Christmas Movies: The Little Drummer Boy Matthew 2:1-12 12-23-2012

Sermon 12-23-12  Christmas goes to the movies-

the little drummer boy  Mt 2: 1-12

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,^(A) during the time of King Herod,^(B) Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?^(C) We saw his star^(D) in the east^[b] and have come to worship him.” ³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem^(E) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a rulerwho will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]”^(F)7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.^(G) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts^(H) of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹² And having been warned^(I) in a dream^(J) not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Today we continue our series – Christmas goes to the movies

Not a movie, but for retro sake, a clay-mation cartoon

Drummer boy by By Arthur rank, jules bass

film premiered on December 19, 1968 on NBC, where it aired annually for many Christmas seasons.

features the Vienna boys choir

as the movie opens, Everyone going to Bethlehem- mary is blonde

Drummer boy and his animals kidnapped by showman for the circus

Drummer boy does not like people

Did not always hate people

Was once a happy farm lad

Bandits attack- farm burned- had to run away.

Became a Lonely orphan

Only friends, his animals, lamb, camel, donkey

Vowed to hate humans because of what they had done to him

Comes to Bethlehem.  Puts on show for those travelling

Drummer boy is the hit of the show.  Cheering crowd makes him mad.

Why should they be happy when he has been so hurt by people?

Caravan of wise men comes by

Following the star

They join in the caravan because they want to perform for the kings and get the king’s money

Showman sells the drummer boys camel to the wise men

Boy is mad at showman.  Follows star to catch up with his camel

Run into shepherds also following star

Crowd gathered at stable

Everyone is bringing gifts

Lamb hit by chariot

Boy seeks wiseman to help

King cannot help the lamb

Points him to the baby king

Show the video clip 2 mins 30 sec

I have no gift to bring

Plays the drums

Sense of awe at the manger

Your gift is enough

There is something Something more about this child

His Gift is given in love

Lamb healed

Hatred released

Blessed are the pure in heart……..

Today lets talk about gifts

Receiving - What gifts have you received?

best gift you ever received……I was never so excited as the day I got ----vibrating foot ball field

but actually I have received more than I could recount

the people that have invested time, caring, love

the God who invests in us

God gave gifts at Christmas
The gifts of Christmas are not gold, frankincense or myrrh
But a child, a son, salvation, love, grace
God gives us what we need

there was a sermon a few weeks ago about the imprt of learning to receive

But we cannot allow receiving to get out of control

We cannot become people that always want

What kind of things so we ask god for?
Better cars, better jobs, more sweaters?
Give us this day our daily bread.

Sometimes we just have to remember that God has promised to supply our needs. Nothing more.
Paul said, I have learned in all things to be content...

In your life, is having Jesus enough?

Giving -

Why do we give?

The tradition seems to have started with the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus. It must be said, however, that no one was really in the habit of exchanging elaborate gifts until late in the 1800s. 1867 was the first year that Macy’s department store in New York City remained open until midnight on Christmas Eve, and 1874 was the first year for its special Christmas window displays. The Santa Claus story, combined with an amazing retailing phenomenon that has grown since the beginning of the 20th century, has made gift-giving a central focus of the Christmas tradition. Here in America, Christmas gifts owe more to Macy’s than to the magi.

what gifts have you given?

I remember a necklace, a bicycle, clothes

I hope we have given so much more than that

Do you give something, just so that you can say that you did?
Of do you try to better the person with your gift

What do the people really need?
Shoes to my son...needed
Shoes to my wife or daughter????

We should seek to give to others in ways that it blesses them, not simply providing more stuff
When we make Christmas becomes about the stuff, we r spending the gold Frankinsense and myrhh on us.

Gifts...gold, frankincense and myrrh- were sold so that Joseph could take his family to Egypt
the best gifts are not simply consumed, but they prepare us for the journey of living.

How is your giving to them preparing them for the journey of life?

in giving we are transformed

Generosity involves an encounter with God

When we realize what he has done for us, we want to help others.

Not just at christmas

Saw it on a sign on the wall in the movie it’s a wonderful life
The only things you keep are the things that you give away

when we give in ways that provide meaning and joy and life, we experience a spiritual gift
as we give as God gives.

but whether we are giving or receiving
Really Good Gifts do things for us on the inside
When we give back, we get back...something happens to us...
there is a goodness in our souls when we seek to live a generous life

I have no gift to bring you say?

Any one can give

Ways to give

·         Bringing cookies to their door

·         Play a board game with them

·         Make a dessert and show up

·         Watch a holiday movie

·         One family gift exchange

o    Alli 4, jenny 4, = 20.  New way = 5 totoal

·         Take them to starbucks and visit

·         Go ice skating at crown center

·         Everyone bring their fav Christmas song and sit down and listen to each others music

·         Donate a chicken in someone’s name

·         Go feed the homeless together

·         Take a gift to restart

·         Sing, Carol at the retirement home or on someone’s porch

·         $4 box of candy to mechanic, bank teller

·         Time, energy, effort, love

·         do chores for them

·         rake their leaves

·         visit plaza lights

·         shovel driveway

·         take them out for a pizza

·         baby-sit for them

·         stop by randomly for a hug

and so we have shared many ways that all of us can give.

Regardless of circumstances

I am convinced that when we say no to materialism and give love to others, we find the joy of being a Christ follower

And in giving things of true value, we again enter the scene of the manger

And as we have graced others, we also find the grace of God

From the movie the bishops wife 1947

The bishop’s wife is played by Loretta young.  the bishop is played by David Niven

Sermon from a closing scene of the movie………

Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry. A blazing star hung over a stable and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries; we celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, the sound of bells and with gifts.  But especially with gifts.  You give me a book; I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer, and Uncle Henry could do with a new pipe. We forget nobody, adult or child.  All the stockings are filled -- all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up.  The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's His birthday we are celebrating. Don't ever let us forget that.  Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most, and then let each put in his share. Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched out hand of tolerance.

All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

Ralph waldo emerson wrote : Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts…: the only true gift is a portion of ones self-----------------That is what God gives to us…..

Let us this season, give not simply a book, but let us give of ourselves. 

And as God has offered himself to us, let us give ourselves, completely back to him

Let us pray