kids back to pews]
Their innocence was great. They say that Christmas is for kids. I don’t believe that. Christmas is for all of us. It’s a time for us to renew a wonder and innocence. Too often, we get cynical, or want to complain, or want to be in control. And we end up thinking nasty things of others
When I think of all the joys, the times that we remember,
All the treasures we believed we’d never ever lose?
Too many days gone by without their meaning,
Too many darkened prayers without their peace.
Where O where is the innocence born?
Where O where is it born?
In a manger so pure where the Savior has come,
There O there it is born.
You be the place where the Savior is born. You go back to the innocence and joy of this season. Go laugh some more. It doesn’t have to be hard. Let go of who you think you need to be . . . and let innocence be born again in you.
Where O where has the innocence gone?
Where O where has it gone?
It’s in you and me and it’s just a letting go,
Here O here it is born.