Scripture Reader: Luke 2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

Preacher: Most commentators think this is pure fiction. Interesting fiction, but made up none-the-less. Does that disturb you? I hope not. Because frankly the dates don't match up with the Emperor's name and most Bible scholars don't think Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that it was included to touch all the bases, to connect Jesus to King David, the last of glorious Jewish leaders. After all who would want to follow a Messiah from Nazareth? Remember the text that reads "can anything good come from Nazareth?" Recently the Herald ran a story on my old neighbourhood in Halifax, nicknamed "The Pubs" and offered in astonishment "that the community had transformed itself because of new immigrants." How could anything good come from…

Reader: 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

Preacher: A little background here, Joseph finds out that Mary is with child, and he is not the father. The law of that time was a husband or husband-to-be could have his betrothed stoned for this. What is Joseph to do, have her put to death, allow her to divorce quietly, or...It’s a pretty amazing act of faith for this "older man" to marry up with teenage Mary don't you think?

Reader: 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Preacher: Interesting! So here's what I don't get about us Christians. I see mangers everywhere. And if we don't we're bound to get all bent out of shape about this "it isn't Happy Holidays you know!" And what do these little mangers on lawns everywhere in HRM tell you about this story? That it was a lovely, angelic barn. Again scholars aren't sure what actually happened. But why do you suppose the story that is handed down has Jesus without a place to be born, that he comes to life in a place where animals sleep and eat? Could it be that this is the place where early Christians found God, where God came into our world. Think on this, what would it mean if our God chose to come to us in a place not one of us tonight would want to sleep? How would that change the way you think of Christianity, of God, of Jesus. If there is anything you take home with you tonight I pray that is it.

Reader: 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah,* the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,* praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’*

Preacher: If a King or Queen came to Halifax, where would s/he stay? Whom would s/he talk to? Whom do these angels of God talk to? I am not focusing here on angels, whether they exist, how many can dance on the head of a pin, etc...I am asking why our story, The Story, handed down to us, tells us that angels talked to...wait for it...shepherds. Shepherds!@#$ Shepherds might be a cool profession now, where middle-class professionals go when they return to the land to raise free-range chickens. But in that day shepherds were a pretty low-class profession, people who smelled, were looked down on, regarded like we would see The Trailer Park Boys. And THIS is who the angels speak to about Jesus. What in the world does this tell us about God?

Reader: 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

Preacher: Notice the reaction of these shepherds. There is no passive state of mind, no adoration from afar, no "let's watch the made-for-TV special". It is hands on, moving in for a closer look, these are tactile shepherds. If this God of ours comes to a teenage unwed mother, is found in a barn, and sends angels first to tell motley shepherds, where would you go to look for God? And what would you do when you got there? Buy stuff? Maybe. I'll tell you what I would do. I'd ask myself why I had spent all this time looking in the wrong places.

Reader: 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Preacher: Why does it matter that you are here? Perhaps because everywhere else you've been this story has been transformed into something that bears no resemblance to the story that first century believed about their God. Do you think those underground believers that worshipped in people's homes, under threat of the religious authorities and Roman soldiers, who said that Jesus was God, not Caesar, do you think they would turn this story into a "gentle Jesus, meek and mild"? It's highly unlikely. But tonight this story has power. And it points us to the real God, to where God came among us, to those the angels first spoke to.

I think that is why this story matters. And it is why I am here.