A CHRISTMAS STORY
Once upon a time, not too long ago, in a small town, not too far away, there lived a young priest tall and handsome who just wanted to help people. He looked around the small town and saw the poor, the hungry, the lonely and said “there must be something that I can do”. He went back to his small church and pondered on the question. “ It is almost Christmas, he said, I can’t leave these people alone and hungry on Christmas day” So the next Sunday he stood in front of his congregation and announced that on Christmas day there would be no Christmas service as in the past, instead they would welcome the poor, feed the hungry and comfort the ones alone. They looked in silence, thinking he has lost his mind, what is he thinking, Christmas is for family not for people we don’t know. Then he continued, we as a church family who have so much need to show these people the love and support that they need this time of year and somehow that made sense.
Later on in the day a wise man asked the young priest, “so what’s the plan, how do we get this done?”
The priest answered, there isn’t a plan, it will just happen with God’s help and the Holy Spirit guiding us. The wise man said but that’s crazy, God can do a lot of things but even he needs a plan. The young priest said don’t worry the people will come, the food will be prepared and people will want to help. On Christmas day the wise man stood back thinking this is going to be a disaster, the tables are set, the candles are lit but there will be no food and no one to eat it. About that time, the door came open and people came with food, there was ham, sweet potatoes, corn and green beans. More people came with pies, cakes and cookies. Later more people came, children with their parents, grandmothers and grandfathers and they said it was fun being at home and opening gifts but now we want to help. The wise man didn’t feel so wise anymore, he said to himself, I think I have a lot to learn.
Later on more people came, people we didn’t know, they came because they were hungry, some were lonely, they came because an invisible thread pulled them to a church they didn’t know but somehow they knew they were supposed to be there. At first they were shy, a little nervous, they gazed at the big Christmas tree in the corner and may have thought of the empty corner at home. As they found a seat they were amazed at the china, silverware and cut glass. The tablecloths and centerpieces with greens and candles. Then someone brought them a plate of food and they weren’t hungry anymore, someone else sat down with them and smiled and they were not alone. As the day went on there was talking and laughter and a good time had by all. They came as people we didn’t know, they left as friends and now part of our church family.
The young priest was Father Ted Babcock who started this Christmas tradition eight years ago. Father Ted has a lot of faith in God and the people around him and he knew in his heart that it would happen the way it did and continue as long as it has. The small church of St. Andrew’s really isn’t so small any more but eight years later it still opens its doors to anyone who is pulled by that thread. There are many stories of the people we have helped over the years and I hope and pray that it continues for many more years. As for the wise man, well he is still learning but he is letting the Holy Spirit guide him a lot more.