Dear Friends,

I want to be an Innkeeper…

This is time of year when numerous Nativity plays will be presented. Many will be in nurseries, school and some in our churches. Less so in church because most don’t have enough children to cover all the parts of the story.

I look back to when I was a child and can only recall being in one play when I was a shepherd, with a tea-towel on my head and a dressing gown covering my clothes. All the costumes were simple and yet effective for propelling us into the stable scene of two thousand years before. But the one character that fascinates me most and has the smallest and simplest part is. . ..the Innkeeper.

Without him and his forward thinking and effective generosity off heart, where would the Christ child have been born? The angels, the shepherds and later the wise men, all did their bit as the proclaimed his arrival and paid homage, but the Innkeeper was the one who actually did something practical and thus allowed the story to unfold. Well done the Innkeeper!

If I ever take part in a nativity play again, that’s the part I want to play (are you noting this Gill? If you are short of kiddies for the play and want an overgrown: child, I’ll be your Innkeeper)

I want to say loud and clear, “No room, we’re full!” and then add , “But hang on a mo. I can find a space in the stable!” and then I will get to work with the cleaning out the animal muck and putting fresh straw down for the comfort of Mary, so she can give birth to her first born son, Jesus, Saviour of the world.

Christmas is such an exciting time, in home, school, the wor place and church. It’s an occasion to enjoy, even though I recognise for some it’s a painful time when remembering love ones no longer here to share that joy with.

May the true message of the. Incarnatiori be with each of you this Christmas tide as you once more think about what
happened that first Christmas and how Bethlehem was the start of the journey that led to Calvary and beyond the grave to resurrection.

Christmas blessings to all.