Church doesn't get much more joyful than this, does it? Christmas Day! Our scripture speaks of joy, as well as our other carols today. How could this service have possibly started with any other carol than "Joy To the World"?

Often, in anticipation of Sunday services through the rest of the year, those involved in planning worship scour the lectionary for scholarly comments on Bible passages in question for the day; our musicians go to the music library in search of music in keeping with scripture's theme for the day. Prayers and hymns and worship songs are all intended to build on the theme set by scripture. In preaching on the passages for Sundays, preachers go to commentaries and Bible dictionaries and try to bring to light the context for scripture, to ferret out details that might help the congregation to understand a particular passage and its emphasis.

But today? How can we mistake the emphasis for today? Joy can be a challenge for churches sometimes. But do we really need someone telling us that the stories about the Christ child are filled with joy? Maybe sometimes. A friend of mine spent years as a chaplain and faculty member at a large university. A group of students asked him to give a talk one evening, and at the end, one of his listeners said, "Your talk was good, but rather depressing. You are so critical." Before he could respond he overheard another student mutter, "He's a preacher. Of course he's depressing." But not today. Joy is the word for today. Today is Christmas Day, so it seems that a message of joy virtually speaks for itself: Christ is born! The world has changed! Even the numbering of our years from that time to this has been altered lo these 2,000 years.

So today seems like a good day, maybe not so much for a sermon as for a joyful change of pace, and maybe a humble little poem that I have prepared for the day (with apologies to Dr. Seuss and all poets everywhere).

From Nazareth to Bethlehem
the far-off king sent Joe and Mim
traipsing down the country courses
riding mules, no rides on horses

money for king August raising
building roads with no delaying
"Tax all folks! No compromising!"
he decreed, most days, on rising

but people, mostly, made the trek
to get enrolled, and send a check
to pay for Rome's grandest highways
rocks and concrete, roads and byways

Mary rode where old Joe's feet tread
all the way to King Dave's homestead
old Bethlehem, that's where they went
it's what they knew the gov'nor meant

they plodded slowly, not to race
except that there, on Mary's face
old Joe saw squinting, wincing, pain
once, twice, three times, and then again!

he knew the child in Mary's womb
was ready now to come, and soon!
on his way, precious baby boy
Jesus, the full-fledged child of joy

just in time, they got the spot right
Jesus Christ was cradled that night
all wrapped up and warm for sleep
set in a hay box, near the sheep

from sky above, going bonkers
nearby shepherds saw the honkers
angels, that's just what they all were
singing, shouting 'bout God's favor

"Glory! GLORY!" they were saying
"Peace for which you're always praying;
Here it is! That's what we're telling
can't just say it without yelling!"

then, as fast as they had started
all the angels soon departed
the shepherds, too, got on their way
respects for child and mom to pay

Mary, Joseph, with the cattle
stood by Jesus 'mid the prattle
of those shepherds' story-telling
which they did now, (with no yelling)

all were amazed, each astounded
shepherds' tales told, stories sounded
but Mary, stood, off to one side
thinking things, things like the long ride

down those rough roads, to Bethlehem
more roads to go, before they end
who knew back then, how Jesus saves
who knew the whats, the whens, and ways?

no one, that's who, but God on high
God knew for sure, this is the guy
Jesus, baby, in a manger
to bring folks home, not as strangers

but as fam'ly, all, God's dear ones
short and tall ones, big and small ones
young and old ones, scared and bold ones
dark or tan ones, white as sand ones

all, that is the perfect number
God is thinking, when we slumber
dreaming sweet dreams of Christmas day
God loves each one in just this way

which is the point, of Christmas time
a lot of trouble, all to find
it's no mirage, from things we ate
but miracle, well worth the wait

so tell it near and tell it far,
so wise kings foll'wing shining stars
and folks from all lands in between
come and see what we all have seen

Christ is born say hallelujah!
bringing great gifts here, right to ya'
all we need do is receive them
to be brothers, sisters to him

take them all now, those gifts, abroad
'til all the earth will hear the laud
and honor to our Christ the King
on whom our deepest hopes take wing.

Amen.