INTRODUCTION:

Kids really do add that certain sparkle to the Christmas season, don't they. Somehow, even when they get it wrong, they get it right.

The Smiths sat down with their youngest daughter, Macy, on Christmas Eve, and tried to tell her the real meaning of Christmas. She listened wide-eyed as her parents told her the story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. On Christmas morning, Macy opened her presents. A few days later, Macy was talking with her grandmother, and whispered, "I sure hope Joseph and Mary have another baby soon!" (1)

I always love reading kids' letters to Santa this time of the year. Here's a few that I ran across.

Dear Santa, Please give me a doll this year. I would like her to eat, walk, do my homework, and help me clean my room. Thank you, Jenny.

Dear Santa, Thanks for the race car last year. Can I have another one, only this time one that is faster than my best friend's race car? Ricky.

Dear Santa, You can send me one of everything from the boys' section of the Sears catalog. But nothing from the girls' section. I can't wait for Christmas to come. Kent

Dear Santa, Could you come early this year? I've been really super good, but I don't know if I can last much longer. Please hurry. Love, Jordan.

Dear Santa, Can you leave a toy for my sister. Then she won't want to play with mine and I can have it to myself. And I wish you could leave a puzzle under the tree for me. Merry Christmas, Cassie. (2)

The last two letters from Jordan and Cassie kind of define this season don't they. Jordan says he doesn't know if he can last much longer in this almost but not yet of Christmas.

And Cassie got her wish for a puzzle under the tree. For that's exactly what this baby born on Christmas day was and is, a great puzzle. How could God become human? How could God come in such a fragile, defenseless wrapper? How could God stoop that low? It's a puzzlement.

Mary and Joseph both had to make heads or tails of that puzzle. And especially Mary. She wasn't much more than a child herself according to tradition. Only about sixteen or so. Not too young back then but way to young today to be having a baby. And yet she was chosen. She was Called and Chosen.

Today in our church is a day of celebration: Not only do we celebrate the first official service in our New Worship center, but we continue our celebration of Advent. And today we celebrate Children's Sabbath or Children's Sunday.

Our children have a lot to teach us about faith and servanthood and life. And God uses the young as much as the old. Look at young Samuel and young David. both used by God for God's glory. Our children have a very important place in our Church and in our Worship.

As you've seen and will see today, children can serve God. Maybe not with the practiced smoothness that experience brings adults, but they can still serve and teach through their service.

That's what Mary did. She heard God's call and considered that call a blessing in her life. Let's look at the passage for today, in which we see Mary's response to God's Call in her life. You can read along on the screen or read along in the pew Bible, Luke q:46-55 NT pg. 54 or 1254.

[46] And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,

[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

[48] for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

[49] for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

[50] His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

[51] He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

[52] He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;

[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

[54] He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,

[55] according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever." [NRSV]

Like Mary, we're CALLED, CLAIMED AND CONFIRMED.

I. FIRST, WE'RE CALLED:

A. FIRST AND FOREMOST WE'RE CALLED. CALLED TO BELIEVE AND CALLED TO SERVE.

That's the first thing we're called to do is believe. It's that simple. Believe and have faith. And Jesus said it doesn't take much, no more than a mustard seed worth or faith like a child.

Fred Craddock tells a story of such faith. He said there was a slow minded kid who lived in his neighborhood when he was growing up. The other kids often made fun of him and teased him. He'd believe anything you told him. They'd tell him that the school had burned down and he'd run to the school to see. They would tell him that his mother was calling him and he'd rush home to find out, that of course, she had not called. He always believed whatever they told him.

One day a revival meeting came to Craddock's town. Craddock and his boyhood friends and their families attended. When the preacher asked for people to come forward to commit their lives to Christ, Craddock said the rest of the kids stayed seated, feeling rather uncomfortable by the whole affair. But that kid they always teased went forward and knelt in prayer. He simply believed it!

Such child like faith is something, isn't it? Mary believed. Joseph believed. The Wisemen believed. The shepherds believed. And belief is a powerful thing. Mary answered the call to believe. And because of her belief, she truly has become blessed among women. Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary the "God-bearer"

Belief is a powerful thing. Look at what belief has done here. There were some who didn't believe we could build this. There were some who didn't believe we would be in here this Sunday.

We're all CALLED. First, we're called to simply believe.

B. SECOND PART OF THE CALL IS, WE'RE ALSO CALLED TO SERVE.

Mary answered that part of the call as well. She not only answered it but she broke out into song, singing praises to God for allowing her to be used in this manner. Mary had one of the hardest callings there has ever been, one that would lead to hardship and heartbreak but she answered anyway.

Like Mary, we're all CALLED TO SERVE God, too.

Author Patsy Clairmont, in her book Normal Is Just A Setting On Your Dryer, writes that one year, she decided to write "Noel," the French word for Christmas, in bright lights on the roof of her house. Unfortunately, she ran out of lights halfway through the project, so she ended up with just the word "NO" in flashing, multicolored lights on her roof. (2)

I sure am glad that wasn't Mary's response. Mary received the first ever Christmas Greeting. It came from the very hand of God, and was hand delivered by no less than the Angel Gabriel. And because she said "Yes" to God, that Christmas Greeting has touched the hearts of billions and been passed on year after year after year.

Mary heard God's call. She believed and she said, "Yes!" Like Mary, we're each Called. And like Mary all we have to do is Believe and say "Yes!" to God.

II. SECOND, MARY CLAIMED HER CALL:

In saying "Yes!" to God, Mary CLAIMED GOD'S CALL IN HER LIFE AS HER OWN.

Someone once wrote: "It is no small thing to one day take one's life in one's hands and offer it, not looking back or too far ahead, but trusting in the present. To some this is madness, to others a waste. But to the person who is offering, it is the event of a lifetime, an event by which the history of humankind grows." That's what Mary did.

Mary said "Yes!" Not MAYBE, but "Yes". Not, "Let me think about it." but "Yes". Not, "Well, I don't know, that sounds awfully hard," but "Yes".

She not only said "Yes", she put that "Yes" in the form of a song and sang out her response to God. She was overwhelmed with the joy of the simple prospect of being used by God. Unlike us who rejoice when we look back and see what has been accomplished, she rejoiced as she looked forward to what was yet to happen, to the prospect of what God was yet to do, through her.

One thing that stands out clearly in Mary's life that that she is truly the model of obedience. Stop and think about just how much was asked of Mary. And then think about the tremendous trust and faith she exhibited by responding like she did.

There's a parallel in the life of this Church. We're standing in it. Like Mary, we CLAIMED our CALL. Notice these playing cards, their special playing cards with symbols of the church on them instead of numbers. And colors instead of suits. For me the symbols represent all the gifts and talents and hard work that we've used and dedicated to God in this project.

We used the gifts God has given us. We placed them on the altar of faith. We covered them with prayer. And because we Believed and said "Yes" to God. Because we Claimed our Call, God was able to raise up this new building. All because everything was built on one person, Jesus Christ the Risen Son of God.

In CLAIMING our CALL, like Mary we've discovered two great truths.

First, "You can't walk on water if you don't get out of the boat." We got out of the boat.

Second: "You don't ask God to move mountains. You ask God to give you the strength to climb." We've been strengthened and climbed a pretty good sized mountain because we said "Yes!" to God.

God CALLED Mary. Mary CLAIMED her CALL and then sang with joy.

God CALLED us, we CLAIMED that CALL and today, we too get to sing with joy.

III. *AND FINALLY, GOD CONFIRMED MARY'S CLAIM AND HER CALL:

A. And as she sang, God CONFIRMED her CALL and her CLAIM, allowing her to continue to sing new verses along the way. God CONFIRMED Mary's CALL and CLAIM and through that CONFIRMATION, empowered her to carry out that call. You see, God seldom calls the equipped. But God always equips the called.

Remember, how Mary went to visit Elizabeth, and how John leapt in mother's womb when Mary, barely three months pregnant, approached? Confirmation. That was God's CONFIRMATION, God always confirms our call and our claim of the call.

B. Sometimes that confirmation comes at the oddest times, times when we least expect it. But the perfect time in God's timing. God has confirmed our answer to God's call in our life through the building of this worship space. God always confirms the call,

Let me tell you what I mean. I had something happen this week that just made my day. And maybe it was because I was thinking about this aspect of the sermon but I took it as a CONFIRMATION of my CALL and my CLAIM.

I called a good friend of mine this week to set up a lunch appointment. I'm in a support group of sorts with a group of other clergy and I'm the unofficial secretary who sets up our monthly lunch meetings. I called to do just that but when I called, Margaret, his wife answered the phone.

We said all those pleasantries and then Margaret said: "I just want to thank you for your ministry. You may not know it but you're a blessing."

I said thank you but was sort of taken aback. So, I asked her what she was talking about. She told me that their associate pastor, who happens to be the son of another one of the preachers in this Conference, gave his testimony about his call.

David, the associate pastor, told the youth that he grew up in church. But it was just something his family did. It was part of his Dad's job. And he'd never really made it his own. Until one night at a Junior High camp where I was dean. Because of a storm that had blown in, the dance at the poolside had to be canceled. We really didn't have anything planned as back up. So we punted. We gathered everybody to do sing along slides.

We had to get that organized and everything set up. So we reorganized our evening activities and had the brief closing worship service first.

That night I gave my personal testimony. That's something I've always done with the youth at camp, not to brag, but because kids need to hear how God works in people's lives. Kid's need to hear that preachers are just people who live normal lives, lives like theirs. And God gets ahold of them and makes a difference and uses them, if their willing.

That night, as I gave my testimony, it all became real for David for the first time. That night David accepted Christ. That night David heard God's CALL and believed. And not long after, David answered the call to preach.

God always confirms the CALL in our lives. Did I need that CONFIRMATION at that moment, I don't know. I don't think so. But maybe I did, because it sure lifted my spirits. But then, maybe you're the ones who needed to hear it. Not me.

Mary said "Yes" to God so Jesus could say "Yes" to God. My pastor said, "Yes" to God so I could say "Yes" to God so David could say "Yes" to God.

I hope you'll "Yes" to God and let God CONFIRM that "Yes" through some small act or word.

Every time one of us, like Mary, says "Yes" to God, the universe breaks into a joyous dance and song. Why? Because there is CONFIRMATION that God's plan for salvation will move forward. The story will go on.

CONCLUSION:

Will Willimon tells the story of a pastor who baptized a baby. After the baptism the pastor said, in a voice loud enough to be heard by parents and congregation, "Little sister, by this act of baptism, we welcome you to a journey that will take your whole life. This isn't the end. It's the beginning of God's experiment with your life. What God will make of you, we know not. Where God will take you or how God will surprise you, we cannot say. This we do know and this we say – God is with you." (4) These are pregnant times. Mary was the "God bearer" because she was CALLED. she CLAIMED that CALL and that CLAIM was CONFIRMED. Right now, the world needs us to be God-bearers. We're CALLED to be like Mary and to Sing Our Own Song Of Praise and tell of God's Glory. That's what this space was designed for. That's the purpose of the Church and every aspect of the ministry of any Church. When we say "Yes" to God's CALL, CLAIM it as our own and then have it CONFIRMED by God, we come to realize that what Jesus said is true: "Nothing is impossible with God."

1. Source Unknown

2. E-zine: HUMOR Mailto: Judib@kktv.com. (adapted)

3. Patsy Clairmont. Normal is Just a Setting on Your Dryer (Colorado Springs, CO: Focus on the Family Publishers, 1993), p.116.

4. William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, Resident Aliens, 52.

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