Out Our Way: Listen to the children

“Let the little children come unto me and do not forbid them, for it is to such that the Kingdom of God belongs!” — Matthew 19:14

Out our way, it’s a time of Christmas lights, decorative trees and Salvation Army bell ringing. Usually at this time of year I am one of the ringers but, with all the various trials and tribulations of the past few months, it just wasn’t to be. Goliath, for one, is rather glad because for the last few years I have volunteered him to come with me and ring bells out at the mall parking lot. Goliath doesn’t mind the cold and snow, but those stupid fake reindeer antlers I keep trying to make him wear really bother him.

Maybe one of these days we can do something different. I remember a number of years ago when I was the pastor of a large congregation in Colorado, we were building a new sanctuary and needed new pews. One of the best looking and, I thought, most durable looking models was the one the salesman bragged had been purchased by the Crystal Cathedral in California. Now it just so happened that a friend of mine was on staff there back then, so I called him about the pews. He put me in touch with the head of their maintenance department who said the pews had held up well over the years – except for the camel problem.  

As you may recall, the Schuller organization put on a live Christmas spectacular every year with actors, orchestras, choirs, special effects and live animals. Apparently camels are not easily house-broken — or Church-broken for that matter — and accidents did happen. But he assured me that although the stains and smell could be difficult to remove, the pews had withstood a number of camel mishaps.  

Anyway, as Goliath complained about the antlers, I remembered my friend at the Crystal Cathedral’s story of the live camels brought into the Sanctuary. Now we don’t have actors, or Hollywood costumers, or hired musicians and choirs for our pageant — neither have we gone bankrupt as the Crystal Cathedral eventually did — but we do have a pageant. And so I thought maybe Goliath could come as a camel. But then I recalled Goliath has the same problem as Schuller’s camels did — and I don’t have his budget or staff to “repair” the damage, so I decided against it. Goliath is just as happy to celebrate Christmas with Babe in their pasture anyway … as long as the hay is plentiful and perhaps a few horse cookies end up in their grain buckets hung by the chimney with care. (You didn’t think we hung up stockings for them, did you?

But even with Goliath not getting the casting call, this Sunday we will have our annual Christmas Pageant during our regular worship service at 11 a.m. No big choir with paid section leaders — just our much beloved and appreciated praise team. No symphonic orchestra or march band — just our pianist and organist leading the way. No celebrity actors, fancy lights or special effects … just lovely, beautiful, joyous children in bathrobes and tinseled halos coming down the aisle to celebrate the baby Jesus. To Goliath’s relief, and that of the Church board, no camels or other live critters to clean up after, nor will there be TV cameras to broadcast the “show” to the audience at home — but there will be many cameras and iPhones to record the event and send the images off to loved ones around the country.

And the gospel message this Sunday will be proclaimed from the lips of children who have not gone to seminary, but who may, nevertheless, be far better evangelists and preachers than those of us who have. I am looking forward to worship being led this Sunday by the children. For as Isaiah said of the day of the Lord when Peace on earth and good will to all people finally becomes a reality — to Goliath’s relief and that of the Church board (no camels or other live critters to clean up after) — “ and a little child shall lead them!” Isaiah 11:6.

(John Bruington is pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Havre. Copies of the “Out Our Way” column and cartoon, as well as his weekly cartoon and children’s message series, “Bruin-Town Tales,” can be viewed at the church website: http://www.havrepres.org. The book “Out Our Way: Theology Under Saddle” is also available at Amazon.com.)