WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM CHRISTMAS

TEXT- LUKE 2:8-12

INTRODUCTION

A CHURCH CHOIR PRIDED ITSELF IN MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCE INTO THE CHURCH WHILE SINGING AND WALKING DOWN THE CENTER AISLE.  THEIR CHURCH WAS HEATED BY A FURNACE IN THE BASEMENT AND ONE OF THE VENTS WAS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR OF THE CENTER AISLE.  THE WEEK BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE, SOMETHING FELL THROUGH THE GRATE AND THE CHURCH CARETAKER HAD TO REMOVE THE GRILL TO GET THE OBJECT OUT.  WHEN HE REPLACED THE GRATE, HE FORGOT TO PUT THE SCREWS BACK IN.  ON THE SUNDAY MORNING OF THE CHOIR'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, THE SINGERS ENTERED WALKING DOWN THE CENTER AISLE.  THE SOPRANOS STEPPED CAREFULLY OVER THE GRILL.  AN ALTO THOUGH, FORGOT AND STEPPED ON IT CATCHING HER HIGH HEEL IN THE GRILL.  WITHOUT STOPPING, SHE STEPPED OUT OF HER SHOE AND NOT MISSING A BEAT, CONTINUED DOWN THE AISLE.  A TENOR, BEHIND HER SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.  HE REACHED DOWN, STILL SINGING, AND PICKED UP HER SHOE.  THE ENTIRE GRILL WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE SHOE, BUT WITHOUT MISSING A NOTE, HE CONTINUED DOWN THE AISLE HOLDING ONTO THE SHOE AND GRILL.  THE BASS SECTION WAS FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE GRILL MISSING.  WITH HIS HEAD RAISED WITH DIGNITY, THE FIRST SINGER STEPPED INTO THE OPEN HOLE AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE BASEMENT.  HIS LAST NOTE THOUGH WAS FLAT!

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH PERSON FOR COMING TO OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EACH OF OUR CHOIR MEMBERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR CHOIR DIRECTOR FOR HIS PATIENCE AND WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH ALL OF US.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN LUKE 2:8-12 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM CHRISTMAS."

AS WE LOOK AT OUR TEXT TODAY, I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER SEVEN LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE ANGEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING THE BIRTH OF JESUS.