The week before Christmas, Amanda, Kathy and their children were at the church afternoon after afternoon finishing the stage for the shadow puppet show.

Carroll, the organist and choir director, was laid low by horrendous flu bug.

A variety of illnesses flew through the choir and the church school.

Poinsettias were delivered.  One promptly dropped its leaves and died.

The music was not set until after the final choir rehearsal on Dec. 23.  “Will they be able to sing the music as planned?  Do I, the preacher, have anything of value to say on Christmas Eve?,” I wondered.

Christmas Eve dawned.  It was clear that I’ve gotten some variety of the bug that has decimated the church.   The sanctuary was beautiful.  Carroll was back on the organ bench.  The puppet stage was in place.  People began to arrive and they kept coming despite the rain.  The church was almost full. Will they find God in this worship?  I welcomed people.  The prelude began.

We started with the children’s shadow puppet show.  The lights were dimmed.  There was a hushed silence as the congregation watched with awe as the children told the story with light and darkness and puppets. We saw the Broad Bay Church, our bell ringing for all to hear.  The scene changed to Bethlehem, to an Inn, and to a stable where Jesus was born.  The shepherds and magi came. The stage wobbled.  Would it fall on the choir as they sat in the front row?  The stage stabilized and the stable was transformed to the doorways of the Broad Bay Church.

Christ is born in and through Joseph and Mary.

The show ended. The lights returned. Thunderous applause. “Joy to the World.”

The choir sang beautifully.

So many people worked to create this celebration of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and I  hope in our hearts in Waldoboro.

There is love and light and hope and peace and joy this night.

For a youtube video of the puppet show,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aETTope4T4g&feature=youtu.be